I set out this morning with the Yamashiro Dam in mind. I had a notion that there would be a
recreation area, a park, certainly something more than just a dam. Well, I hadn't been out to
the place before so the not knowing made the exercise all the more adventuresome.
Yamashiro Dam (Yamashidori Dam) is a dam built upstream of Tengan river flowing through central Okinawa Island.
The dam is the primary water source for the water purification plants that serve Chatan and Ishikawa communities.
Initially called Tengan dam (then later Amanami) it was constructed by the US military. Construction started in July
1964 and was completed in May 1967 under management of the Ryukyu Water Supply Corporation . A check dam
was added downstream with a spillway and ground strengthening was also done. With the Reversion of Okinawa in
1972 (Showa 47) , it came under management of the Okinawa Prefectural Corporate Bureau. On April 1, 1998, the
name was again changed from Amanami Dam to Yamashiro Dam. So, with that, let's go take a look at this place!
