Bannnai river sabo park consists of two parts.

One is river bathing area which has step-type revetments along the river. People enjoy bathing

in summer.

The other is historical heritage area which has old masonry dams in the river and walking paths

along the river. People enjoy walking there.

BATHING AREA This area was constructed from 1989 until 1997.

It cost 547million yen totally.

There are steps along the river and people

can get into the river easily.

There are parking lot, toilets, lawn yard,

miniature sabo dams, etc.

In summer there are many tadpoles in the

river. Small kids enjoy catching them.

Many people come to this place to let

their children play.

BANNAI RIVER SABO PARK

Hik

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14th

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SUMMER FESTIVAL IN BANNNAI RIVER SABO PARK The history oｆ Bannnai river sabo

Summer festival is held on the second In 1902 May, many collapses caused by melting snow occurred on the slope of Mt.Awatate and buried

Saturday of August every year. Bannai river. Those collapses made many landslide dams in the river. Melting snow made the river full

Several fast food stands open on the of water and the landslide dams were broken and became debris flows. Those debris flows attacked

lawn yard and some entertainments are Nishinoya village. 30 houses out of 53 were broken and flown away. Most part of their farm land was

held. The most popular entertainment is devastated by the debris flows.

trapping fish. They release many People in Nishinoya village noticed the collapses early. They felt the risk of debris flows and evacuated

rainbow trouts in the river and people earlier than the disaster occurred. Only one person died by the debris flow who came to Nishinoya to

trap the trouts by hand. pick wild vegetables.

(500 yen for a person, infants free) Sabo law had been enforced since 1897. People in Nishinoya village expected the to save them.

They went to the prefectural office and requested Sabo dams. But Niigata prefecture didn't have enough

budgets to meet their needs. They had to wait until 1921.

They waited 19 years since the disaster in 1902. In 1921 the construction of Sabo dam at Bannnai river

began. The first Sabo dam was completed in 1923. Now there are 18 Sabo dam in Bannnai river.

11 dams out of 18 have been registered to cultural heritages in 2003. The 11 dams were constructed

from 1921 to 1934. They are beautiful masonry dams and harmonized with the natural landscape.

Fish trapping by hand Cement was expensive in those days. Most sabo dams were constructed by cut stones. There were

many skillful masons in those days. Now most sabo dams are constructed by concrete because ready

mixed concrete is reasonable. There are few Skillful masons now. We cannot construct such these

HISTORICAL HARITAGE AREA beautiful dams any more.

Hikagesawa is a tributary of Bannai river.

This area has old sabo facilities which were It has 47 masonry check dams in the short

registered as cultural heritages in 2003. distance od 1.2km. Those dams were

The area was a deep forest in 2003 and constructed in 1920s. 39 check dams out

people could not get to see the Sabo dams. of 47 have also been registered to

The area has been changed to a park with cultural heritages in 2003. One of the dams

walking paths and some rest places. The has a masonry channel called Kuzuresawa.

park was constructed from 2004 until 2008 The channel work has also been registered

and cost for 250 million yen. at the same time.

Bannnai 1st sabo dam

Registered cultural heritages (Bannnai sabo dams)

※　Registered cultural heritage

Historically important and valuable things are designated cultural heritages. Registered cultural heritages are not so

valuable than designated ones. Registered ones have conditions as follows.

1. Structures older than 50 years

2. Contribute to form historical landscape

3. Beautiful

4. Not easy to reconstruct (Technicians are disappearing )

Bannnai river sabo dams Hikagesawa check dams