Hello! I’m SacChi, your local blogger exploring the heart of Kochi.
As part of the Tosanpo | Satoyama Experience Fair in Tosa Town, I joined one of the most popular programs:
🎓 “Explore the Wonders of Sameura Dam – Celebrating 50 Years, Guided by Local University Students”
(Includes dam curry lunch & specialty coffee!)
In Vol. 1, I covered the classroom session explaining how the dam works and its role in water management.
Now in Vol. 2, let’s dive into the real highlight—on-site field tour + legendary Sameura Dam Curry!
🏗️ 1. On-Site Tour: Rebuilding One of Shikoku’s Key Dams
Sameura Dam is currently undergoing the Sameura Dam Rehabilitation Project, a major construction effort to upgrade capacity and safety.
- Start: April 2018
- Planned Completion: FY2028
🚨 Why the upgrade?
1️⃣ Four record-breaking floods over the past 50 years
2️⃣ The need to release water faster during sudden heavy rainfall
Because the current floodgates are limited by low energy potential (gravity flow), a new outlet tunnel is being drilled through the dam body—a rare engineering feat in Japan.
Nearly 150 workers are on-site daily. The scale, precision, and safety-first mindset were awe-inspiring.
Scenes from the tour included:
・Upstream cofferdam structures
・Downstream excavation zones
・Future outlet pipe installations
・Core drilling on the dam body
It’s not every day you get this close to a live infrastructure project!
🍛 2. Must-Try: Sameura Dam Curry Lunch
After the tour, we headed to Sameura-so Lakeside Hotel for a local treat—Sameura Dam Curry!
Famous for using Kochi-grown ingredients, the curry also comes with its own lore. A dam-loving boy at the next table taught us the “right” way to eat it:
“You break the wall with your spoon and flood the curry downstream!”
😋 There’s also a group-size version: Sameura Dam Curry SP (for 3 people)
1️⃣ Fried Chicken Set (6 pieces): ¥4,700
2️⃣ Sirloin Steak Set (200g): ¥8,700
Massive portions and a fun presentation—definitely share it with friends!
🏨 Sameura-so Hotel – Shop Info
- Name: Sameura-so Lakeside Hotel
- Address: 146-1 Tai, Tosa Town, Kochi Prefecture
- Phone: 0887-82-1020
- Hours:
Lunch: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Dinner: 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM (confirm in advance) - Closed: Tuesdays (subject to change)
- 🌐 Official Website
- 📍 Google Maps
🎁 Bonus: Exclusive Cards & Craft Kits for Dam Fans
As a special gift, tour participants received:
✅ 3 different Sameura Dam Cards
✅ Sameura Dam Paper Craft Kit
The cards are collector’s items among dam enthusiasts, and the paper model makes for a great hands-on activity—perfect for kids and families!
📌 Tip: This Tour May Return Next Year!
Given its popularity, this tour is highly likely to return in 2026.
To stay updated on the Tosanpo Satoyama Experience Fair, check the Tosa Town website and local tourism pages.
コメント