Kanna Dam

Kanna Dam is located in Ginoza Village, near the center of Okinawa’s main island. Close to the urban areas of central and southern Okinawa and set in the nature-rich northern region, the dam is seen as a local symbol and tourism resource. Among Japan’s large dams, it was the first designed with consideration for the surrounding natural environment, including landscape and ecosystem conservation.

Kanna Dam features Japan’s first adopted crawling fishway, which allows crabs, fish, and other creatures to move between the river and the sea. The mangrove forest that existed before the dam was built has also been restored through planting by local elementary school students. In Japan, the only places where mangroves can be observed directly below a dam are Kanna Dam and Kin Dam in Kin Town. Upstream from the dam is the No. 2 Reservoir, known as “Medaka no Gakko,” created as a biotope by artificially expanding the wetlands that existed before construction. Visitors can walk along the boardwalk to observe aquatic life and watch wild birds from the birdwatching hut.

The stonework pattern visible from downstream was inspired by the cloth-style masonry of Nakagusuku Castle, a 15th-century Ryukyu Kingdom gusuku castle and World Heritage Site. Curved designs, such as arched bridges, are also used throughout the dam to express softness and beauty. The valve room and gate room feature red-tile roofs topped with shisa guardian lions, creating an unmistakably Okinawan atmosphere. The dam lake, Kanna Lake, has also been selected as one of Japan’s “100 Best Dam Lakes.”

At the Kanna Dam Exhibition Room next to the dam management office, visitors can learn about dams, water, and living creatures through exhibits and audio guidance. With many large aquarium tanks displaying creatures that live around Kanna Dam, including giant mottled eels, it offers a small-aquarium-like experience that both children and adults can enjoy.

The surrounding area includes a left-bank observation deck with panoramic views of the entire dam and Kin Bay, as well as a lakeside park with broad lawns. It is an ideal setting for relaxed time in nature, from nature walks to camping.