OitaLeisure

Yabakei Dam (耶馬溪ダム)

Flow of the course

Previous stop: Walk about 1 km of promenade along the mountain stream and enjoy the cool waterside with its pools and waterfalls

About 75 min from the previous stop

About 75 min here

About 15 min to the next stop

Next stop: Watch fireworks launch into the sky above a mountain-ringed lake

About this spot

This multipurpose dam, built on the Yamakuni River system, handles flood control, water supply for drinking and industrial use, and power generation, and was completed in Showa 60 (1985). On the shore of the dam lake is Yabakei Aqua Park (耶馬溪アクアパーク), popular for water skiing and wakeboarding, and the surrounding mountains change their look with the seasons, from fresh green to deep green to autumn colors. In the evening of the lakeside festival, spread out a leisure sheet to secure a spot and have dinner with food-stall snacks or a packed lunch. Enjoy watching the sun set behind the mountain ridge and the color of the lake surface change.

Tips

Right by the Lake Yabakei promenade. Parking space is limited on the day of the fireworks display, so arriving early is recommended. It's a good idea to pick up food and drinks in advance at Michi-no-Eki Yaba Topia.