Constructed in the early 7th century (Asuka period), Sayamaike Pond is Japan's oldest dam-type reservoir at nearly 1,400 years old, and is still in use as the prefecture's largest dam with a capacity of 2.8 million m3. Its past repair works involved a number of historic figures, such as Gyoki, a Buddhist priest in the Nara period, Chogen, a Buddhist priest in the Kamakura period, and Katagiri Katsumoto, a samurai in the Edo period. The Sayamaike Museum, opened in 2001 in Osakasayama City, introduces the history of civil engineering and flood control works in Japan, displaying past & present repair methods and real pieces of the Pond's bank, in seven exhibition zones divided according by time period. The museum also collects and introduces various materials and information regarding land development in East Asian nations and regions, thus playing a role as a research institute for the history of East Asian land development. Special exhibitions, workshops and concerts are also held at the museum. The novel and creative design of the museum building was created by Tadao Ando, one of Japanese leading architects.

• Location

  〒 589-0007 2 Ikejirinaka, Osakasayama-shi, Osaka

• Fax

  072-367-8892

• Tel

  072-367-8891

• Closed

  Mondays (closed the following day when holidays fall on Monday), New Year holidays (12/28 - 1/4)

• Open

  10:00 - 17:00 (admissions close 16:30)

• Price

  Free

• Directions

  Roughly a 10-minute walk west from Osakasayamashi Station on the Nankai Koya Line; transfer to Koya Line via Nankai Namba Station

• URL

  http://www.sayamaikehaku.osakasayama.osaka.jp/_opsm/eng/