This is the live camera for Naruko Dam (Eai River), located in Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. We provide links to footage from four directions: the dam gate, right bank, downstream, and left bank. You can check the river water level and reservoir status of the dam lake “Lake Araoko” and the Eai River in real time.
Naruko Dam is a arch-type concrete dam with a dam height of 94.5 m, serving as a multipurpose dam for flood control (flood management), agricultural water supply (water use), and hydroelectric power generation. The surrounding area is part of the scenic landscape of Kurikoma Quasi-National Park and is also popular as a sightseeing destination. It can also be used to check for river flooding and rising water levels during typhoons and heavy rain, and to obtain disaster prevention information. The feed is operated by the Naruko Dam Management Office and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, updated in real time 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- View the Live Camera
- Live Camera Information
- Basic Information About Naruko Dam
- Using the Camera for Disaster Prevention During Heavy Rain and Typhoons
- Sightseeing Information: Naruko Onsen and Lake Araoko
- Weather Forecast for Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
- Rain Cloud Radar for Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
- Nearby Map of Iwabuchi, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (Google Maps)
- Nearby Live Cameras
View the Live Camera
- Live Camera (Dam Gate)
- Live Camera (Dam Right Bank)
- Live Camera (Dam Downstream)
- Live Camera (Dam Left Bank)
Live Camera Information
- Stream type – Still images
- Operated by – MLIT River Disaster Prevention Information · Naruko Dam Management Office
- Location – Iwabuchi, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi 989-6806
Basic Information About Naruko Dam
What Is Naruko Dam?
Naruko Dam is a nationally managed multipurpose dam administered by the Tohoku Regional Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, located in Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. It was built on the upper reaches of the Eai River, a Class A river in the Kitakami River system.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Iwabuchi, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture |
| River | Eai River, Kitakami River system |
| Type | Arch-type concrete dam |
| Dam height | 94.5 m |
| Crest length | 215 m |
| Total reservoir capacity | 50,000,000 m³ |
| Effective storage capacity | 35,000,000 m³ |
| Completion year | 1957 |
| Administrator | Naruko Dam Management Office, MLIT |
| Camera installation elevation | Approx. 263 m |
| Reservoir name | Lake Araoko |
Historical Value: Japan’s First Fully Domestic Arch Dam
Naruko Dam broke ground in 1952 and was completed in 1957 after approximately six years of construction. As the first 100-meter-class arch-type concrete dam in Japan built entirely by Japanese engineers without inviting foreign technicians, it holds an important place in the history of civil engineering. Its technical value continues to be highly regarded today, and in 2016 it was designated a Civil Engineering Heritage by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers.
What You Can See with the Live Camera
Four cameras are installed around Naruko Dam, each allowing you to check the following:
- Dam right bank camera: Naruko Dam body and Eai River water level
- Dam gate camera: Dam spillway gate and discharge status
- Dam downstream camera: Eai River downstream of the dam and the Naruko Onsen area
- Dam left bank camera: Lake Araoko (reservoir) and the Kurikoma Quasi-National Park area
In addition, the surrounding area also allows you to check National Route 108, the Rikuu East Line (near JR Naruko Onsen Station), the Naruko Dam memorial monument, and the Naruko Dam parking area.
Using the Camera for Disaster Prevention During Heavy Rain and Typhoons
The Naruko Dam live camera attracts widespread attention on social media and in the news during abnormal weather events such as typhoons, heavy rain, and drought. In the past, an event occurred in July 2025 in which the reservoir fell to 0% capacity for the first time in approximately 31 years, spreading widely on X (formerly Twitter) with the hashtags #NarukoDam #LiveCamera. Even in such emergencies, you can check the current status of the dam in real time via the camera links on this page.
How to Use the Live Camera for Disaster Prevention
How to check during rising water / flood control operations: During a typhoon or concentrated heavy rain, checking both the “dam gate camera” and the “dam downstream camera” together allows you to monitor the discharge status and real-time changes in water levels along the Eai River downstream. When the dam performs flood control operations (discharge), be aware of sudden rises in water level in downstream areas.
Emergency discharge (abnormal flood disaster prevention operations): In addition to normal flood control, Naruko Dam may carry out “Abnormal Flood Disaster Prevention Operations (Emergency Discharge)” when the reservoir volume greatly exceeds the planned capacity. When discharge is to be carried out, the Naruko Dam Management Office will notify the public in advance via sirens and public announcements, but you can also monitor the situation by watching the live camera footage.
Real-time Eai River water level information: The MLIT “River Disaster Prevention Information” website lets you check water levels at each observation point along the Eai River in real time. Using this alongside the live camera helps you make more accurate situational assessments.
⚠️ For evacuation decisions, always check information from your local government and the Japan Meteorological Agency. Please use the live camera footage only as a supplementary tool for situational awareness.
Sightseeing Information: Naruko Onsen and Lake Araoko
Lake Araoko (Reservoir) and Kurikoma Quasi-National Park
The artificial lake “Lake Araoko” created by Naruko Dam is a scenic spot surrounded by the rich mountains of Kurikoma Quasi-National Park. Approximately 90% of the watershed area is forested, and particularly beautiful scenery spreads out during fresh greenery season (May–June) and autumn foliage season (October–November).
One especially popular sightseeing attraction is the “Sudare Discharge” held around May each year. Dam enthusiasts and tourists from across Japan visit to witness the fantastical sight of water flowing quietly from the spillway like a curtain. You can also check the discharge remotely via the “dam gate camera” in the live camera feed.
Along the shores of Lake Araoko, Araoko Lakeside Park has also been developed, where you can enjoy outdoor activities such as camping, canoeing, and barbecuing.
Access to Naruko Onsen
Naruko Dam is located approximately 10 minutes by car from Naruko Onsen, one of Tohoku’s foremost hot spring resorts, heading toward Oni-Koube along National Route 108. A travel plan combining dam sightseeing with the hot springs at Naruko Onsen — known for its diverse spring types including sulfur and sodium bicarbonate springs — is highly recommended.
| Spot | Approximate distance from Naruko Dam |
|---|---|
| Naruko Onsen Station (JR Rikuu East Line) | Approx. 3 km / 5 min by car |
| Naruko Gorge | Approx. 6 km / 10 min by car |
| Oni-Koube Onsen | Approx. 15 km / 20 min by car |
| Araoko Lakeside Park | Approx. 8 km / 15 min by car |
Recommended Accommodations Around Naruko Onsen
A wide range of accommodations at various price points are available around Naruko Onsen. Demand is especially high during the dam sightseeing season, autumn foliage, and the Sudare Discharge period, so early booking is recommended.
Weather Forecast for Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
Rain Cloud Radar for Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture
Nearby Map of Iwabuchi, Naruko Onsen, Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture (Google Maps)
- View on Google Maps