Tatsugaike Pumping Station
The Tatsugaike Pumping Station is located about 700 meters south (south-southwest) of the Sunayamaike Pumping Station.
Evening was approaching, and the surroundings were growing dim. I had to hurry.
The first thing that caught my eye was a banner and hanging sign reading, “World Irrigation Heritage Site: Tatsugaike Pumping Station.” Tatsugaike Pumping station was registered as a World Irrigation Heritage Site on September 3, 2024.
Right next to it was an empty lot where I could park, and I could see the building.
Approaching the building, I found a stone-lined well, similar to the one at Sunayama Pumping Station.
However, while Sunayama well was narrow and elongated at 3.6m × 29m, Tatsugaike well was square at 16.4m × 16.4m above ground (4.5m × 4.5m at water level).
Walking around the perimeter, I peered into the well.
An explanatory board stands near the building, displaying a diagram like this. The main house is the boiler room, with the pump room built one level below.
The stone walls around the pond section narrow as they descend, and the lowest part appears to be constructed of steel frames or something similar rather than stone walls.
At the Toyosato Town Council meeting in September 2023, Tatsugasaki was discussed.
During the meeting, a statement was made that “the problem is that the lower piles have rotted away, causing stones to fall.”
At this point, the town’s policy was that “the final decision on how to maintain Tatsugaike must be made by the Ishihata District.” Due to cost issues, they seemed to be considering repair methods.
The newest article found online is from the Chunichi Shimbun dated May 19, 2025.
As it’s a member-only article, I could only read the opening. It states that the electric pump broke in 2020 and has not been repaired. (The latter part of the article seems to explain the reasons… but I can’t read it…)
I have no knowledge of any progress since then, so I cannot write any further about the renovations.
***
Beside the building, the base of a chimney used during the steam boiler era remains.
A concrete waterway extends from the pump room toward this point, branching off to the left and right.
The white box in the foreground also appears to contain a pump. It was likely added later, though the exact date is unknown. Perhaps this pump is still operational.
The waterway.
The article from the Shiga Prefecture Cultural Properties Protection Association, linked at the end, includes an old photograph from the time of completion. Looking at it, water was drawn through pipes, not concrete waterway, at the time of completion. It resembles the current form of the Sunayamaike Pumping Station.
That photograph also shows the chimney extending from the base. The chimney was reportedly about 15 meters tall.
The pump room in the foreground (with the “Tatsugaike nameplate) appears to have a higher roof position compared to the old photograph. Concrete foundations have also been added, suggesting renovations. Perhaps these changes occurred when the waterway was rebuilt in concrete.
The boiler room in the background has altered walls and windows.
Since it was registered as a World Irrigation Heritage site in 2024, I expect repairs will be made going forward. Still, it would be best if it could continue operating as an active facility.
Also, I feel like Tatsugaike and Sunayamaike should be registered as a set for Irrigation Heritage. What do you think? The Japan Society of Civil Engineers lists them together as recommended heritage sites.
(The 1910 pump trial of Tatsugaike was one week earlier than Sunayamaike.)
[Reference] (written in Japanese)
“Sunayamaike and Tatsugaike Pumping Stations” (Selected Civil Engineering Heritage by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers / Japan Society of Civil Engineers)
“World Irrigation Heritage” (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website)
“Shiga Prefecture’s First World Irrigation Heritage Site ‘Tatsugaike Pumping Stations’: Rising Repair Costs, What Path to Utilization?” (Chunichi Shimbun / May 19, 2025)
“New Omi Scenic Spots Illustrated, Issue 428: The Battle Against Drought – Tatsugaike Pumping Station” (Shiga Prefecture Cultural Properties Protection Association / 2025-08-28)