Hōnen'ike Dam is a multiple-arch dam

Arch dam

An arch dam is a type of dam that is curved and commonly built with concrete. The arch dam is a structure that is designed to curve upstream so that the force of the water against it, known as hydrostatic pressure, presses against the arch, compressing and strengthening the structure as it pushes...

 in the Sanuki Mountain

Sanuki Mountains

The are a mountain range running along the southern border of Kagawa and the northern border of Tokushima prefectures on the island of Shikoku, Japan.The highest peak is at 1059.9m.-External links:...

 range at Ōnohara

Onohara, Kagawa

was a town located in Mitoyo District, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.On October 11, 2005 Ōnohara was merged with the town of Toyohama, also from Mitoyo District, to form the new city of Kan'onji and no longer exists as an independent municipality....

, Kagawa Prefecture

Kagawa Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island. The capital is Takamatsu.- History :Kagawa was formerly known as Sanuki Province.For a brief period between August 1876 and December 1888, Kagawa was made a part of Ehime Prefecture.-Battle of Yashima:...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. The reservoir it creates is used for irrigation. Construction began in 1926 and was completed in 1930. The dam is 31 m high and has a crest length of 128 m. It is supported by six arched buttress

Buttress

A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...

es. Some renovation work has been needed to control leakage; special care has been taken due to its status as a cultural asset.

The dam has been designated an Important Cultural Property

Important Cultural Properties of Japan

The term is often shortened into just are items officially already classified as Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs and judged to be of particular importance to the Japanese people....

by the Japanese Ministry of Culture.