Former Kitasui Water Purification Plant is a giant water purification plant built in 1901 in the mountains near Maizuru Bay to serve the new naval base.The enormous quantities of water required to supply the naval facilities and fleet were brought from a dam some 6km away and stored here before being distributed.
Although it’s usually closed to the public, you might be lucky enough to catch one of the occasional openings.
After entering the structure, visitors are led down into a maze-like underground space containing several 6-meter-high walls. These were designed to keep the water circulating and prevent stagnation.Absent water, the vast chamber is profoundly silent, and it feels like being inside some kind of ancient monument. The overwhelming grandeur and scale give you a sense of the technological prowess of the navy at the time.
- Tel
- 0773-66-1096
- Address
- 1039-2 Kitasui, Maizuru city, Kyoto prefecture
- Access
- Train: From Higashi Maizuru Station on the JR Maizuru Line, take Kyoto Kotsu Bus for about 5 minutes to "Shiyakusho-mae" bus stop (the City Office bus stop). Maizuru Brick Park is to the left of the City Office. Alternatively, walk about 20 minutes from Higashi Maizuru Station on the JR Maizuru Line.
- Parking
- There is a private parking lot 150 m west of Maizuru Red Brick Park. Please use the anchor of the escort ship "Shirane" as a landmark with which to find it.
