A social experiment using an amphibious bus will be held on November 1 and 2 at the Tsugaru Dam, which is under construction at Nishimeya Village, the gateway to the world natural heritage "Shirakami Mountains".

The Tsugaru Dam is a gravity concrete dam constructed immediately downstream of the existing Meiya Dam, with a height of 97.2 meters and a ridge length of 342 meters. On August 29th, about 760,000 cubic meters of concrete was placed, and in the future it will move to construction of management facilities. Scheduled for completion in 2016.

The social experiment is said to have started from the idea of Mayor Seki Kazunashi Nishimeya, who could use the amphibious bus as a new tourism resource after the completion of the dam. In the experiment conducted last year, "Adults were more pleased than children," said Toshihiko Endo of the Tsugaru Dam Construction Office, Research and Design Division.

The amphibious bus is about 12 meters long and 3.5 meters high, with a capacity of 37 people. It boasts a maximum speed of 4.5 knots and a maximum speed of 100 km. It is the first vehicle in Japan to receive a business license. “It's a unique opportunity to get on an amphibious bus. It's a good idea to see the autumn leaves from the surface of the lake,” says Endo. "It is only now that we can see the Megaya Dam, which sinks in the lake when the Tsugaru Dam is completed, up close."

Since the bus does not have windows, we invite people to wear warm clothes as much as possible. Free to join. Apply to Tsugaru Dam Construction Office. You can also apply by email. The application deadline is October 22nd.