Water-wheels are agricultural water-use facilities that are an integral part of irrigation culture and such facilities must now be conserved. In this study we conducted an evaluation of the preferences of non-farmers for water wheels. Non-farmers evaluated water wheels on the basis of ‘regionality’, ‘functionality’ and a good ‘sound environment’ with greater preference for water wheels than met these characteristics. In the future, the influence of the evaluation-structure gained from this study on non-farmer's sense of participation for preservation of water wheels needs to be considered.