For　a　preliminary　investigation　of　the　impact　of　a　tsunami　surge　on　wharf　piles,　a　tsunami　flume　was　built　in　a　laboratory,　and　a　dam　break　flow　was　generated　by　a　gate-reservoir　system　to　simulate　a　tsunami　surge.　In　addition,　a　vertical　wall　was　installed　in　front　of　the　wharf　model　so　that　its　effect　in　reducing　tsunami　load　could　be　studied.　Five　different　tsunami　surge　strengths　were　generated　by　this　gate-reservoir　system.　Wave　transducers　were　used　in　the　test　flume　to　capture　surge　heights　and　velocities,　and　hence　the　surge　front　profiles,　for　different　surge　strengths.　High-speed　video　cameras　(210　frames　per　second)　were　used　to　record　the　flow　motion　of　the　tsunami　surge,　and　pressure　sensors　(1000　Hz　in　frequency)　were　used　to　capture　the　time　histories　of　the　tsunami　pressure　on　the　wharf　piles.　Four　stages　of　tsunami　surge　motions　were　observed　by　this　high-speed　camera.　Accordingly,　the　pressure　time　history　can　be　divided　into　three　phases.　In　our　experimental　range,　pressures　were　influenced　by　surge　height　and　wall　height,　but　not　by　the　wall　position.　Based　on　the　dimensionless　experimental　data　(pile　heights,　surge　heights,　vertical　wall　heights,　and　surge　pressures),　equations　for　estimating　tsunami　loads　on　wharf　pile　are　proposed,　expressing　surge　front　(peak　impact)　pressure　and　quasi-steady　pressure　as　functions　of　surge　height,　wall　height,　and　pile　height.