Five die in Japan after dam car crash

Five people have died, and another is in a critical condition, after a car they were travelling in crashed into a dam in Japan.

Five people died and another is in a critical condition after their car plunged into a dam in Japan. (AAP)

Five people died and another is in a critical condition after their car plunged into a dam in western Japan, local media report.

The six men were on their way home on Sunday from a party at a campsite in Kawachinagano city, Kyodo News agency reports citing local police.

The car drove off the road 10 metres above the water with one of the passengers managing to swim to shore.