Kiso River Ukai Cormorant Fishing (Kisogawa Ukai Yuran) | Inuyama City | Aichi Prefecture | Official Site | Sightseeing Information | Directions | Parking | Details | AichiNow-OFFICIAL SITE FOR TOURISM AICHI

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Inuyama-City Kiso River Ukai Cormorant Fishing
(Kisogawa Ukai Yuran)

Date : 06/01/2023 - 10/15/2023


  • Kiso River Ukai Cormorant Fishing (Kisogawa Ukai Yuran)
  • Kiso River Ukai Cormorant Fishing (Kisogawa Ukai Yuran)
  • Kiso River Ukai Cormorant Fishing (Kisogawa Ukai Yuran)
  • Kiso River Ukai Cormorant Fishing (Kisogawa Ukai Yuran)
  • Kiso River Ukai Cormorant Fishing (Kisogawa Ukai Yuran)
  • Kiso River Ukai Cormorant Fishing (Kisogawa Ukai Yuran)
  • Kiso River Ukai Cormorant Fishing (Kisogawa Ukai Yuran)
  • Kiso River Ukai Cormorant Fishing (Kisogawa Ukai Yuran)
  • Kiso River Ukai Cormorant Fishing (Kisogawa Ukai Yuran)

Ukai, Cormorant Fishing on the Kiso River

Ukai is a 1,300 year old traditional fishing technique using tethered cormorants to catch Ayu (sweet fish). A fire hanging from a steel basket at the front of the boat attracts the fish, which are scooped up by the diving birds. The Ushou, or cormorant handler, then pulls the cormorants in and the larger fish are disgorged from the birds' beaks.

Kiso River Ukai

The art of Ukai has been practiced on the rivers of Japan for over 1,300 years, but can only be seen in 13 places across the nation, one of the more famous being on the Kiso River, just upstream from the National Treasure, Inuyama Castle in Aichi Prefecture. Watching Ukai was a popular pastime amongst feudal lords and the rich from the 8th to the 19th Centuries. The practice gained special support from the Emperor, and was patronized and protected by the great unifier Lord Oda Nobunaga and later, the Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Besides Nobunaga and Ieyasu, the wandering poet Matsuo Basho, and even British comedian, film star Charlie Chaplin enjoyed watching Ukai fishing.

Fishing With the Birds

Kiso River Ukai

Ukai is usually performed at night from long flat bottomed wooden boats. Two men control the rudder, navigating the shallower waters and collecting the fish. The lead fisherman, or Usho, dressed in traditional garb, a water repelling straw skirt over a dark cotton kimono and pixie-like cloth cap, handles 5 to 12 cormorants tethered at the neck with straw ropes.

Kiso River Ukai

The Ukai fishing season operates during the warmer months from late May to mid October, except for nights of full moon and when the river rises above a certain level. Although usually performed at night, daytime exhibitions allow visitors a better view of the action.

Escape the heat of the Japanese summer and enjoy a night, or day on the river watching one of the oldest and most traditional of Japanese events, Ukai, cormorant fishing, the summer sport of the Lords of Japan.

EVENT OVERVIEW

  • Parking
  • Restaurant
Date : Annually from June 1 to October 15.
June 1st (Wednsday) to October 15th (Saturday), 2022
*: Daytime Ukai Plans operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the event period (Operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays when there are 20 passengers or more)
Holding time : •Daytime Ukai Plan - Boat Ride and Ukai Sightseeing Only
[Gathering Time]
12:30 PM

•Daytime Ukai Plan - w/ Onboard Meal
[Gathering Time]
11:30 AM

•Nighttime Ukai Plan - Boat Ride and Ukai Sightseeing Only
[Gathering Time]
June-August - 7:00 PM
September-October - 6:30 PM

•Nighttime Ukai Plan - w/ Onboard Meal
[Gathering Time]
June-August - 5:45 PM
September-October - 5:15 PM
Place : Kisogawa Ukai Boarding Berth
Location : 〒484-0081
2 Kitahakusanbira, Inuyama, Inuyama-City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Fee : •Daytime or Nighttime Plan - Boat Ride and Ukai Sightseeing Only
Adults 3,000 yen; Children (ages 4 to 12) 1,500 yen
*: Meal fee not included.

•Nighttime Ukai Plan - w/ Onboard Meal
Adults 3,000 yen; Children (ages 4 to 12) 1,500 yen
*: Meal fee not included.
*: Requires meal fee charged separately.

•Daytime Ukai Plan - w/ Onboard Meal
Adults 5,000 yen; Children (ages 4 to 12) 3,600 yen
*: Meal fee included.

*: Toddlers ages 3 or younger free of charge.
*: Fees are for individual guests.
Parking : Available (cap. 25 cars). For large vehicles and buses, please inquire in advance.
Restrooms : Onboard Meal Plans have scheduled breaks during the tours.
Phone number : 0568-61-2727 (Kisogawa Kanko Company)
Business hours for reservations:
-April to May: weekdays only from 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
-June to October 15th: daily from 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Holidays : Varies by plan.
*: Please verify with direct sources whenever possible for more accurate information.
Required time : •Daytime Ukai Plan - Boat Ride and Ukai Sightseeing Only - 1 hour 15 min.
•Daytime Ukai Plan - w/ Onboard Meal - 2 hours 30 min.
•Nighttime Ukai Plan - Boat Ride and Ukai Sightseeing Only - 1 hour 20 min.
•Nighttime Ukai Plan - w/ Onboard Meal - 2 hours 20 min.

Note: This page may not be current due to update time differences between site databases.
Should accuracy be critical, please verify this information using a direct source, whenever possible.

ACCESS

  • Access by public transport
    Access by public transport
    3 min. (170m) northwards walk from Inuyamayuen Station of the Meitetsu Inuyama Line (board the train bound for Inuyama from Meitetsu Nagoya Station).
  • Access by car
    Access by car
    •Approx. 20 min. (13.1km) northwestwards from Komakihigashi I.C. of the Chuo Expressway via routes 49, 461, and 185, or;
    •Approx. 25 min. (11.1km) northwards from either Komaki-kita Exit of the Nagoya Expressway R11 Komaki Route, or Komaki I.C. of the Meishin Expressway / Tomei Expressway via routes 41, and 27.

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KeywordKeyword
#Kiso River Ukai
#Kisogawa Ukai Yuran
#Cormorant Fishing
#Ancient Fishing Technique Using Cormorant Birds
#Cormorant

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