Ukai Cormorant Fishing in Arashiyama

鵜飼京都嵐山

The Arashiyama area is one of several regions in Japan - including Gifu Prefecture and Uji - that has an odd variety of fishing known as "ukai" in Japanese.

It is a traditional form of fishing that employs cormorants - birds that in the wild dive into the water to catch fish - to snag sweet fish.

To prevent the birds, which are tethered, from eating their catch, a snare is attached to the birds neck.

Cormorant fishing is thought to date from around 1000 AD in China and Japan.

Visitors can watch the event either from banks of the river or, to get a closer look, ride a boat for 1700 yen.

The event takes place nightly from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.

Telephone: 075 861 0302

Access

The closest train stations are the Keifuku Line's Arashiyama Station and Hankyu Line's Arashiyama Station.

Cyclists will have no trouble finding parking.


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Kyoto News Ukai Cormorant Fishing in Arashiyama

嵐山で鵜飼

Until September 17, the Arashiyama area of Kyoto will host a traditional type of fishing known as ukai.

Ukai is an Asian fishing method in which cormorants - large birds famed for diving to catch fish - are used to catch sweet river fish.

The fishing takes place on the Oi River from 7 pm to 9 pm.

Men (and a few women now) dressed in traditional fishing robes go out on boats into the river with the birds, whose necks are constrained by metal necklaces.

The birds thus catch the fish but cannot swallow them.

They are moreover tied by a rope to the fisherman, who reels the bird in once it has a fish.

To ride on a boat and see the action up close, it costs 1,700 for adults and 850 yen for children.

The boats depart 19:00 & 20:00 (after Sept. 1: 18:30 & 19:30).

Information

Arashiyama Tsusen: Tel: 075 861 0302.

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