【Experience!】I tried cormorant fishing on the Nagara River in Gifu, and it was ○○!!

Suddenly, have you ever been to cormorant fishing on the Nagara River in Gifu?

It’s much more casual and enjoyable than generally imagined.

“Interested but never found the right opportunity…” Representing those people, two young individuals have experienced cormorant fishing!

This time, Mr. K, an office worker, and Mr. T, a graduate student, tried cormorant fishing on the Nagara River.

Food and drinks of your choice are allowed on the viewing boat

Then, the next concern is about food.

You might think you have to prepare a proper meal, but that’s not the case at all.

You can bring any food and drink you like.

“It’s more casual than I thought,” said Mr. T, who bought sandwiches and doughnuts.

Upon arrival, the first place to visit is the cormorant fishing viewing boat office.

Here, they registered and received their boarding passes. They spent the waiting time at the cormorant fishing viewing boat waiting area.

Also, if you want to buy cold drinks just before boarding, the nearby Nagara River Department Store is convenient. They also sold drinks related to the Nagara River.

Got to learn about the history of cormorant fishing!

As the departure time approached, the two headed to the viewing boat dock.

From 5:45 PM, they listened to a “cormorant fishing explanation” by the master.

“Listening to the highlights and history of cormorant fishing got us excited,” said Mr. K.

Then, the viewing boat they boarded departed at 6:15 PM.

You might think that cormorant fishing starts as soon as you board the boat, but actually, it begins much later.

First, there’s time to eat slowly.

They headed upstream while enjoying the scenery along the Nagara River.

The view from the river, especially during summer evenings, is enchanting as you feel the breeze and watch the sunset.

Enjoying conversations and meals on the boat

They arrived at the upstream mooring place. Until cormorant fishing starts at around 7:45 PM, there’s plenty of time for a leisurely meal.

“The atmosphere is completely different from eating inside a room,” said Mr. Kawase, the boatman.

“Drinking with good friends in an open atmosphere is a unique joy of the viewing boat,” agreed Mr. K and Mr. T.

Mr. Kawase, a veteran boatman of 35 years, responded with a smile when asked what makes his job interesting: “It’s definitely getting to talk with various customers like this.”

Also, the open setting makes it easy to quickly become friends with others on the same boat.

“Spending time enjoying conversations is really satisfying,” both agreed.

Careful attention to comfort, from clean toilets to knee blankets

On this early autumn day, as it began to feel a bit chilly after sunset, Mr. Adachi, another boatman, discreetly offered knee blankets to the two women.

Talking with the women, he shared that he is a graduate student and works part-time as a boatman. These encounters on the boat are also a charm of cormorant fishing.

Another highlight of the Nagara River’s cormorant fishing is the availability of clean toilets. You can use a dedicated boat for the toilets once you disembark on the riverbank.

The overwhelming beauty of cormorant fishing was beyond imagination

After enjoying a leisurely meal, it was finally time for cormorant fishing.

The start signal is four fireworks at around 7:45 PM.

They experienced “hunting downstream” that evening, following the cormorant boats down the dark river illuminated by bonfires scattering sparks.

The beauty of this scene was truly breathtaking.

And Mr. Kawase pointed out, “You must see the master’s skill with the hand ropes.” Controlling the cormorants with 8 to 12 ropes in his left hand, he maneuvers the birds underwater and on the surface as they catch fish.

Watching the cormorants emerge from the water with fish, one could imagine how this sacred act was viewed by people over a millennium ago.

And then came the climax of the evening when six cormorant boats lined up side by side to corral the ayu fish in a maneuver called “total netting,” unique to the Nagara River among the ten places in Japan where cormorant fishing is practiced.

“Tokugawa Ieyasu enjoyed cormorant fishing here on his way back from the Battle of Sekigahara,” explained Mr. Kawase as freshly caught ayu was brought over.

The ayu caught by the cormorants is indeed a precious delicacy.

An Evening of Continuous Awe at Nagara River’s Cormorant Fishing

First, they enjoyed the scenery and relaxed with food and drinks, then quickly descended the river to experience the dramatic thrill of cormorant fishing.

It’s entertainment with a perfect narrative arc.

That’s the real Nagara River cormorant fishing experience. “It was more fun than I expected, and I want to do it again,” said Mr. T.

Mr. K also expressed, “I’m very satisfied with the ‘This is Gifu!’ scenery. Now that I know it’s easy to attend, I’d like to bring friends from out of town.”

Their cormorant fishing experience turned out to be more satisfying than they anticipated!