Cormorant fishing viewing on the Nagaragawa River
Joined 2015
Gifu Castle standing on the Mt.Kinka provides visitors with nice panoramic views day and night. You also enjoy watching a traditional unique event Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara River while eating dinner in a viewing boat. Sir Charlie Chaplin visited Gifu twice to enjoy this unique traditional event. Besides, a photogenic street Kawara-machi and the Great Buddha statue in Shoboji-temple move you so much.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At JR Gifu Station
JR Gifu Station
After meeting, you move around the station-front area
Public tea house (Matcha-tea break) in Gifu park
Shobo-ji (Great Buddha)
In Shoboji temple, you see a golden Great Buddha statue which is one of the three most famous Buddha-statues in Japan.
Nagara River Ukai Museum
In the Nagaragawa Ukai Museum, you learn everything about cormorant fishing. You can also visit one of the fishing master's cafe 'U-no-Iori U' where you can see and come close to cormorants while drinking coffee.
Kawara-machi
Strolling around the old wooden building street, you enjoy dropping in unique souvenir shops, cafe and fancy restaurants.
Cormorant Fishing*(11 May to 15 October)
From May 11th to October 15th, you could enjoy cormorant fishing known as Ukai on the Nagara River at night. Cormorant fishing is a traditional fishing style that started over 1300 years ago. You can enjoy eating dinner on a viewing-boat on the river and see how the fishing-masters manipulate birds to catch sweetfish, Ayu. The ephemeral performance by the fishermen and birds will give you a small glimpse of the old days.
Night view from the castle *(the available date in 2024 is still unknown)
You enjoy a night tour to the castle via lift-ride and walk. The panorama view from the castle balcony is unforgettable.
JR Gifu station
Ending Point
At JR Gifu Station
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee and pick-up in a hotel in central area of Gifu city
transportation fee for guide and guests
entrance fee for guests (Gifu CIty Museum:300yen, Shobo-ji:200yen, Nagaragawa Ukai Museum:500yen)
cormorant fishing boat fee for guide and guests (adult/child:3400/1700yen per person)
lunch,tea and dinner fee for guest and guide about 5000yen/person
Tour Important Information
(example itinerary A)
・JR Gifu Station(meeting point) 13:00
・Strolling around Station Front 13:00~13:30
・Public tea house(tea break) 13:40~14:20
・Shobo-ji(Great Buddha) 14:30~15:00
・Nagaragawa Ukai Museum 15:10~16:10
・Kawara-machi 16:30~17:30
・comorant fishing 18:00~20:30
・ night view from the castle 20:30~21:30
・JR Gifu Station 22:00
(example itinerary B)
・JR Gifu Station(meeting point) 10:30
・Gifu Castle 11:00~12:20
(lunch 12:20~13:20)
・Shobo-ji(Great Buddha) 13:20~13:50
・Public tea house(tea break) 14:00~14:30
・Nagaragawa Ukai Museum 15:00~16:00
・Kawara-machi 16:20~17:30
・comorant fishing 18:00~20:30
・JR Gifu Station 21:00
*an attached video shows a scene of cormorant fishing
Important message from the supplier
I can guide in Kyoto in case you support transportation fee.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2015
About Tour Guide Tetsuji Y.
Hello everyone. I am Tetsuji. I worked as a public servant in the local government for 35 years. I belonged to the department of Redevelopment, Town-Landscaping, Preserving historical areas and Architectural Guidance. (I have a national 1st-class architect license.) I devoted myself to revitalizing the city by making plans and improving infrastructure for citizens.
Gifu is located in central Japan near Nagoya. As just being the crossroads of the West and the East, there are many unique attractions that are hard to discover in hectic big cities like Tokyo or Kyoto. I had a hand in restoring and preserving some of them throughout my career and want to introduce them to tourists from abroad. That’s why I became a guide-interpreter in Gifu.
I also enjoyed traveling around the world. My favorite part of each trip was walking around the city and talking with local residents. Traveling has taught me lots of things during my lifetime. Now, I would like to help others have similar experience in Japan. Shall we enjoy fantastic journey in Gifu?
Reviews
Renee M.
“A great tour that took full advantage of everything Takayama has to offer”
Tetsuji was a wonderful guide! He showed us all that Takayama and the surrounding area had to offer. He was knowledgeable, flexible and enjoyable to be with. With his knowledge we discovered a Takayama that we would not even known existed. Thank you Tetsuji!
Tetsuji Y.
I appreciate an excellent review for my tour. I am happy guiding a nice American couple who are so curious about Japanese culture, especially foods and drinks. Above all, the scene two of you enjoyed tasting Sake in a brewery is impressive. I hope that you will visit central Japan exploring attractive places with my guidance in other seasons.
Kelioniu A.
“Great time in Tsumago & Magome”
We liked our Nakasendo hike very much. With help of excellent guide, we were even able to visit local museum. Great time and really recommend our guide Mr Tetsuji.
Tetsuji Y.
I am grateful to hear that you are satisfied with my tour, including some praise for me. I hope to accept new requests of guiding from you.
Michelle B.
“Beautiful tour!”
We thoroughly enjoyed our day on the Nakaswndo trail with Tetsuji! He added to our experience with explaining history of the trail and stories of edo era Japan. The walk was beautiful scenery and we loved the tea house we stopped at halfway between Magome and Tsumago. He also did his research prior to the tour to find a Gluten free place to have lunch and helped explain my allergy to the staff of the restaurant. Tetsuji was great and I highly recommend! I will add, the bus system was different from everywhere else we went so it was super helpful to have him there to guide us through it. We added money to our IC card the day prior and found out the day of that the bus system only used yen so keep that in mind. Thankfully we had enough yen on us, but just keep that in mind...you cannot use your IC card for transportation.
Tetsuji Y.
I appreciate lots of praise for my guiding with useful information on transportation in Japan for others. Your explanation is persuasive for others to travel around Japan. I hope to see you without difficulties near future.
$116/ per group
More tours by Tetsuji Y.
Discover Authentic Japan in Tsumago & Magome, Nakasendo
Discover Authentic Japan in Tsumago & Magome, Nakasendo
One-day-tour of Shirakawa-go
One-day-tour of Shirakawa-go
Best Choice for one-day Takayama tour
Best Choice for one-day Takayama tour
Handmade paper Mino-Washi and traditional swords of SEKI
Handmade paper Mino-Washi and traditional swords of SEKI
Other Popular Unique Experience Tours in Gifu
Let's enjoy City of Water and making handmade "masu" !
Let's enjoy City of Water and making handmade "masu" !
Handmade paper Mino-Washi and traditional swords of SEKI
Handmade paper Mino-Washi and traditional swords of SEKI