See Gifu's traditional fishing method, "UKAI"! Travel to Kawaramachi, Gifu City, where the old streets remain

What is the Kawaramachi area in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture?

Kawaramachi in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, is a compact tourist spot that retains its old townscape, located close to Gifu Station. Gifu City is also famous for being able to see UKAI, Gifu's traditional fishing method, but it is also a place with plenty of attractions and sightseeing to enjoy, such as Kinkazan, which is home to Gifu Castle, the old townscape of Kawaramachi, the many inns and hotels where you can enjoy Nagaragawa Onsen, and a number of events.

Here, I would like to tell you about the charms of the Kawaramachi area in Gifu City. I would be happy if I could let you know that there is such a wonderful tourist spot just 30 minutes away from Nagoya.

• Table of Contents
• See the traditional fishing method of "UKAI fishing" on the clear Nagara River that runs through Gifu City
• Before enjoying UKAI, take a stroll through the old streets of Kawaramachi
• How to get to Gifu City from Nagoya Station

See the traditional fishing method of "UKAI fishing" on the clear Nagara River that runs through Gifu City

What exactly is UKAI?

Gifu City has had a special way of catching fish since ancient times called "UKAI". UKAI is a traditional fishing method that has been passed down since ancient times, in which a bird called a cormorant is used to catch fish . Cormorants are birds that live in large rivers, and they came to be used for fishing because they are very good at catching fish. In Gifu City, they use the Japanese cormorant, which lives in the sea.

UKAI is generally performed at night. A person who controls the cormorants, called an "usho", takes the cormorants on a boat and heads out onto the river. The cormorant fisherman uses a fire to lure the fish, which the cormorants gather and then catch in their beaks.

This fishing method, known as UKAI fishing, is an ancient tradition that has been practiced for over 1,300 years. UKAI in Gifu City can be seen for a set period of time each year, from May to October. There are 11 other locations where UKAI is practiced throughout the country, but you can see three of them in Aichi and Gifu prefectures alone.

This is the office where you can check in for UKAI viewing. The road is paved with cobblestones and Kawaramachi spreads out along the road. The river is right in front of you, which makes you feel excited.

As of 2024, there are a total of six UKAI fishermen in Gifu City. Since the Meiji period, the position of cormorant fisherman has basically been passed down from generation to generation through hereditary means.
During the UKAI season, which runs from May to October, the fishermen UKAI for a total of 157 days, sometimes twice a day. Almost every night, the fishermen go out to UKAI, and tourists can board a boat to watch.

UKAI takes place at night, so naturally you can only watch it at night. Fortunately, there are plans that allow you to eat while on the UKAI observation boat, and plans that allow you to bring your own food, so it's a good idea to decide on a plan that suits your preferences. If you want to know more about actual UKAI fishing, please see the official website below. Of course, you can also make reservations here.

For more information and reservations about UKAI in Gifu City, click here

For a limited time, you can also take a sightseeing boat

UKAI is generally performed at night, but you can actually take a pleasure boat during the day. Pleasure boats depart from the UKAI observation boat dock and allow you to enjoy the scenery, designated as a national important cultural landscape, while cruising down the Nagara River.

However, please note that the daytime sightseeing boats do not operate during the UKAI season, and are only available for a limited time. The operating period is at the end of March and around Golden Week, so the next time you can ride it will be in 2025, but please make sure to make a reservation for next year.

This is the UKAI fishing observation boat "Tamadama Maru." You can enjoy the tour comfortably in your shoes on the table-style boat. There are also other tatami-style boats, so please check the detailed plan when making a reservation.

The inside of the ship is spacious and open. Compared to land, the pleasant breeze blowing through the Nagara River is cool and very pleasant.

The clear water of the Nagara River is beautifully clear. It is wonderful to be able to enjoy the daytime view of the Nagara River right in front of you, which you cannot see during night UKAI.

You can also take a break at the UKAI Shelter.

This is the waiting area where you can wait until UKAI fishing time. It is right in front of the UKAI reception desk, so even if you arrive too early, you can take a break here while you wait, or go for a walk in Kawaramachi.

UKAI event period

UKAI in Gifu City is held every year from May 11th to October 15th. It is held on these dates every year regardless of the day of the week, so it is easy to remember.
However, please note that due to bad weather, the river may be flooded and the event may be canceled, so please check in advance. *Only chartered boats will be operating on the day of the fireworks display.

Before enjoying UKAI, take a stroll through the old streets of Kawaramachi

The Charm of Kawaramachi

The streetscape that continues from the UKAI fishing observation boat dock is called "Kawaharamachi," and is lined with Japanese houses that are over 100 years old, retaining a quaint landscape to this day.

Just strolling the cobblestone streets of Kawaramachi will make you feel as if you have traveled back in time. There are many townhouses with cafes and shops where you can enjoy local crafts such as Japanese WAGASA（Japanese umbrella） and paper lantern, as well as delicious local cuisine. Of course, there are also accommodations such as inns, and although it is compact, there is plenty to see.

The townscape, which exudes a Japanese atmosphere, gives you a sense of something out of the ordinary.

Nagaragawa Department Store

In Kawaramachi there is a building called Nagaragawa Department Store.
The concept of Nagaragawa Department Store is "delivering the blessings of the Nagaragawa River along with the thoughts of the makers," and the store stocks a wide variety of products from the Nagaragawa River basin, ranging from miscellaneous goods and crafts such as paper lantern, Mino washi paper, clothing, woodwork, bamboo crafts, and cutlery, to local sake, seasonings, and sweets, so just by coming here you will feel like you have visited many different places.

Nagaragawa Department Store official website

Experience "Painting a paper lantern" in Kawaramachi

In Gifu City, paper lantern, fans, and WAGASA（Japanese umbrella） made from Mino washi paper and bamboo remain as local specialties, and there are artisans who make these in Kawaramachi.
Of course, tourists can buy them as souvenirs, but you can also experience being involved in the process of making these traditional Gifu products.

For example, you can try your hand at Gifu's traditional crafts, such as painting a plain paper lantern that has been carefully crafted by a paper lantern lantern artisan, or stitching an umbrella with thread that spreads out like a flower around the ribs when it is opened.

Gifu City is one of the two major paper lantern production areas in Japan, and is also the largest producer of Japanese WAGASA（Japanese umbrella）, producing nearly 70% of the WAGASA（Japanese umbrella） in the country.
Well, this is the paper lantern that will be used in the paper lantern lantern painting experience. It starts out blank, but from here you can paint pictures and write whatever you like to create your own special paper lantern.

Here is the finished product. You can choose between round and vertical paper lantern, and depending on the painting method and design, you can end up with something completely different, so it's fun to see the individuality.

In addition, the paper lantern painting experience can be fully enjoyed even by those who are not good at painting or children. There are many sample designs available, so you don't have to worry if you are stuck for what to paint. Also, you can design and experience it as you like, as you can just write letters as well as pictures.
By the way, the paper lantern will be folded for you to take home, so it will be compact. A light source will also be included, so you can light it up as soon as you get home.
You can try making WAGASA（Japanese umbrella） and paper lantern, but of course you can also purchase them in the store. If you find one you like, we recommend you buy it without hesitation.

Kawaramachi's recommended cafe "Kawaramachiya"

Kawaramachiya is a cafe built in the style of a traditional townhouse, located on the banks of the Nagara River in Gifu. If you get tired of walking around Kawaramachi, or if you have some time before the UKAI, why not drop in?
The building is an Important Cultural Property of Gifu City and is said to be about 150 years old.
The shop is not only a cafe, but also displays and sells "Mizu Uchiwa" (traditional crafts) and washi paper products that were born from the culture of the Nagara River. It is a space that is enjoyable even just by looking at the building.

Although it cannot be seen in the photo below, you can also see Mount Kinka and Gifu Castle, symbols of Gifu city, from the second floor seats of the cafe.
By the way, the name of Mount Kinka is said to come from the fact that the Tsuburajii tree, which is also the tree of Gifu City, blooms in early summer and looks like it paints the mountain golden.

The popular and recommended menu item at Kawaramachiya is the "Omurice Set." The fluffy, runny eggs and tomato sauce are delicious. Inside the omurice is special ginger rice. Another nice thing about the set is that it comes with a mini parfait.

The menu is varied and includes dishes such as a special curry made with natural sweetfish sushi paste and fish sauce, as well as Kawaramachiya's original pizza, so choose according to your mood that day.

If you want to see more of Cafe Kawaramachiya's menu, click here

How to get to Gifu City from Nagoya Station

If you are heading to Gifu City from Nagoya, you can take an express bus or a car, but we recommend using the train, which is less crowded and quicker. We will also introduce the travel time, so please use it as a reference.

Train: JR Tokaido Line or Nagoya Railroad, both direct within 30 minutes!

Gifu City is actually easily accessible from Nagoya Station, and you can get there faster than you might think. It takes about 20 minutes on the JR Tokaido Line, and about 30 minutes on the Nagoya Railroad, so it's nice to be able to arrive in no time once you leave Nagoya.

After arriving at Gifu Station, it is best to take a bus to get to the Kawaramachi area, regardless of which train line you use.
When using JR: JR Gifu Station (bus stops 11, 12, and 13)
When using Nagoya Railroad: Meitetsu Gifu Station (Platform 4)
Both are the same bus, and it takes about 15 minutes by taking the N line or the city loop counterclockwise bus.
The best place for sightseeing would be to get off at the bus stop called "Nagarabashi."

What do you think.
In the Kawaramachi area of ​​Gifu City, there are many places where you can learn more about and experience the traditions of Gifu. Although we couldn't introduce them all, Kawaramachi also offers kimono rentals , so why not try wearing a kimono and walking around the traditional Kawaramachi area?

By the way, if you want to know more about other places in Gifu Prefecture where you can enjoy history and nature, please check out this article.