Cormorant fishing on the Nagara River is one of the few places in Japan where the practice is still performed by masters commissioned by the Imperial Household Agency.
The master cormorant fishermen, known as 'usho', are technically civil servants under the Imperial Household Agency.
A single master fisherman typically manages between 10 and 12 cormorants simultaneously using specialized leashes.
The birds are fitted with a neck snare that allows them to swallow smaller fish but prevents them from consuming larger catches like sweetfish.
The tradition is practiced exclusively at night under the light of torches hung from the prows of traditional wooden boats.
The Nagaragawa Ukai Museum serves as an educational center for the 1,300-year-old tradition of cormorant fishing on the Nagara River. It features a full-scale replica of a cormorant fishing boat and displays original tools used by the imperial cormorant masters. Visitors learn about the symbiotic relationship between the master and the cormorants, known as 'u'. The facility uses immersive video projections to simulate the nighttime atmosphere of fishing on the river. It explains the cultural significance of the practice, which is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan. The museum serves as the primary gateway for those interested in witnessing live cormorant fishing demonstrations during the season.
The life-sized replica of the cormorant fishing boat inside the main exhibit hall.
Watch the 360-degree immersive video presentation first to grasp the scale of the nighttime fishing technique.
Plan your visit to coincide with a live fishing boat boarding session if you visit during the active season.
Read the placards explaining the complex hierarchy and grooming techniques for the birds.
Do not assume the live boats are available year-round; the actual fishing takes place only during the warmer months.
Closed on Tuesdays from December to March.
