Hello, fellow travel lovers!
This time, I hopped on a summer classic in Gifu — a cormorant fishing viewing boat on the Nagara River!
I stopped by the Nagara River Ukai Museum before the cruise to learn a bit about the deep bond between the fishermen and their cormorants — and trust me, it makes the real thing a hundred times more fun!
🦆 At the meeting point, there’s a striking statue of a cormorant and its master!
観覧船の集合場所には、なんとも感動的な「鵜と鵜匠のきづな像」。
You can pick up your bento here before boarding.
I pre-ordered my bento from Kikusui, one of the vendors featured on the official cormorant fishing boat website!
The bento came in a big styrofoam box — perfect for keeping everything warm and fresh!
Right in front of the meeting spot, there's a liquor shop where I grabbed a bottle of recommended sake — all set and ready to go! 🍶
By the way, the cormorant fishing boat ride costs 3,500 yen per person.
This time, the bento was a whopping 5,400 yen per person!
It was a bit of a splurge, but packed with Gifu flavors — totally worth it!
Totally hyped in my cormorant-themed T-shirt!
I wore the “cormorant T-shirt” I bought as a souvenir, and the boatman lit up with a big “Whoa!”
I just changed into it because I was sweaty… didn’t expect such a reaction! 😄
🚤 Off we go — cruising into the sunset on the Nagara River!
The river surface glowing in the sunset was absolutely stunning…
The boat departed at 6:45 PM, and the cormorant fishing started at 7:45 PM.
Until the show begins, it’s bento time and a bit of onboard entertainment!
Can’t wait to open it!
Ta-da! Packed with Hida beef — and yes, this is just one serving!
More juicy meat over here, too! I took the little Ayukko sweet in the front home as a souvenir.
It came with both salt-grilled and miso-glazed ayu — and even ayu rice porridge!
Totally hyped — it was Gifu flavors all the way, and I was loving every bite!
💃 And yes, there were even dancer boats and a floating restroom!
Partway through, a boat with dancers pulled up alongside us, adding a festive vibe to the evening ✨
And yes — there’s even a dedicated “toilet boat,” so you can sip your sake worry-free! 😄
🐦 鵜匠と鵜の見事なコンビネーション 🐦 Flawless teamwork between the cormorant master and the bird!
And now, the cormorant fishing show begins!
Startled by the boat’s torchlight, the ayu dart out—only to be swiftly caught by the cormorants!
Screenshot
But the birds don’t swallow the fish — a rope tied around their necks keeps them from gulping it down.
The rope is tied just tight enough to stop swallowing but not cause discomfort — true craftsmanship.
I had never really thought much about cormorants before, but by the end of the night—I was totally hooked!
Something about their dedication and the way they work so hard honestly touched my heart.
And finally — it’s cormorant meet-and-greet time!
After the show, the cormorants swim over to the boat as if to say hello.
After the show, the cormorants swim over to the boat as if to say, “So, how’d you like our performance?”
🚖 The journey wrapped up nice and smooth.
After getting off the boat, a few taxis were waiting nearby — straight back to the hotel in no time!
Hot springs, the viewing boat, delicious bento, sake, and the warmth of the people.
Every moment of the night was simply unforgettable.
The journey continues... Wishing you all a wonderful trip! – TabiJun
＊＊TabiJun＊＊
