Watch Ukai Cormorant Fishing （Arashiyama）

From July 1^st to September 23th it is possible to experience the unique “Ukai cormorant fishing”, a traditional type of fishing that dates back to the Heian Period (794-1185) and that is preserved in both Kyoto and Gifu Prefectures.

Ukai is practiced on a wooden boat on which it is attached a large fire in order to provide light. Each fisherman leads many trained cormorants on leashes who swim alongside the boat and dive into the water in order to catch fishes and swallow them. The fishes are kept in the throat of cormorants and then are taken by the fisherman who wear traditional clothes. At first, Ukai-method was used to catch sweet fish (ayu) for the Emperor, this is why fishermen still wear the same old-fashioned clothing when Ukai was performed for the Imperial family. Nowadays, Ukai cormorant fishing is an activity mainly a tourist attraction. Enjoy the cool breeze of the river and the magical atmosphere created by the torchlight flickering over the boat, while watching the impressive cormorant fishing