Fly Fishing in Japan – Fantastic River Fishing Destinations

2023/11/23

Japan stretching tall between latitudes 24 and 45, like lower 48 States or Australia, has very diverse climate and wild terrains - home to 3,800 species of fish from Sakhalin Taimen in the northern most estuary in Hokkaido to Archerfish in the southern most mangrove river in Okinawa. Yet Japan doesn't stretch too wide meaining you can travel very easy from one location to another thanks to splendid public transportation and highway network nationwide.

Wid variety + easy to travel

What Kind of River Fishing Can I Do in Japan?

Rivers in Japan come in wide variety from the northern island of Hokkaido holding countless trout streams to the southern island in Okinawa with tropical species. Narrow stream deep inside mountains allow only one person to fish at a time in a meantime estuary of coastal river is often few kilometers wide hard to locate where fish is.

Rivers as Inland Water Fiseries

Inland Water Fishing Control Regulation for rivers are governed by prefecture government office for fishing determining what species, open season, sizes, and fishing methods are permitted.

There are 3 types of river fisheries.

1. Free Rivers

Low-water free river during summer time holding rainbow trouts - Hokkaido

Free river is not managed by Gyokyo or fishery cooperatives therefore there is no license required, but all anglers are still subject of Inland Water Fishing Control Regulation. Population of fish are 100% native reproducing on natural cycle, which is rarity in Honshu Island where stocking programmes are common. Majority of rivers in Hokkaido Island are free rivers having only few Gyokyos.

2. Gyokyo-managed Rivers

Fast flowing Gyokyo-managed river in mountains holding white-spotted chars - Aomori

River is managed by Gkyokyo and authorized fishing license is required otherwise angler will be a subject of poaching. License is daily (1,000-2,000/day) and annual (10,000 - 25,000) that comes in ticket that needs to be stashed in tag or case for durability or arm band. Majority of productive rivers in Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu are gyokyo rivers. Fish are stocked by local goernment approved programmes by the mix of hatched egg, parrs, or adut fishes.

3. Special Section

Spring/Summer-only Special Section on the tributary of River Ueno - Gunma

Some Gyokyo-managed waters are special section for catch & release fishing only or only open for special time of year. Out of which, some special section is all year long managed by private organization known as Kanri Tsuriba running outside of license system requirng entrance fee charged by hours or day.

Winter-only Special C&R Section on River Kise - Shizuoka

Unless there are carried over fish from the past season(s), adult fishes are stocked in special sections.

Salmon Fishing in Rivers & Special Occason

Keta salmon caught under special license issued for Salmon Research Fishing - Niigata

Salmon Research Fishing is also a type of Special Section Rivers which require special application approved by Gyokyo in select salmon rivers where salmon hutcheries are set up inviting anglers as researcher to help them harvest returning salmons during reserved days which requires daily fishing license of local Gyokyo.

Otherwise, river fishing for salmon species (sea-run cherry salmon, pink salmon, and keta salmon) are strictly prohibited and arrests of poachers are frequently made by police with punishment by 3 years of imprisonment and 2M JPY fine. So don't take this lightly and if you make "accidental catch", never raise your net outside of water which will be considered "hauling", keep the fish wet for all time and release the fish safely to its original state. Moving away from the same area where you now know fishing there is illegal is highly advised.

How to Purchase Fishing License

Fishing license can be purchased online, nearby shops (convenient stores), and on site.

Stock fishery set up on rivers require play fee separately.

Keiryu aka Rocky River

Rocky section of alpine C&R river - River Yu, Tochigi

75% of Japan are mountains, hills, and plataus covered by forest or jungle producing countless fast flowing streams on rock bottom known as Keiryu or rocky rivers. They can come in wide variety such as alpine rivers, highland rivers, river running through forest on platau, or freshwater section in coral islands.

Bottoms can be made of volcanic rocks coming straight from volcanic activities in the ancient past or sendimentary rocks coming from diastrophism very common in such volanic islands - together why Japan is mountanous.

Coldwater kinds of rocky river make perfect trout habitat where catch & release section or stock fisheries can be found giving ease of access, but mostly they are kept wild where trekking, wading, and optimal athletic abilities are required.

Majority of fish are 20-30 cm size very active for dry flies, wet flies, and nymphs, but sometimes they grow to 40-60cm size in wild habitat ready for streamer actions.

Gyokyo C&R section stocked with big rainbow trout up to 70cm size able to swing Intruder - River Akan, Hokkaido

Free river type of keiryu are usually part of wild life sanctuary where preparation to preserve nature, creativity in approach, and safety precaution for wild animals are required.

Rocky river approachable by kayak through mangrove river system - River in Iriomote Island, Okinawa
Game Tackle Line System
Dry Fly

Singlehand: 7-9' 3-4wt

Floating WF or DT line
Rod length tapered leader + slack tippet 

Singlehand: 7-8' 0-2wt for flat pool

Floating DT line
Rod length tapered leader + slack tippet 
Nymphing Singlehand: 10-11' 2-4wt Floating level nymphing line
Level indicator leader + tippet 1.5 times the depth
Wet Fly Singlehand: 10' 3-4wt Floating WF or DT line
Rod length tapered leader + tippet 1.5 times the depth
Streamer Singlehand: 7-9' 4-6wt Skagit + floating running line
Polyleader + class tippet

Sato-Gawa aka Village/Town River

Trout-stocked village river - River Katsura at Oshino, Yamanashi

Small to medium size rivers are running through valley, platau or plain often inside a village or town - known as Sato-Gawa or village/town river similar to that you can find in British country side. Current is usually very slow and some are spring river with high clarity perfect for sight fishing.

Town river holding carps - River Yanase, Tokyo

Tackle are similar to Keiryu with more consideration for lighter line choice due fish are more pressured by frequent fishing population. For carp game, see streamer.

Game Tackle Line System
Dry Fly

Singlehand: 7-9' 3-4wt

Floating WF or DT line
Rod length tapered leader + slack tippet 

Singlehand: 7-8' 0-2wt for flat pool

Floating DT line
Rod length tapered leader + slack tippet 
Nymphing Singlehand: 10-11' 2-3wt Floating level nymphing line
Level indicator leader + tippet 1.5 times the depth
Wet Fly Singlehand: 10' 3-5wt Floating WF or DT line
Rod length tapered leader + tippet 1.5 times the depth
Streamer Singlehand: 7-9' 5-7wt Floating WF line
Rod length tapered leader + class tippet

Honryu aka Mainstream

2 Keiryus merging into small Honryu - River Nikappu, Hokkaido

Honryu is mainstream river that can be as narrow as 20m wide to 1km wide depending on where it's running through, but commonly a river too deep to wade across thus called "hon" =real and "ryuu" = stream. Honryu is serving superb holding water for both landlcoked fish and sea-runs where dam isn't built or sluice with fishway.

C&R section of small honryu running through a town - River Kise, Shizuoka

Most commonly fished honryu rivers are running through platau often only one side is deep adjacent to walls or hills. Deep side provides hiding place for fish while shalow side are hatching ground for aquatic insects. Fish active for feeding is often holding in between deep and shallow thus anglers need to cast enough distance to the deep side but control the presentation to actually hit the edge of shallow.

Honryu running along hills holding both brown trout and sea trout - River Shizunai, Hokkaido

Big honryu river can be wider than 200m with one or more deep channels where fish are holding for safety and shallow parts where they feed variety of hatching aquatic insects. This is where anglers need to articulate on fish's feeding situation which can require distance cast or accurate presentation.

Full-size honryu running through the middle of Kanto Plain - mid section of River Tone, Gunma

Honryu is where fly tackle, line system, and choice of flies meet the challenge

Full-size honryu running through Tokyo holding warmwater species - mid section of River Tama, Tokyo
Game Tackle Line System
Dry Fly

Singlehand: 9'-10' 3-6wt

Floating WF line + rod length tapered leader + slack tippet 

Switch-hand 10'-10'6'' 3-5wt

Scandi floating + polyleader floating + slack tippet

Nymphing Singlehand: 10-11' 3-6wt Floating level nymphing line
Level leader + tippet 1.5 times the depth
Wet Fly Singlehand: 10'-11' 4-6wt

Floating WF line + rod length tapered leader + tippet 1.5 times the depth
Switch-hand: 10'-11' 3-5wt Scandi/Skagit floating + polyleader floating hover-slow sinking + slack tippet
Two-hand 11'-12' 3-6wt for wing wet Scandi/Skagit floating + polyleader hover-fast sinking + slack tippet
Streamer Singlehand: 9'-10' 6-8wt Floating/intermediate/slow-sinking line
Polyleader + class tippet
Two-hand: 13'-15' 8-10wt for weighted streamer and full-size intruders Skagit + floating/intermediate running line
Polyleader + class tippet

Genryu (Sawa) aka Headwater River in Mountains/Platau

フライフィッシング 源流
Cold headwater stream above waterfall for white-spotted chars, Fukushima

Genryu is often a tributary of Keiryu aka moutain stream and less than 10m wide. Physically demanding place having rocks, forests, and obstacles while routing and weather forcasting are essential skills to fish safely. It is advised to go with a guide or experienced person with clibming skills. from alpine creek deep in mountains/highlands to spring creek only a mile from ocean.

Tropical headwater river for jungle perches, Okinawa
Game Tackle Line System
Dry Fly

Singlehand: 6-7' 3-4wt

Floating DT line + rod length tapered leader + slack tippet 

Singlehand: 6-7' 0-2wt

Floating DT line + rod length tapered leader + slack tippet 

Nymphing Singlehand: 10-11' 2-4wt Floating level nymphing line
Level leader + tippet 1.5 times the depth

Estuary & Tide Sensitive River

Estuaries are tide-sensitive lowest part of rivers where you can intercept anadromous fishes such as sea-run trouts and seabass. Opportunistic feeders comin on rising tide, but predators ambushing for drift baitfish are most active in lowering tide speeding up the river. Cast distance and depth control are very important to attack the right feeding range.

Game Tackle Line System
Nymphing Singlehand: 10-11' 6-7wt Floating WF line
Level leader + tippet 1.5 times the depth
Wet Fly Singlehand: 9'-10' 6-8wt

Floating WF line + rod length tapered leader + tippet 1.5 times the depth
Two-hand 11'-12' 3-6wt Scandi/Skagit floating + polyleader hover-fast sinking + slack tippet
Streamer Singlehand: 9'-10' 6-10wt Floating/intermediate/slow-sinking line
Polyleader + class tippet
Two-hand: 13'-15' 8-10wt for weighted streamer and full-size intruders Skagit floating/intermediate + floating/intermediate running line
Polyleader + class tippet

Jungle River/Mangrove River

River of Mangrove jungle - Iriomote Island, Okinawa

Unique river whose banks are all covered by heavy vegitation often requiring boats or kayaks to provide fishing platform otherwise carefully wade through soft bottom. Huge abundance of both bait fish and predators whether it is freshwater section or brackish water section. Casting accuracy and depth control are very important not to snag flies while keeping it close enough to where fish is feeding - why it's very helpful to have guided trip.

Typical situation where predators are hiding closely by the obstacles
Game Tackle Line System
Nymphing Singlehand: 10-11' 6-7wt Floating WF line
Level leader + tippet 1.5 times the depth
Wet Fly Singlehand: 9'-10' 6-8wt Floating WF line + rod length tapered leader + tippet 1.5 times the depth
Streamer Singlehand: 9'-10' 6-10wt Floating/intermediate/slow-sinking line
Polyleader + class tippet

Need Guide Service?

If you need guide service to take you through the wonders of Japnease rivers or you are travel agent looking for guide service, please contact us using this form.

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