100 ¥ = 61.95 Rub
1 $ = 91.56 Rub
Tottori License #3-92
Prices start from $132 per person
Enjoy a refreshing boat cruise and watch the traditional practice of fishing with cormorants.
Cormorant fishing (ukai) on the Japanese islands has been practiced for over thirteen centuries. Fishermen wear dark blue kimonos, aprons with tools for repairing fishing lines, thick hemp caps to protect their hair from sparks of the torches, and straw skirts for protection against water. Fully equipped, they load bamboo cages with cormorants onto small flat-bottomed boats, which are easy to maneuver in shallow rivers.
The crew of one boat usually consists of three people—a rower, a helmsman, and the fisherman himself. To lure fish at night, fishermen light a torch by kindling a fire in a metal basket at the bow of the boat. Pine wood chips provide the brightest flames. For fire safety, the basket is fixed to a slanted pole and extended out over the water. This also provides additional light for the cormorants. To keep the birds awake, fishermen bang their oars against the sides of the boat or beat a special drum.
Cormorant fishing can be observed from July 2 to September 23.
Start times:
- July–August: 19:00 and 20:00
- September: 18:30 and 19:30
