Fishing in Tokyo: Where to drop your line in the city

Below Tokyo's monoliths, local fisherman can still find a place to lay their bait

By Robert Michael Poole 6 September, 2010

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Under the towers of Ichigaya, central Tokyo, fisherman can still get their catch.

Ichigaya's towers loom over the fishing docks

Ichigaya's towers loom over the fishing docks.

The busy Tokyo streets are just a few meters above

The busy Tokyo streets are just a few meters above.

A rather unusual place for a date in Tokyo?

Young and old come and test the river's fish life

Young and old come and test the river's fish life.

Fishing is seemingly popular amongst many generations

Fishing is seemingly popular amongst many generations.

Limited space means only a lucky few can find a perch

Limited space means only a lucky few can find a perch.

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Japan is renowned for its fish-eating culture, not least to tourists who flock to (soon to be closing?) Tsukiji fish market in the early hours to catch the auctions that supply tens of thousands of restaurants with sushi, sashimi and more every day.

But what is less well known is that even in central Tokyo, it is possible for locals to catch their own fish in the city's rivers.

Click "View Gallery" above for more pictures.

Fishing from east to west

In the west of Tokyo weaves Tamagawa river. Some 138 kilometers long it marks the border between Tokyo city proper, and neighboring Kanagawa prefecture. Sprinkled with sports and recreation areas, parks and trails, it is also a draw for local fishermen. Carp, rainbow trout, cherry salmon, iwana, ugui and ayu can all be found, as well as loach, crabs and turtles. Upstream even commerical fishing is still allowed. For more on the lush surroundings of the wide Tamagawa river and it's returning wildlife, click here. To get there, it's just a 15-minute ride on the Den-en-toshi line from Shibuya station, with Futako-Tamagawa station the best access point.

A couple on an unusual date in the heart of Tokyo.

Meanwhile to the east lies Sumida river, flowing into Tokyo Bay, and right under the highest structure in Japan -- the still-under-construction Tokyo Sky Tree -- lies an area for fisherman to plant their rods between the apartment blocks above. The area has a more artificial feel than the natural surroundings of Tamagawa but is still very popular, particularly with local men. Narihirabashi station on the Tobu Isesaki, just one stop from Asakusa, will get you closest to the tributary to Sumida, where similar fish to those in Tamagawa can be found.

Downtown Ichigaya

For those living in the center of the city, there is yet one more option, Ichigaya Fishing Center (tel. +81 (0) 3 3260 1325) on the 24.6 kilometer Kanda river. The entire river is within the boundary of Tokyo. At the center, which has five pools full of carp, visitors must weigh in their catch at the end of each hour-long session (¥690 per hour), before returning the fish back in to the pond. If you are deemed successful enough, by reaching a certain weight (seven kilograms), you can be rewarded with another free hour. On the second Sunday of each month, 26 fishermen get to compete in a match and it's open from midday until 10 p.m. apart from weekends, when it's 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Ichigaya station is served by multiple JR, Metro and private rail lines in the city center and is itself alongside Kanda river.

For those that are even more adventurous, it's also possible to go boat fishing with a guide in Tokyo Bay out by Disneyland, with prime season in October and November, especially for Japanese sea bass like striper, barramund and snook. Chartering a boat for four hours costs ¥36,500 and can be booked via Trout & King Fishing Tours (tel. +81 (0) 3 3544 5532).

Robert Michael Poole is a specialist on the Japanese music and entertainment scene.

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