The Nagara River
The Nagara River, which flows through the center of the city, has water that is so clear that it has been selected by Japan's Ministry of the Environment as one of the top 100 bodies of water in Japan.
From May to October, visitors to the river can see the traditional fishing method of cormorant fishing, which has long been employed on the river. Cormorant fishing is a technique where fish are caught by trained cormorants (a type of water bird) and then regurgitated out for the fishermen.
There is a promenade that goes upriver about 1 km from Nagara Bridge, providing spots where visitors can see the cormorants up close.
