Wild sweetfish fishing in Kuromatsunai- all gear included!

Tour Highlights

• Catch and eat wild sweetfish that won the grand prize at the Clear Stream Sweetfish Tasting Event.
• Catch wild sweetfish using the traditional and unique fishing method known as “Tomo-tsuri,” which takes advantage of the fish’s habits!

The Shufuto River is a clear stream that flows through the center of Kuromatsunai.

For the fishing season, July through mid-September, you can enjoy fishing for wild ayu, which only live in southern Hokkaido.

This ancient Japanese fishing method, called “Tomo-tsuri,” is difficult, but that’s exactly why it’s worth trying! Ayu fishing requires a lot of different tools, which are expensive. It can be hard to get started, but here you can try it empty-handed.

Your guides will support you with the knowledge and techniques related to ayu fishing, such as how to attach bait ayu, how to catch them, and where to purchase fishing licenses and bait ayu, so even beginners will be fine.

The ayu from Shufuto River are also well-known for their deliciousness, winning the grand prize at the 19th (2016) and runner-up at the 22nd tournament of the “Clear Stream Ayu Tasting Association” held annually in Kochi Prefecture.

Also, to avoid genetic disturbance, the release of farmed ayu from Honshu has been suspended since 2013. We are maintaining ayu fishing grounds that do not rely on the release of farmed ayu, by methods such as by developing spawning grounds and releasing artificially hatched ayu fry from the Shufuto River. Ayu with genes that have adapted to Hokkaido’s cold rivers are large and long, and are popular with anglers.