Chubu Wide-area Tourism Portal Site -- Travel to Ten Thrilling Scenic Sites This showcases sightseeing destinations in Japan's Chubu region (the prefectures of Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, and Shiga).

Gifu Prefecture Gifu Area

Cormorant Fishing in the Nagara River in Gifu Prefecture has a long history of 1,300 years. Usho, who played the leading role in the cormorant fishing team, was protected from those in power (such as Nobunaga Oda and Ieyasu Tokugawa) in the old days. Since1890, however, Usho has moved under the protection of the Imperial Household Agency and was given a status of the Board of the Ceremonies. The climax of Cormorant Fishing is sougarami, when 6 cormorant fishing boats form a line to chase ayu fish to the shallow part of the river.