Fishing in Japan
Rivers and lakes are managed by cooperatives that issue day permits called yugyoken. Sea fishing needs no licence, though foreign nationals face vessel-size rules.
10 researched spots — 5 Saltwater, 3 Fly Fishing, 2 Freshwater.
Species you can target
- Japanese dace
- Japanese sea bass
- ayu
- brook trout
- brown trout
- chum salmon
- common carp
- coral trout
- dogtooth tuna
- flathead
- giant trevally
- horse mackerel
- largemouth bass
- masu salmon
- mullet
- pink salmon
- rainbow trout
- skipjack tuna
- white-spotted char
- yellowtail amberjack
Fishing spots in Japan
- Tokyo Bay — Tokyo. Saltwater, Intermediate. Target species: Japanese sea bass, yellowtail amberjack, flathead.
- Lake Yunoko & Nikko — Tochigi. Fly Fishing, Beginner. Target species: brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout.
- Nagara River — Gifu. Freshwater, Advanced. Target species: ayu, Japanese dace, masu salmon.
- Lake Biwa — Shiga. Freshwater, Intermediate. Target species: largemouth bass, Japanese sea bass, common carp.
- Shiretoko Peninsula — Hokkaido. Saltwater, Intermediate. Target species: pink salmon, chum salmon, Japanese sea bass.
- Izu Peninsula — Shizuoka. Saltwater, Advanced. Target species: yellowtail amberjack, skipjack tuna, horse mackerel.
- Kushiro Wetlands — Hokkaido. Fly Fishing, Intermediate. Target species: white-spotted char, rainbow trout, masu salmon.
- Okinawa Reefs — Okinawa. Saltwater, Advanced. Target species: giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, coral trout.
- Kurobe River — Toyama. Fly Fishing, Advanced. Target species: white-spotted char, masu salmon, Japanese dace.
- Ariake Sea — Kyushu. Saltwater, Intermediate. Target species: Japanese sea bass, mullet, flathead.
Licence requirements and closed seasons change regularly. Always confirm with the relevant fisheries authority before you fish — each spot page links to its source.