Japan Side Quest: Fishing in Tokyo
Posted on June 30, 2025 • 3 minutes • 479 words
My Japanese Side Quest
Today, I should be studying, but feeling unmotivated, I decided to write about my last weekend. And since this is my blog, I’ll write what I want!
It all started when some friends I made during my Erasmus time in Ireland visited. Before they left, they gave me a fishing rod and some hooks as a present. Naturally, I then began researching fishing rules in Japan.
Fishing Regulations in Japan
As of the moment of writing this post, here’s what I’ve learned about the regulations:
- Coastal Fishing: You are generally allowed to fish along the coastline without a license, as long as there are no local laws or signs stating otherwise. Be aware that some areas may be restricted.
- River Fishing: The general rule for rivers is that you need to purchase a day ticket. While this is the norm, there are exceptions. For instance, while parts of the Arakawa and Sumida rivers around Tokyo do require a day ticket, specific sections might not, or the rules can vary by location within those rivers. If a day ticket is required, from what I’ve read, you can usually buy them at local fishing shops or sometimes online.
My Day Trip
After learning all of this, I decided to head to the Arakawa River, which is very close to my house, just one train ride away. The area was quite pleasant and surprisingly relaxing for being only 15 minutes from Ueno. Following the river, I noticed several baseball fields, and since it was Sunday, many kids’ baseball teams were playing. While searching for a good spot, I was quite nervous because my Japanese skills are pretty bad, so I really didn’t want to have to ask for directions.
After searching for a bit, I found my first fisherman. He was just standing on the edge of the river, so I decided to copy him, setting up a bit farther away. And that’s when the problems started…
First, I assembled the rod incorrectly, so I couldn’t control it properly. Then, after casting a couple of times, the reel (the lever/wheel for winding the line back) flew into the river. Yeah, pretty bad! So, with half of my fishing rod gone, I had to find a local shop to buy replacement parts.
After that, everything was as expected: I wasted a bit of time outside and enjoyed the fresh air. It’s already summer in Tokyo, so it’s boiling hot, but being next to the river, there was a nice breeze, which made it quite pleasant to be outdoors.
End of the Day
After calling it a day, my “trophies” were… zero fish, one huge sunburn, and minus three hooks. If you plan to go fishing during this season, bring plenty of sun cream – unlike me!
P.S. Sorry for the photos qualities… I forgot the camera over my bed!