Experience the Natural Charm and Blessings of Gifu's Nagara River! "Seiryu Nagaragawa Ayu Park" Kicks Off 2026 Season on April 25th

As the season of dazzling fresh greenery arrives, the Nagara River basin in Gifu unfolds a series of unique local histories and experiences. With Golden Week 2026 just around the corner, the regional experience hub "Seiryu Nagaragawa Ayu Park" is set to begin its eagerly awaited season on Saturday, April 25th. Ahead of the annual opening of "Nagaragawa Ukai," a beloved symbol of the Nagara River, which usually commences on May 11th, a variety of programs allowing visitors to experience the clear stream culture throughout the basin are set to begin. [Gujo] Enjoy the Clear Stream to the Fullest. "Ayu Park" Hosts Spring Ayu Festival "Seiryu Nagaragawa Ayu Park" offers a full-body experience of the Nagara River's blessings. Its general operations for this season will finally begin on Saturday, April 25th. "Ayu no Tsukamidori" (ayu fish catching with bare hands), where you wade into the cold river water, is a unique local experience where both adults and children can get engrossed in the powerful struggle of ayu slipping through their fingers. On April 25th and 26th, an "Opening Event" will be held. Many activities are planned, including free ayu fish catching experiences, free servings of "Ayu Gohan" (ayu rice), and fish release experiences. The experience of catching ayu and savoring them grilled over charcoal will become an irreplaceable travel memory, allowing you to feel the blessings of the clear stream firsthand. Furthermore, the "Spring Ayu Festival" will be held from April 25th, and during Golden Week, there will be a plethora of family-friendly programs such as the "Ayu no Tsukamidori Tournament" and "Keiryu Tsuri Taiken" (stream fishing experience), ensuring a memorable holiday. [Spring Ayu Festival] Dates: April 25th (Sat) - May 6th (Wed, holiday) Contents: Free ayu dishes, Ayu no Tsukamidori Tournament, stream fishing experience, etc. *Some events require advance reservations, so please check the official website for details. Official Website: https://ayupark.jp/ [Gifu] The Essence of "Omotenashi" Cherished by Lord Nobunaga. Gifu Nagaragawa Ukai, Towards the May 11th Opening During the Sengoku period, Lord Oda Nobunaga established cormorant fishing not merely as a fishing method, but as the highest form of diplomatic hospitality to entertain guests. The spirit with which Lord Nobunaga protected it by granting the title of "Usho" (cormorant fisherman) is now inherited by the unique title of "Imperial Household Agency Shikibu-shoku Usho" in Japan. For over 1300 years, this tradition, unique to Japan, has preserved the "Goryoba" (Imperial fishing grounds) where fishing for the Imperial Family is still conducted, and the caught ayu are presented to the Imperial Palace. It is no exaggeration to say that all aspects of Gifu Nagaragawa Ukai are cultural assets. The set of 122 tools held by the Usho is designated as a National Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property, and the fishing method itself, manipulating cormorants, is designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. Furthermore, this region gathers tangible and intangible treasures related to the river, including the skilled boat handling techniques of veteran boatmen, traditional sightseeing boat building techniques, and the "Ayu Sushi" manufacturing techniques passed down through Usho families. With the opening on May 11th fast approaching, the Nagara River, with Gifu Castle (Kinkazan) – Lord Nobunaga's former residence – in the background, is enveloped in a special fervor as preparations proceed. The bonfires illuminating the pitch-black darkness and the spirited presence of the Usho. The special experience of feeling the breath of history up close, imagining the fantastical "omotenashi" scene that Lord Nobunaga must have used to captivate his important guests, is finally about to begin. In Reiwa 9 (2027), the cormorant fishing sightseeing boat business will celebrate its 100th anniversary under direct Gifu City management. To mark this occasion, the city, along with regional DMOs, local inns/hotels, transportation operators, and the community as a whole, will implement various commemorative projects aimed at promoting the charm of "Gifu Nagaragawa Ukai" and realizing a sustainable sightseeing boat business for the next 100 years. To foster momentum through public-private collaboration, the Gifu Convention and Visitors Bureau (a public interest incorporated foundation and regional DMO) has created a logo mark. [Gifu Nagaragawa Ukai] Period: May 11th (Mon) - October 15th (Thu) *Excludes Ukai holidays (September 24th) and cases where Ukai viewing is not possible due to high water levels, etc. Official Website: https://www.ukai-gifucity.jp/ [Mino] Weaving 1300 Years of Time. The World of "Mino Washi" Reflecting History In Mino City, you can experience the handiwork of artisans who pass down the techniques of "Hon Mino Shi," registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The "Udatsu no Agaru Machinami" (historic townscape), which has continued since the Edo period, is a historical landscape symbolizing the prosperity of former washi merchants, and simply walking through it makes you feel the weight of a 1300-year-old tradition. At the "Mino Washi no Sato Kaikan" (Mino Washi Village Hall), you can experience authentic washi making using the same tools as artisans and 100% kozo (paper mulberry) raw material.