Japan is surrounded by the sea on all sides and is home to a variety of rivers, making it an attractive environment for fishing enthusiasts.
For more about freshwater fish that can be found in Japan, see our article Freshwater Fish in Japan.
If you have caught a fish and would like to know the the Japanese way of recording your catch, see our article Traditional Japanese Fishing Record Method – Gyotaku.
Surprisingly Little-Known Fishing Rules
Both sea and river fishing are subject to laws and regulations in Japan.
Fishing in Rivers
In the case of river fishing, specific fish species may be prohibited or regulated from catching in certain areas. In such cases, it is common to purchase a fishing permit from a fisheries cooperative (which holds the exclusive right to engage in specific catching of sea food in certain water areas).
A fishing permit is a certificate that connects anglers with fish. It is issued by fisheries cooperatives (inland fishery cooperative associations) responsible for managing various rivers authorized by the governor of each prefecture. When fishing in rivers managed by these cooperatives (which applies to most), carrying this fishing permit is necessary. Fishing without a permit is considered poaching (and if you refuse to purchase a fishing permit when requested by on-site inspectors, it will be reported to the local police as poaching).
Some people may question why they have to pay for river fishing, given the belief that “rivers belong to everyone.” However, rivers maintain their richness and provide an enjoyable fishing experience through fish stocking, breeding ground maintenance, and river cleaning carried out by fishery cooperatives. While some financial support is provided by municipalities through river environment improvement projects, most fisheries cooperatives cover their operational costs with income from fishing permits. The majority of operational costs go toward stocking and fishery management. Stocking activities are performed seasonally to align with the fishing season, and for the sustainability of the natural environment, juvenile fish are also released. Fishery management includes activities like removing litter, cutting grass and trees, and maintaining access paths for the convenience and safety of anglers.
Fishing at Sea
In the case of sea fishing, the collection of shellfish, seaweed, and other marine life that adhere to the water surface, such as abalones and seaweed, is prohibited in coastal areas where fishing rights have been established. Therefore, clam digging, which involves collecting shellfish, requires payment of an entry fee to a fisheries cooperative.
On the other hand, capturing fish swimming in the sea through hand fishing or rod fishing (angling) is generally not restricted, unlike river fishing. Sea fish can move from areas not covered by fishing rights to areas where these rights apply, making their exact location unclear. However, it’s important to note that certain regions within prefectural regulations may still have restrictions on recreational fishing, so it’s not an absolute guarantee that it’s allowed everywhere. Trawling (fishing while a boat is moving) without fishing rights is illegal in sea fishing.
Varied Rules by Troublesome Local Governments
In the case of Kanagawa Prefecture, for example, there are specific rules regarding the use of fishing gear and methods. Only the following fishing equipment can be used by non-fishery professionals (recreational anglers) when collecting fish or other items not covered by joint fishing rights according to the Kanagawa Prefecture Fisheries Regulation (hereinafter referred to as “Regulation”) (PDF: 570KB) Article 41:
Allowed fishing Equipment
- Spear and hand net: Prohibited for night use. Use of underwater glasses (including box-type glasses and peeking glasses) is also prohibited.
- Crab traps: Limited to a width of 15cm or less. Ninja crab traps and yajoren are not allowed, regardless of width.
- Trap nets and scoop nets: Not allowed.
- Cast net and hand (catching by hand): Not allowed.
- Fishing rod and hand fishing: Not allowed.
Note: Even if the fishing gear and method are allowed, the capture of aquatic animals and plants using a fish aggregating device is not allowed. - Crab traps (including nets or cages) are not allowed.
Regional Differences in Complex Rules
What can be challenging for anglers is that rules may vary slightly depending on the local government of the fishing location. For instance, crab traps are not allowed in Kanagawa Prefecture, but they are permitted in Tokyo. However, even within Kanagawa, you may often see people using crab traps or uploading videos of crab catches using these traps on YouTube. Furthermore, some tackle shops operated by fishermen belonging to Kanagawa Prefecture’s fishery cooperative sell crab traps and tuna hearts as bait, which can lead people who are unaware of the law to mistakenly think that these items are allowed. Additionally, even within Kanagawa, in rivers where fishery rights are not established, crab traps may be allowed, making the rules even more confusing.
As this shows, even among the Japanese population, it’s not certain that people, including fishermen, are fully aware of the rules.
Beware of “Well-Intentioned” YouTubers
In recent years, there have been YouTubers who closely monitor foreign nationals engaging in unlawful activities (certainly, there are those who engage in malicious illegal activities). Some in this community have gained popularity by uploading the entire process of reporting these unlawful activities to the police or immigration authorities on the internet in the context of protecting Japan from delinquent foreigners. Therefore, to avoid unexpected trouble, please take ample precautions.
For example, one clip that stands out in my mind is of a middle aged woman who was harvesting oysters or clams, along with many other people at a beach. What she was doing wrong is that she would discard some of the shells from the oysters back into the sand where she got them. She did this not knowing that it wasn’t allowed. The YouTuber targeted her because she looked not Japanese, harassed her about it, called the police who talked to her like she was a Class A war criminal, and eventually arrested her. As to not give this YouTuber more views, we will not be pasting a link.
If you are concerned about the fishing rules at your chosen fishing location in a particular municipality, consider contacting the relevant fisheries cooperative or the fisheries section.
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Fishing Agency
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