Cherry Blossoms along the Nagara River in Gifu

The second spot on my sakura hunting mission were the beautiful cherry blossoms along the banks of the Nagara River just outside of Gifu Gokoku Shrine in Gifu City.

The Nagara River, which is a beloved symbol of Gifu City along with Mount Kinka and Gifu Castle, flows through the city with its source starting in Gujo, a picturesque riverside town in the mountains north of Gifu City. The river is famous for being one of Japan’s “Three Clear-Flowing Rivers”, as well as being named one of Japan’s top “100 Bodies of Water”.

Cherry blossoms along the Nagara River

 

The ancient art of ukai (cormorant fishing) has a history of over 1,300 years, and takes place from May 11 to October 15 every year along the Nagara River in Gifu City. There are only twelve places in all of Japan where you can see ukai, with the cormorant fishing masters on the Nagara River, the only ones granted the title of “Imperial Fisherman of the Household Agency.” 

Cherry blossoms with the ukai viewing boats

 

There are about 400 somei yoshino cherry blossom trees along the south bank of the Nagara River, which become pretty in pink during spring.