Setouchi Fishing Journal
Fishing in Japan by Region
Pick a region on the map or from the list to find our fishing guides for that area.
Pale areas: guides coming soon.
- Hokkaido9 guides
- TohokuAomori, Yamagata2 guides
- KantoChiba, Kanagawa, Tochigi, Tokyo9 guides
- ChubuFukui, Ishikawa, Nagano, Shizuoka, Yamanashi7 guides
- KansaiHyogo, Mie, Osaka, Shiga, Wakayama11 guides
- ChugokuOkayama, Shimane, Yamaguchi4 guides
- ShikokuKochi, Tokushima2 guides
- KyushuKagoshima, Nagasaki4 guides
- Okinawa8 guides
Plan Your Trip: Travel Tips
Before you pick a region, sort out the basics: whether you need a fishing license, how to bring your rods, and how to stay connected.
How to Take Fishing Rods and Reels Home from Japan (2026 Tax-Free and Shipping Guide)
Bought a rod or reel in Japan? We cover the new tax-free refund at the airport kiosk, which trains and…
Do You Need a Fishing License in Japan? Sea, River and Lake Rules for Travelers (2026)
No national license, but plenty of rules: fishing rights, river tickets, banned catches, limits for foreign visitors, bluefin tuna registration…
Best eSIM for Japan (2026): Which Works From Cities to Rural Areas, Islands and Fishing Spots
Five Japan eSIMs compared for travelers, from the cities to rural areas, islands and fishing spots: which networks they name,…
How to Bring Your Own Fishing Rods to Japan: Airline Rules, Trains and Getting to Your Spot (2026)
Bringing your own rods to Japan? Airline rules for rod cases, hooks and reel batteries, the 2026 power bank rule,…
Deep-Sea Fishing near Shizuoka: Catch Nodoguro and Alfonsino off Omaezaki
An all-day deep-sea fishing trip near Shizuoka on a big boat from Oigawa Port, for nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch), alfonsino and rockfish off Omaezaki. The 4:30 check-in, hotels the night before, gear, the season calendar and…
Private Tokyo Bay Fishing Charter in Tokyo: 2 Hours, Gear Included, Sea Bass and More
A private 2-hour fishing boat on Tokyo Bay, one train stop from Haneda Airport. Sea bass and horse mackerel with gear included, plus the price per boat, trains from the airport and central Tokyo, luggage…
Family Lure Fishing near Shinjuku, Tokyo: Tama River Bass or Rainbow Trout with a Local Guide
A winter morning or afternoon near Shinjuku: two hours of guided lure fishing for families, either for bass and catfish on the Tama River in Chofu or for rainbow trout at a pond in Kawasaki.…
Lake Sahoro Smelt Ice Fishing near Tomamu, Hokkaido: Heated Tent, Gear and Karaage Included
An afternoon off the slopes near Tomamu and Sahoro: fish for wakasagi through the ice of Lake Sahoro in a heated tent, with a guide, rental gear and karaage of your catch. We cover the…
How to Take Fishing Rods and Reels Home from Japan (2026 Tax-Free and Shipping Guide)
Bought a rod or reel in Japan? We cover the new tax-free refund at the airport kiosk, which trains and buses take a long rod, sending bags to the airport, and how long a rod…
A Non-Ski Day near Hakuba: Wakasagi Fishing in a Warm Dome Boat on Lake Kizaki
Fish for wakasagi smelt from a heated dome boat on Lake Kizaki, about 20 minutes from Hakuba, then fry your catch as tempura. We cover the KKday booking, the lake permit, the winter season and…
Lake Onuma Smelt Ice Fishing near Hakodate: Rods, Warm Coats and Tempura Included
Fish for wakasagi through the ice, or from a greenhouse or pier, at Lake Onuma near Hakodate, with the rod, bait, warm coat, boots and tempura included. We cover the KKday booking, the season, the…
Katsuura Squid Fishing in Chiba: An Electric-Reel Boat Trip for Two at Dawn
A dawn electric-reel fishing trip for two from Katsuura Marine Harbor in Chiba, with squid on the menu in season but never promised. We cover the KKday booking, the two-person rule, why you must stay…
Kadena Boat Fishing in Okinawa: A Hands-Free 2-Hour Reef Trip for Beginners and Kids
A shared 2-hour boat trip inside the reef off Kadena, Okinawa, with the rod, bait and life jacket included and kids welcome from age 3. We cover the KKday booking, the three daily departures, eating…
Ice Fishing at Lake Kanayama Near Furano and Tomamu: Catch Wakasagi and Eat Them Fried (Booked on KKday)
Fish for wakasagi through the ice of Lake Kanayama in Minamifurano, then eat your catch fried on the spot. We cover the KKday booking, the 4-person minimum, the language question, and the buses from Sapporo,…
Hyakurakuso on Noto’s Tsukumo Bay: A Ryokan with a Guests-Only Fishing Pier (2026 Guide)
Stay at Hyakurakuso on Tsukumo Bay and fish its guests-only pier from 14:00 until noon the next day, then have the kitchen cook your catch. We cover whether the pier is open after the 2024…
Family Boat Fishing and a Guesthouse Night in Sukumo, Kochi: Sunset on Sukumo Bay (Booked on KKday)
Fish Sukumo Bay from a shared boat in the late afternoon, then sleep at the guesthouse where you met. We cover the KKday booking, the Japanese-only briefing, the 15:00 meeting by train and bus, and…
