Last checked: November 6, 2026
Want your kids to hook their first fish without leaving the Tokyo area?
This winter trip starts about 35 minutes from Shinjuku if you pick the Tama River in Chofu (調布). It starts about an hour away if you pick a trout pond in Kawasaki. A local guide leads two hours of lure fishing, and a fishing set for each person is included.
The two options are different trips. They have different fish, different tickets, different rules and different train rides. So each one gets its own section below. Read the shared parts first, then jump to your option.
We built this guide from the KKday listing and its photo, the fishing cooperative’s price list, the pond’s own pages and Google Maps. We tell you where we couldn’t confirm something.
KANTO REGION
Chofu, Tokyo / Asao Ward, Kawasaki
Option A: Tama River in Chofu, about 35 min from Shinjuku
Option B: Trout pond in Kawasaki, about 1 hour from Shinjuku
At a Glance
- Price: from about US$38 on KKday (¥5,980, as of November 2026), plus ¥4,000 for each extra adult and ¥2,000 for each extra child
- Time: 2 hours, in a start slot somewhere between 6:00 and 16:00
- Season: October to February (the listing’s photo says October 2026 to February 2027)
- Ages: 3 to 70, with 2 to 8 people per booking
- Languages: English and Japanese
- Included: one fishing set per person
- Paid separately, Option A (Tama River): a daily river permit (yūgyoken) from the fishing cooperative. The lowest day permit on its price list is ¥500, and it’s free for elementary school children and younger
- Paid separately, Option B (Kawasaki pond): the pond’s own 3-hour entry ticket, ¥1,800 to ¥4,200 on weekends and holidays
- Meeting point: Option A meets at a coin parking lot in Somechi (染地). KKday doesn’t list Option B’s meeting point
- Free cancellation: up to 8 days before
Prices and available dates vary. Check the booking page before you book.
Is This Trip Right for You?
✅ Great if you…
- have a child aged 3 or older. The age range is 3 to 70, and toddlers may fish with bait instead of lures
- want to try a Japanese river for smallmouth bass and catfish, and you’re staying in Shinjuku (Option A)
- want a trout pond where each person can take home up to 4 fish (Option B)
- don’t own any fishing gear. A set for each person is included
⚠️ Think twice if you…
- are traveling from March to September. This listing runs from October to February
- are alone. The minimum is 2 people
- are over 70, or have a child under 3
- want to put every fish back, or can’t deal with a fish at your hotel. The Tama River cooperative asks anglers not to release bass, and fish in the pond’s basket can’t be released. Ask the guide before you book what happens to the bass
When Can You Go?
📅 Guided winter lure fishing, Tama River and Kawasaki pond
Open Part of the month Closed
Note: The listing’s photo gives the season as October 2026 to February 2027, so the first and last days can shift. The pond itself stays open all year, but this KKday tour doesn’t run from March to September. Check the booking page for the dates you can pick.
Source: KKday listing photo (“Season: October 2026 to February 2027”) and the pond’s official page, checked November 2026.
Option A or Option B: Side by Side
Here is what changes between the two. The first table is about the place and the rules.
| Option A: Tama River | Option B: Kawasaki pond | |
|---|---|---|
| Fish | Smallmouth bass, catfish, barbel steed (nigoi) | Rainbow trout |
| Setting | Riverbank, about 500 m downstream of the Chofu weir | Managed fishing pond in Asao Ward, Kawasaki |
| Ticket you buy | A daily river permit from the Tama River fishing cooperative | The pond’s own 3-hour entry ticket |
| Your catch | Bass can’t go back; ask your guide what happens to them | Up to 4 fish per person (per 3-hour ticket) |
| From Shinjuku | About 35 minutes | About 50 minutes to 1 hour 5 minutes |
| Meet at | A coin parking lot in Somechi (染地) | Not listed on KKday |
| Toilets | Public toilet at the riverside plaza, 2 minutes on foot | Two shower toilets (the kind with a built-in spray) at the pond |
Source: KKday listing and photo, the Tama River fishing cooperative, the pond’s official page and Google Maps, checked November 2026.
KKday prices in this guide are what the site showed in November 2026. They change with the date and availability. The permit and ticket prices below come from the cooperative and the pond, and they are in yen on top of the tour price. This table shows what each option’s ticket costs.
| Who | Option A: river day permit | Option B: pond 3-hour ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Man | ¥500 | ¥4,200 |
| Woman, or student up to university | ¥500 | ¥3,600 |
| Elementary school child or younger | Free | ¥1,800 |
| Example: a man, a woman and one elementary school child | ¥1,000 | ¥9,600 |
Source: Tama River fishing cooperative price list and the pond’s information page, checked November 2026. Option B prices are the general weekend and holiday rates; on weekdays a man’s ticket is ¥3,600. Option A assumes the ¥500 day permit is the one the tour needs. KKday only says a daily fishing permit is required.
If you want the shorter ride from Shinjuku, we’d pick Option A. It’s about 35 minutes against about an hour, and the first Keio Line train gets you there before a 6:00 start.
Which option do you get? The KKday listing has one “Parent-child” plan. It doesn’t say whether you choose Option A or B when you book, or later. Message KKday before you book and ask.
How the Two Hours Work
Step 1: Meet your guide
Option A meets at the coin parking lot in Somechi. KKday doesn’t list Option B’s meeting point, so ask after you book.
Step 2: Pick up your set
A fishing set for each person is included. Small children may fish with bait instead of lures, according to the listing.
Step 3: Fish for two hours
The operator has five instructors and says its host has fished for 40 years. Your start time falls between 6:00 and 16:00.
If you’re not set on an early start, we’d pick a slot after the day warms up. The operator says winter fishing on the Tama River is better in the warmer hours. It also advises a winter coat and winter boots.
Option A: The Tama River in Chofu
Option A is a river trip. Everything in this section is about the Tama River, not the pond.
Where you fish and what bites
You fish from the riverbank about 500 meters downstream of the Chofu weir. The route runs from the coin parking lot, past the futsal and tennis courts. The target fish are smallmouth bass, catfish (namazu, ナマズ) and barbel steed (nigoi, ニゴイ), all on lures.
The daily river permit (yūgyoken)
This is a permit for a public river, sold through the Tama River fishing cooperative. KKday says a daily fishing permit is a condition of this tour.
Do we need a fishing license for the Tama River?
Not a national one, because Japan has none (see our fishing license guide). You do need the daily river permit above. The cooperative’s lowest day permit is ¥500, and elementary school children and younger fish free.
Where to buy it, according to the cooperative: river wardens on the bank, Joshuya Mitaka (上州屋 三鷹店), Casting Fuchu (キャスティング 府中店) and Kaneko Tsurigu (金子釣り具店). You can also buy online through Tsuri-Ticket (つりチケ) or Fish Pass (フィッシュ・パス). The cooperative’s list doesn’t name convenience stores. KKday doesn’t say who buys the permit or how to pay.
We’d message KKday before you buy one yourself. The listing doesn’t say whether the guide arranges it.
The cooperative’s rules for this stretch also set a few basics: no fishing from sunset to sunrise, two rods at most, and no snagging. Its price list shows the permit prices above. The tour gives you a set, so these matter mostly if you bring your own gear.
What to do with the bass you catch
Smallmouth bass is a designated invasive species in Japan. Many visitors expect catch and release. Here that’s the wrong move.
Can I let the bass go after a photo?
No. The Tama River fishing cooperative asks anglers not to put invasive fish back. Carrying a live bass away is also against Japan’s invasive species law. Most hotels can’t take a fish, so ask your guide before you start what they do with the bass you catch.
⚠️ Don’t put bass back — The cooperative asks anglers not to release invasive fish
- Don’t carry one alive — Moving a live bass breaks Japan’s invasive species law. The Ministry of the Environment says that killing a bass and taking it home is fine
Most travelers can’t cook or keep a fish in a hotel room. The KKday listing doesn’t say what the guide does with the bass you catch, and we couldn’t confirm it. The operator’s site only says you can take home larger fish. Ask your guide before you start how they handle each fish you can’t release. We also couldn’t find official guidance on eating catfish or barbel steed.
Getting there from Shinjuku
About 35 min
From Shinjuku
Take the Keio Line to Chofu Station. Then ride Keio Bus route 調11 or 調12 about 10 minutes to Somechi 3-chome (染地三丁目). The total is ¥510, and the stop is a 1-minute walk from the meeting point
4:00s
First train
The first Keio Line train from Shinjuku leaves in the second half of the 4 o’clock hour, on weekdays and Sundays alike
5:40s
Walk in
Get off at Kokuryo Station (国領) and walk 22 minutes (1.6 km). You arrive in the 5:40s, in time for a 6:00 start
Late 5:00s
First bus
On weekdays the first 調11 leaves Chofu Station in the second half of the 5 o’clock hour. On Sundays it leaves about 6:30, too late for a 6:00 slot
Source: Google Maps, checked November 2026 for a weekday and a Sunday.
If you book the 6:00 slot, we’d take the first train and walk from Kokuryo Station. The Sunday bus doesn’t start until about 6:30. We only checked weekdays and Sundays, not Saturdays or holidays.
Since September 16, 2026, Keio Bus has stopped taking cash on all routes run by its Chofu depot, as a trial (two other routes excepted). You pay with a transit IC card or by tapping a contactless credit card, such as Visa or Mastercard. We couldn’t confirm that routes 調11 and 調12 belong to the Chofu depot. Carry an IC card or a contactless card, and you’re covered either way.
A taxi from Chofu Station takes about 6 minutes (2.4 km). By our calculation from the Kanto Transport Bureau’s fare caps, that’s about ¥1,100 to ¥1,300. We couldn’t confirm any early-morning surcharge.
The tour gives you a rod, so you don’t need to carry one. If you bring your own, note the limits. The Keio Line doesn’t allow items longer than 2 meters. Keio Bus carries items up to 1 meter free.
Toilets and a convenience store
A FamilyMart (ファミリーマート 調布染地二丁目店) is a 2-minute walk from the meeting point and open 24 hours. The public toilet at Tama River Citizens’ Plaza (多摩川市民広場) is also 2 minutes on foot. Google Maps lists it as open 24 hours, but we couldn’t confirm that elsewhere. Buy a hot drink before you walk down to the water.
Tackle shops on the way
Your set is included, but you may want a spare lure. We can’t say whether you may use your own tackle, because KKday and the operator don’t mention it. Ask before you buy. Three shops are on or near the route.
- Tamaya (玉屋釣具店) — A 2-minute walk from Shibasaki Station (柴崎) on the Keio Line. It sells trout and bass lures. Walking route in Google Maps
- Casting, Hachimanyama branch (キャスティング 八幡山店) — A 6-minute walk from Hachimanyama Station (八幡山), on the Keio Line between Shinjuku and Chofu. Walking route in Google Maps
- Casting, Fuchu branch (キャスティング 府中店) — A 12-minute walk from Higashi-Fuchu Station (東府中). It also sells Tama River permits. Walking route in Google Maps
Check each shop’s hours in Google Maps before you go, and don’t count on one being open before an early slot.
Option B: Rainbow Trout at BerryPark in FISH ON! Ozenji (Kawasaki)
Option B is a pond trip in Asao Ward, Kawasaki (川崎市麻生区). Everything in this section is about the pond, not the river.
The pond and the fish
BerryPark in FISH ON! Ozenji (王禅寺) is a managed fishing pond. Rainbow trout is the fish on this option, and KKday says rainbow trout is only on the Kawasaki trip. The pond is open all year with no closing day. From November to March its hours are 6:00 to 21:30.
The 3-hour pond ticket (not a river permit)
This is not a river permit. The pond sells its own 3-hour entry ticket, and that’s the ticket KKday tells you to buy separately. KKday and the pond’s page mention no river permit.
The prices below are the general weekend and holiday rates.
| Who | 3-hour ticket |
|---|---|
| Man | ¥4,200 |
| Woman, or student up to university | ¥3,600 |
| Elementary school child or younger | ¥1,800 |
Source: the pond’s information page, checked November 2026. On weekdays a man’s ticket is ¥3,600.
The pond doesn’t say how to pay. Cards aren’t mentioned either, so bring cash.
Pond rules and taking fish home
- Take-home limit — Each 3-hour ticket lets its holder take home up to 4 fish. The pond prices its tickets per person, so 5 people with 5 tickets can keep up to 20 in total. Fish of 40 cm or longer can’t be taken home
- No releasing — Fish you’ve put in the basket (biku, ビク) can’t be released
- Extra fish — More fish cost ¥1,600 per kg. Adding them on site can cost double
- If you bring your own gear — Use barbless single hooks only, lures up to 7 g and 10 cm, and rods up to 2.4 m. Soft-plastic worms are banned
Ask your guide on the day how many fish you can keep.
Getting there from Shinjuku
About 1 hour
From Shinjuku
Take the Odakyu Line to Shin-Yurigaoka Station (新百合ヶ丘), then a bus. Google Maps showed 50 minutes to 1 hour 5 minutes and about ¥550
About 16 min
Take the bus
From Shin-Yurigaoka, ride a bus bound for Den-en Chofu Gakuen Daigaku (田園調布学園大学) or Tama Plaza (たまプラーザ). Get off at 田園調布学園大学 and walk 5 minutes
6:20s
Earliest arrival
Even the first trains from Shinjuku reach the pond in the 6:20s, on weekdays and Sundays. A 6:00 start is out
Source: Google Maps and the pond’s access page, checked November 2026.
Watch the stop name. A similar stop, 田園調布学園大学前, is the wrong one. You can also take a Kawasaki City Bus from Kakio (柿生) or Ikuta (生田) Station to Nagasawa-iriguchi (長沢入口), then walk 3 minutes.
For Option B, we’d book a start of 7:00 or later. The earliest arrival at the pond is in the 6:20s, and you still need time to find your guide. The other choice is to stay near Shin-Yurigaoka the night before.
Buses here take cash and transit IC cards, and the fare is ¥220 to ¥250. The Odakyu Bus gives change for ¥1,000 bills only, so bring small coins or an IC card. Odakyu and Tokyu buses carry hand luggage up to 1 meter long and 10 kg, which is another reason to use the tour’s rods. A taxi from Shin-Yurigaoka takes about 10 minutes. We couldn’t confirm the fare.
Where do you meet? KKday doesn’t say, so ask after you book. The operator’s site gives 王禅寺766-18 for its Kawasaki tour. That’s the pond’s entrance for car navigation. We couldn’t confirm it’s your meeting point.
Toilets and snacks at the pond
The pond has two shower toilets. The front desk shop sells lures, flies, tackle and snacks, and a vending machine sits in the rest hut. We couldn’t confirm whether cards work at the shop.
Tackle shops on the way
The pond’s own shop is the most reliable place for a spare lure, and it opens at 6:00. The two shops below don’t open before a morning slot.
- SANSUI Shibuya Part 2 (SANSUI 渋谷店 Part 2) — Trout lures on the 1st floor, 3 minutes on foot from Shibuya Station. Good for a lure the day before. Walking route in Google Maps
- Tackle Berry Machida Tsurukawa (タックルベリー 町田鶴川店) — About 7 to 8 minutes by car (2.6 km) from Tsurukawa Station (鶴川) on the Odakyu Line, two stops past Shin-Yurigaoka. Good for a lure the day before. Driving route in Google Maps
Getting around Tokyo before or after the trip? These Klook transport and travel picks change by date, and Klook sets the prices.
Where to Stay for an Early Slot
If you land the same morning, you can’t make a 6:00 start. From Haneda Terminal 3, the first train reaches the Option A area at about 6:40, after about 1 hour 40 minutes. From Narita, the trip takes about 2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes in daytime.
If you arrive that day, we’d stay near Chofu Station the night before and book Option A. Even the first airport train arrives after a 6:00 start. These are the hotels we found:
- Chofu Creston Hotel (調布クレストンホテル) — About 200 m from Chofu Station
- Hotel Nobes Chofu (ホテルノービス調布) — About 100 m from Chofu Station
- Toyoko Inn Chofu Keio Line Fuda Station (東横INN 調布京王線布田駅) — 5 minutes from Fuda Station (布田) and about a 27-minute walk from the meeting point
Source: Klook hotel search for Chofu, checked November 2026.
For Option B, staying near Shin-Yurigaoka Station would make an early start easier. We haven’t checked hotels there.
Booking, Cancellation and Weather
Cancellation
KKday’s cancellation policy (as of November 2026):
KKday confirms bookings within 1 business day. If a refund applies, KKday says it takes 2 to 5 business days to process, and the refund starts within 15 days.
Weather and river levels
What if it rains or the river is high?
KKday’s listing doesn’t say. The operator’s site says it offers a rescheduled date if it cancels a trip. Ask KKday whether you’d get a refund too, because your contract is with KKday.
What to Bring
🎒 Your packing list
- ☐ A cooler and ice for your catch, according to the KKday listing
- ☐ A folding chair, a hat and drinks (listing)
- ☐ A winter coat and winter boots (operator)
- ☐ A transit IC card or a contactless credit card for the Option A bus
- ☐ Cash for Option B’s ticket, drinks and snacks
Around Chofu and Kawasaki
These times are Google Maps estimates on a weekday morning, to the Tama River meeting point (Option A). We didn’t measure them from the pond.
Yomiuriland
About 23 minutes. Klook shows a ticket rated 4.7 from 1.3K reviews, with 60K+ booked.
Jindaiji (深大寺)
About 35 minutes.
Fujiko F. Fujio Museum
About 46 minutes.
Kichijoji (吉祥寺)
About 49 minutes.
Ghibli Museum
About 59 minutes. KKday shows a ticket tour rated 4.5 from 221 reviews, with 1K+ booked.
Mount Takao (高尾山口 Station)
About 1 hour. KKday shows a Keio one-day ticket with cable car rated 4.7 from 735 reviews, with 5K+ booked.
If you want a second stop the same day, we’d pick Yomiuriland, the shortest ride on this list at about 23 minutes.
Tickets for these three are on Klook and KKday. Prices and dates change, so check the booking page.
More things to do in Tokyo. Klook picks these and sets the prices, which change by date.
FAQ
QDoes the guide speak English?
Yes, English is listed. KKday lists English and Japanese, and the operator’s site says English guiding is possible. We couldn’t confirm how fluent the guide is, so keep a translation app handy.
QHow old do you have to be?
From 3 to 70. Small children may fish with bait.
QDo we need a fishing license?
No national license, since Japan has none. Option A needs the cooperative’s daily river permit. Option B uses the pond’s own 3-hour ticket.
QCan we put the bass back?
No. The Tama River cooperative asks anglers not to release invasive fish, and carrying a live bass away is against the law. The listing doesn’t say what the guide does with them, so ask before you start.
QCan I book alone?
No. The minimum is 2 people, and a booking holds up to 8.
QCan we eat what we catch?
At the pond, yes: up to 4 fish per person on a 3-hour ticket. On the river, the operator says larger fish can be taken home, but we found no official guidance on eating catfish or barbel steed.
QCan I use my own rod?
Unclear. Neither KKday nor the operator mentions it, so ask before you pack one.
QCan I do this in summer?
No. The listing’s photo gives October to February as the season.
QWhich option should I choose?
Ask KKday first, because the listing doesn’t say how you choose. If you’re staying in Shinjuku and want the shortest ride, Option A is about 35 minutes.
Ready to Book?
Pick your water, pick a slot, and let the guide get your family’s lines in the water. This tour suits parents with children aged 3 and up, from October to February. Option A is the quicker ride from Shinjuku. Option B is a pond where you can take trout home.
