Kikko Cormorant Training Facility

Take a close look at the cormorants that are actually used in Cormorant Fishing of Kintaikyo Bridge!

The classic summer scene in Iwakuni is the tradition of “Cormorant Fishing of Kintaikyo Bridge”. This facility is where the cormorants used for fishing are raised.
At the Kikko Cormorant Training Facility, you can look at the cormorants that are used in Cormorant Fishing of Kintaikyo Bridge close-up, through wire netting. In addition to the Training Space, where you can watch the cormorants train and feed, there is also an Exhibition Space, where you can learn about the history of cormorant fishing across Japan, through videos and panel exhibits. With free WiFi and a baby feeding room, the Exhibition Space can also be used as a place to take a short break.
Cormorant fishing is an ancient method of fishing ayu (sweetfish), which live in clear river waters. Its history is so long that it is mentioned in the Kojiki, Japan’s oldest historical document. Fishing is carried out on board a boat, under the light of a bonfire, and the cormorant fisherman and the cormorant act in unison, using hand ropes. “Cormorant fishing of Kintaikyo Bridge” is said to have been carried out beside Kintaikyo Bridge in the Edo period. In the present day, the tradition is conducted every year from June 1 to September 10, for the purposes of cultural preservation and tourism.