Eau Voyage, a travel company based in Gifu City specializing in Nagara River cormorant fishing experiences, has launched new stay packages for the ukai season. Two itinerary options — a 1-night, 2-day plan and a 2-night, 3-day plan — are now available, combining a French full-course dinner served on a private charter boat, traditional architecture dining experiences, and performances by houkan (traditional entertainers) and maiko. Both plans run during the Nagara River ukai season, from May 11 to October 15 each year.
1-Night, 2-Day Plan — An Exclusive Floating Restaurant on the Nagara River
A private charter boat on the Nagara River becomes an exclusive dining room for the evening, with a chef on board serving a full French course. The sound of the water, the calls of cormorants, and the scent of bonfire torches create an atmosphere that engages all five senses. The following morning, guests wake up at Yado Ito, a private villa rental along the Nagara River.
Highlights of this plan:
- An "on-water restaurant" with a chef on board — a full French course served above the Nagara River
- Premium private boat with a front-row view of ukai cormorant fishing — watch the torchlight and the cormorant master's techniques up close
- Overnight stay at the private villa "Yado Ito" — enjoy the lingering mood in complete privacy
2-Night, 3-Day Plan — Two Nights of Distinctly Different Experiences in Gifu
A 90-Year-Old Traditional Building and Houkan-and-Maiko Boat Entertainment Across Two Evenings
The 2-night, 3-day plan offers a deeper immersion into Gifu's character, with each evening presenting a completely different exclusive experience.
Night 1 — A Private Dinner Inside a 90-Year-Old Traditional Japanese Building
The venue for the first evening is a traditional Japanese building over 90 years old in the Ukaiya district, looking directly out toward Kinkazan and Gifu Castle. The entire space — verandas, shoji screens, and heavy wooden beams — is exclusively reserved for guests that night. A chef comes to serve a private French full-course dinner crafted around the day's ingredients, weather, and atmosphere.
A sommelier designs a special pairing of champagne, wine, and Japanese sake to reflect both the cuisine and the culture of Gifu. After dinner, guests move to a pop-up bar set up on the building's second floor, where they can take in the entire scope of the Nagara River ukai — beginning with the fireworks signal — from this private vantage point, with a glass of Gifu gin, local shochu, or aged sake.
Night 2 — Houkan and Maiko Entertainment on a Premium Viewing Boat
The second evening takes guests out onto the river itself. Aboard a premium viewing boat, houkan (traditional entertainer) Kikuji and a maiko join for a classic Japanese boat entertainment experience. Shamisen music and graceful dance performances fill the deck as the torches of the cormorant fishing glow just ahead.
Guests enjoy a Japanese bento with sake pairing while witnessing the ukai's climactic "Kari-kudari" and "Sogarami" formations. After disembarking, the Juhachirou Main Building's hot spring baths offer a relaxing way to close the evening before returning to Yado Ito.
The contrast between the first night's quiet, intimate dinner and the second night's lively boat entertainment is the defining feature of this 2-night, 3-day plan.
Plan Overview
Pricing:
- 2-Night, 3-Day Plan: from ¥216,000 per person (based on 4 participants, Tsubame room)
- 1-Night, 2-Day Plan: from ¥124,500 per person (based on 4 participants, Tsubame room)
All prices are per person and tax-inclusive. Pricing varies depending on the number of participants and room type.
Operating period: May 11 to October 15 each year (Nagara River ukai season). Minimum 2 participants.
Departures are scheduled primarily on Sundays and Thursdays. Custom dates may be requested (excluding Juhachirou closed days).
Private Guide Tours for International Visitors
Eau Voyage also offers fully customized private tours of Gifu with a dedicated English-speaking guide. Groups travel at their own pace for an in-depth local experience.
2-Day Tour (2 Days, 1 Night)
A plan combining the ukai experience, a French gastronomy dinner, and Gifu sightseeing with an English guide.
3-Day Tour (3 Days, 2 Nights) — Gifu Gastronomy Tour
A premium plan combining ukai viewing, a gastronomy dinner, a private villa stay, and a full-day tour with an English guide. Guests can experience the full breadth of Gifu's nature, cuisine, and traditional culture.
For international visitors, an English-language page is available with full details on the ukai experience, gastronomy dinners, and guided tours.
