#03
Wild Eel Catching
The clear water that flows right in front of Lodge Kiyokawa ・Okudake River
The stream source being Mt. Sobo, one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan, Okudake river’s water clarity is truly impressive.
It is said that eels thrive in clean rivers, and in fact, the Okudake river is a treasure trove of eels. But it is not easy to catch them. One needs to know the tips and tricks. And that’s where our Presenter comes in. Mr. Aso, a master eel catcher who has played in this very river since childhood and knows the river inside and out!
Mr. Aso, originally from this town, has always loved catching fish, crab and eel in this river. Since his 20s, he sometimes dived into the river 4-5 times a day as a hobby. He is in and around the river so much that his friends call him by the nickname “Kappa” (means a river imp). He has the special skill of reading the signs of eels once he is in the water. How cool!
He can tell you where to put the trap by looking at the topography of the river. And of course, the traps are handmade by Mr. Aso.
So here is how the schedule will look for Wild Eel Catching Experience.
| Gather at Lodge Kiyokawa and prepare traps with Mr. Aso. | |
| Once traps are ready, you will go to the river after the sun sets. (If the traps are set in the daytime, they may be eaten by other creatures.) After setting traps, you rest, praying that the eels will be on the hook the next morning. | |
| Good night ! The next morning. | |
| You wake up at the crack of dawn the next morning. Depending on the time of the year, the traps need to be checked between 5:00-6:00. (Of course, Mr. Aso will accompany you.) | |
| You then go back to the lodge to prepare the eels under the guidance of the master. Kabayaki-style (glaze-grilled) thick and juicy eels with beautiful white rice will surely leave you impressed, altering your brain chemistry forever. |
Nowadays, the wholesale price of wild eels is around 6,000 yen per fish. It is a gourmet food for sure. This is a unique experience that you try only here.
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