🐟 Ayu no Shioyaki (Salt-grilled Sweetfish)

Gifu prefecture has many clear streams such as Kiso River, Nagara River and Ibi River. From around June to October of each year, ayu (=sweetfish) fishing is active and fresh ayu (=sweetfish) can be enjoyed. Cormorant fishing is a traditional method of ayu (=sweetfish) fishing which dates to 1,300 years ago. Ayu (=sweetfish) caught through "Goryo Ukai" (=Imperial Cormorant Fishing) is dedicated to the imperial family and Ise Jingu. "Yana fishing" (=fishing weirs) using wooden stakes and bamboo are installed in the rivers of Gifu prefecture to obstruct tidal waters and trap ayu (=sweetfish) to catch them. Fishing weirs for tourists are set up during the summer in the Miyama area and along the Itadori River and tourists can enjoy catching ayu (=sweetfish) with their hands and eat "ayu no shioyaki" and other dishes using freshly caught ayu (=sweetfish).