Rivers of

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

are characterized by their relatively short lengths and considerably steep gradients due to the narrow and mountainous topography of the country. An often-cited quote is 'this is not a river, but a waterfall' by the Dutch engineer ( o-yatoi gaikokujin) Johannis de Rijke who had visited the

Jōganji River The is a river in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, that flows through the city of Toyama as well as the town of Tateyama. The river was previously referred to as the Nii River (新川 ''Nii-kawa''). Route The river originates in the Tateyama Mountains ...

, Toyama Prefecture. The Mogami, the Fuji and the Kuma are regarded as the three most rapid rivers of Japan. Typical rivers of Japan rise from mountainous forests and cut out deep V-shaped valleys in their upper reaches, and form

alluvial plain An alluvial plain is a largely flat landform created by the deposition of sediment over a long period of time by one or more rivers coming from highland regions, from which alluvial soil forms. A floodplain is part of the process, being the sma ...

s in their lower reaches which enable the Japanese to cultivate

rice fields A paddy field is a flooded field of arable land used for growing semiaquatic crops, most notably rice and taro. It originates from the Neolithic rice-farming cultures of the Yangtze River basin in southern China, associated with pre-Aust ...

and to set up cities. Most rivers are dammed to supply both water and electricity. The longest river of Japan is the Shinano, which flows from Nagano to Niigata. The Tone has the largest watershed and serves water to more than 30 million inhabitants of Tokyo metropolitan area.

List of rivers in Japan

The list below is in geographical order (from north to south). See also :Rivers of Japan for an alphabetical list.

Hokkaidō

There are 326 rivers in Hokkaido including 13 class A river systems (1級水系 ''Ikkyū suikei'') designated by the central government. See also :Rivers of Hokkaido.

Class A rivers

There are 13 class A river systems as follows. Their tributaries are also listed. The class A rivers are administrated by . * * ** ** ** *** *** * * * * * * * * * * *

Class B rivers

The rivers that are classified as class B rivers. * * * * * *

List of rivers in Hokkaidō by length

The following table is a list of rivers of Hokkaidō by length.

Honshu

Tōhoku

First class rivers under the control of Tohoku Regional Bureau (東北地方整備局) *

Iwaki River The is a river that crosses western Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It is in length and has a drainage area of . Under the Rivers Act of 1964 the Iwaki is designated as a Class 1 River and is managed by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, ...

(岩木川) - Aomori * Takase River (高瀬川) - Aomori * Mabechi River (馬淵川) - Iwate, Aomori * Kitakami River (北上川) - Iwate, Miyagi *

Naruse River Naruse (written: 成瀬 or 鳴瀬) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: *, Japanese idol and voice actress *, Japanese test driver and engineer *, Japanese professional wrestler *, Japanese voice actress *, Japanese film ...

(鳴瀬川) - Miyagi * Natori River (名取川) - Miyagi * Abukuma River (阿武隈川) - Miyagi, Fukushima *

Yoneshiro River The is a river in Tōhoku region of the northern portion of the island of Honshū in Japan. It is long and has a watershed of . The river rises from Mount Nakadake and Mount Shikakudake in the Ōu Mountains and Mount Hachimantai near the borde ...

(米代川) - Akita, Iwate * Omono River (雄物川) - Akita * Koyoshi River (子吉川) - Akita * Mogami River (最上川) - Yamagata *

Aka River is a river in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. It flows into the Sea of Japan. Soccer fields on Akagawa riverbed There are football fields on Akagawa riverbed in Tsuruoka, and they were NEC Yamagata SC's practice grounds. References

Rivers ...

(赤川) - Yamagata Second class river * Oirase River (奥入瀬川)

Kantō

First class rivers under the control of Kanto Regional Bureau (関東地方整備局) * Kuji-gawa (久慈川) - Fukushima, Ibaraki * Naka-gawa (那珂川) - Tochigi, Ibaraki * Tone-gawa (利根川) - largest drainage area, and second longest of Japan; Gunma, Nagano, Tochigi, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, Ibaraki ** Edo-gawa (江戸川) * Arakawa (荒川) - Saitama, Tokyo ** Sumida-gawa (隅田川) ** Kanda-gawa (神田川) * Tama-gawa (多摩川) - Yamanashi, Tokyo, Kanagawa * Tsurumi-gawa (鶴見川) - Tokyo, Kanagawa * Sagami-gawa (相模川) - Yamanashi, Kanagawa * Fuji-kawa (富士川) - Nagano, Yamanashi, Shizuoka

Hokuriku

First-class rivers under the control of Hokuriku Regional Bureau (北陸地方整備局) * Ara River (荒川) - Yamagata, Niigata * Agano River (阿賀野川) - Fukushima, Gunma, Niigata * Shinano River (信濃川) - Nagano, Gunma, Niigata *

Seki River The Seki River (関川) is a river in Niigata Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture, Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordere ...

(関川) - Nagano, Niigata * Hime River (姫川) - Nagano, Niigata * Kurobe River (黒部川) - Toyama *

(常願寺川) - Toyama * Jinzū River (神通川) - Gifu, Toyama * Shō River (庄川) - Gifu, Toyama *

Oyabe River The is a river in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. The river rises from Mount Daimon on the border of Ishikawa Prefecture and enters the sea at Toyama Bay. The kanji that spells ''Oyabe'' means "little arrow room", but this may be a case of ''ateji ...

(小矢部川) - Ishikawa, Toyama *

Tedori River The is a river in southern Ishikawa Prefecture in the Hokuriku region of Japan. The river originates on Hakusan, the highest peak in the Hakusan National Park on the border between Ishikawa and Gifu Prefecture, and flows in a generally north ...

(手取川) - Ishikawa *

Kakehashi River The has its source at Suzugaoka (鈴ヶ丘) in the city of Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, an ...

(梯川) - Ishikawa

Chūbu

Rivers that flow into the Sea of Japan: * Agano-gawa (阿賀野川) - Niigata, Fukushima, Gunma * Shinano-gawa (信濃川) or Chikuma-gawa (千曲川) - longest of Japan * Seki-kawa (関川) - Nagano, Niigata * Hime-kawa (姫川) - Nagano, Niigata * Kurobe-gawa (黒部川) - Toyama * Jōganji-gawa (常願寺川) - Toyama * Jinzū-gawa (神通川) - Gifu, Toyama * Shō-gawa (庄川) - Gifu, Toyama * Oyabe-gawa (小矢部川) - Toyama, Ishikawa * Tedori-gawa (手取川) - Ishikawa * Kuzuryū-gawa (九頭竜川) - Gifu, Fukui Rivers that flow into the Pacific Ocean: * Fuji-kawa (富士川) - Nagano, Yamanashi, Shizuoka * Abe-kawa (安倍川) - Shizuoka * Ōi-gawa (大井川) - Shizuoka *

Sakawa River The is a river in Shizuoka Prefecture and Kanagawa Prefecture Japan. In Shizuoka Prefecture it is called the Ayuzawa River. It flows into the Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions ...

(酒匂川) - Shizuoka, Kanagawa * Tenryū-gawa (天竜川) - Nagano, Aichi, Shizuoka * Toyo-gawa (豊川) - Aichi * Yahagi-gawa (矢作川) - Nagano, Gifu, Aichi * Shōnai-gawa (庄内川) - Gifu, Aichi * Kiso-gawa (木曽川) - Nagano, Gifu, Aichi, Mie * Nagara-gawa (長良川) - Gifu, Aichi, Mie * Ibi-gawa (揖斐川) -Gifu, Mie * Kushida-gawa (櫛田川) - Mie * Miya-gawa (宮川) - Mie First class rivers under control of Chubu Regional Bureau (中部地方整備局) * Kano-gawa (狩野川) - Shizuoka * Abe-kawa (安倍川) - Shizuoka * Ōi-gawa (大井川) - Shizuoka * Kiku-gawa (菊川) - Shizuoka * Tenryū-gawa (天竜川) - Nagano, Aichi, Shizuoka * Toyo-gawa (豊川) - Aichi * Yahagi-gawa (矢作川) - Nagano, Gifu, Aichi * Shōnai-gawa (庄内川) - Gifu, Aichi * Kiso-gawa (木曽川) - Nagano, Gifu, Shiga, Aichi, Mie * Suzuka-gawa (鈴鹿川) - Mie * Kumozu-gawa (雲出川) - Mie * Kushida-gawa (櫛田川) - Mie * Miya-gawa (宮川) - Mie

Kansai The or the , lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshu, Honshū. The region includes the Prefectures of Japan, prefectures of Nara Prefecture, Nara, Wakayama Prefecture, Wakayama, Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto, Osaka Prefectur ...

The first class rivers under the control of Kinki Regional Bureau (近畿地方整備局) * Kuzuryu-gawa (九頭竜川) - Fukui * Kita-gawa (北川) - Shiga, Fukui * Yura-gawa (由良川) - Hyogo, Kyoto * Yodo-gawa (淀川), Seta-gawa (瀬田川) or Uji-gawa (宇治川) ** Yasu-gawa (野洲川) ** Katsura-gawa (桂川), Hozu-gawa (保津川) or Ōi-gawa (大堰川) **

Kamo-gawa The is located in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The riverbanks are popular walking spots for residents and tourists. In summer, restaurants open balconies looking out to the river. There are walkways running alongside the river, and some stepping ...

(鴨川) ** Kizu-gawa (木津川) ** Dōton-bori (道頓堀) * Yamato-gawa (大和川) - Nara, Osaka * Maruyama-gawa (円山川) - Hyogo * Kako-gawa (加古川) - Hyogo * Ibo-gawa (揖保川) - Hyogo * Ki-no-kawa (紀ノ川, 紀の川) - Nara, Wakayama * Yamato-gawa (大和川) - Nara, Osaka * Kumano-gawa (熊野川) or Shingu-gawa (新宮川) - Nara, Mie, Wakayama The second class river * Muko-gawa (武庫川)

Chūgoku

There are 13 Class A river systems in Chūgoku Region, which are under control of Chugoku Regional Bureau (中国地方整備局). See also :Rivers of Tottori Prefecture, :Rivers of Shimane Prefecture, :Rivers of Hiroshima Prefecture, :Rivers of Okayama Prefecture and :Rivers of Yamaguchi Prefecture. * Sendai River (千代川) - Tottori * Tenjin River (天神川) - Tottori *

Hino River The is a major river in the western part of Tottori Prefecture. The river flows east-northeast for , and is the longest river in the prefecture. The Hino River emerges from the Chūgoku Mountains. The source of the river is at an elevation of ...

(日野川) - Tottori * Hii River (斐伊川) -

Shimane is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Shimane Prefecture is the List of Japanese prefectures by population, second-least populous prefecture of Japan at 665,205 (February 1, 2021) and has a geo ...

, Tottori * Gō-no-kawa, or Gō-gawa (江の川, 江川) -

Hiroshima is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 1,199,391. The gross domestic product (GDP) in Greater Hiroshima, Hiroshima Urban Employment Area, was US$61.3 billion as of 2010. Kazumi Matsui h ...

, Shimane * Takatsu River (高津川) - Shimane * Yoshii River (吉井川) -

Okayama is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan. The city was founded on June 1, 1889. , the city has an estimated population of 720,841 and a population density of 910 persons per km2. The total area is . The city is ...

* Asahi River (旭川) - Okayama * Takahashi River (高梁川) - Hiroshima, Okayama *

Ashida River The is a river that flows through the eastern part of Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The river provides the primary drainage for the Bingo region. The source of the river is in the city of Mihara, Hiroshima and flows generally east toward Niimi, ...

(芦田川) - Okayama, Hiroshima * Ōta-gawa (太田川) - Hiroshima * Oze River (小瀬川) - Hiroshima, Yamaguchi *Saba River (佐波川) - Yamaguchi

Shikoku

First class rivers under control of Shikoku Regional Bureau (四国地方整備局) * Yoshino-gawa ( 吉野川) - Kochi, Ehime, Tokushima, Kagawa * Naka-gawa ( 那賀川) - Tokushima * Doki-gawa ( 土器川) - Kagawa * Shigenobu-gawa ( 重信川) - Ehime * Hiji-kawa ( 肱川) - Ehime * Monobe-kawa ( 物部川) - Kochi 6 * Niyodo-gawa ( 仁淀川) - Ehime, Kochi * Shimanto-gawa ( 四万十川) - Ehime, Kochi

Kyūshū is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surround ...

First class rivers under control of Kyushu Regional Bureau (九州地方整備局) * Onga-gawa ( 遠賀川) - Fukuoka * Yamakuni-gawa ( 山国川) - Oita, Fukuoka * Chikugo-gawa (筑後川) - Kumamoto, Oita, Fukuoka, Saga * Yabe-gawa ( 矢部川) - Fukuoka * Matsuura-gawa ( 松浦川) - Saga * Rokkaku-gawa ( 六角川) - Saga * Kase-gawa ( 嘉瀬川) - Saga * Honmyo-gawa ( 本明川) - Nagasaki * Kikuchi-gawa (菊池川) - Kumamoto * Shira-kawa ( 白川) - Kumamoto * Midori-gawa ( 緑川) - Kumamoto * Kuma-gawa (球磨川) - Kumamoto * Ōita-gawa ( 大分川) - Ōita * Ōno-gawa (大野川) - Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Ōita * Banjo-gawa ( 番匠川) - Ōita * Gokase-gawa ( 五ヶ瀬川) - Kumamoto, Ōita, Miyazaki * Omaru-gawa ( 小丸川) - Miyazaki * Ōyodo-gawa (大淀川) - Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki * Sendai-gawa ( 川内川) - Miyazaki, Kagoshima * Kimotsuki-gawa ( 肝属川, 肝付川) - Kagoshima

References

全国１０９の一級水系
(109 of first class rivers; b
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Japan

一級水系の河川整備基本方針策定状況（平成21年3月6日現在）
you can see where first class rivers are)

External links

- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism {{Rivers of Japan *

Rivers A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...