Over a hundred years ago, one of the first European visitors to the region remarked upon the Kiso River's resemblance to the Rhine. Today, you'll find rather more power lines, steel spans and vending machines than the comparison was intended to support, but the Kiso River still makes for a lovely walk in either direction. Cormorant fishing, known locally as ukai, takes place on summer nights. Fishermen using fire, nets and trained birds make for an exciting spectacle.
