This article is about the river in Fukushima, Tochigi and Ibaraki Prefecture. For the river with the identical name in Iwate Prefecture, see
Kuji River (Iwate).
The name Kuji is thought to be derived from the phonetically similar word for
whale (kujira in Japanese). Hitachi no kuni fudoki [
ja], one of the existent fudoki, states: "There were a hill that resembled a whale [kujira]. Then the emperor named the land Kuji."[2][5] The river is known for
ayu fishing. In 2006 it had the second largest catch of ayu in Japan after the
Naka River, which is also located in Ibaraki Prefecture.[1][6] A
fishing weir (梁 yana) for tourists is installed along the river in
Daigo.[7]Fukuroda Falls are located on the Taki River (滝川 Takigawa), which is one of its tributary rivers.[1][8] One midwinter phenomenon is called shiga [
ja], in which
frazil ice that is formed at the bottom floats to the surface.[9][10] Distribution of freshwater fish like
salvelinus and
masu salmon captured in Fukushima Prefecture was restricted after the
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, though restrictions on Kuji River fish has been gradually removed.[11]
Geography
Kuji River originates from the northern slope of Mount Yamizo, where the border of Fukushima Prefecture, Tochigi Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefecture is located. It initially flows to the northeast in
Tanagura, Fukushima and then changes the flow direction to the sounth in the town. The dividing ridges of
Abukuma River and Kuji River are relatively low, and it is considered that Kuji River
captured the course of Abukuma River in the past. It flows along a narrow plain between
Yamizo Mountains [
ja] and
Abukuma Mountains [
ja] and into Ibaraki Prefecture. In Ibaraki Prefecture it flows through
Daigo,
Hitachiomiya and flows finally into
Pacific Ocean at the border of
Hitachi and
Tokai. While the mainstream of the river flows through Fukushima Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefecture, some tributaries flow through
Otawara in
Tochigi Prefecture (former
Kurobane), which is located in the southwest of Mt.Yamizo.[1][3][12]
The approximately 80% of the basin consists of mountains and hills, and the rest consists of
plateaus and
plains. In the downstream basin there is Naka Plateau (那珂台地) between Naka River and Kuji River, which is a
fluvial terrace formed by the erosion and deposition by the two rivers.[13]
It is 27.4 kilometers in length and flows into Kuji River.[3]
Taki River (滝川)
Taki River rises at Namase Basin (生瀬盆地) and flows to the west. It is 12 kilometers in length. Namase Falls and Fukuroda Falls are located alongside the river. Fukuroda Falls are one of the three great waterfalls of Japan (日本三名瀑 Nihon-san-meibaku), the other two being
Kegon Falls and
Nachi Falls. Namase Falls and Fukuroda falls are designated as
Places of Scenic Beauty.[1][8][18][3]
Tama River (玉川)
It is 20.0 kilometers in length and flows into Kuji River.[3]
Asa River (浅川)
It is 23.9 kilometers in length and flows into Kuji River.[3]
Yamada River (山田川)
It originates from Mount Nabeashi (鍋足山), flows through former
Suifu,
Kanasagō, Hitachiota, and into Kuji River. It is 37.8 kilometers in length.[3][19]
Ryūjin River (竜神川)
Its source is in
Mount Nantai [
ja] (男体山) located in the southeastern part of Daigo. It is 12.5 kilometers in length and flows into Yamada River at Takakura (高倉) in former Suifu Village.
Ryujinkyo [
ja], a valley that was formed by the erosion, is situated alongside the river. On the lower valley Ryujin Dam is located and has the total capacity of 3,000,000 m3 (3,900,000 cu yd) and the height of 45 m (148 ft). Ryujin Big Suspension Bridge (竜神大吊橋 Ryujin Otsuribashi) links both sides of the valley, and is the longest
suspension bridge for pedestrians in
Honshu at 375 meters.[3][20][21][22][19][23][24]
Sato River (里川)
It is 51.4 kilometers in length and flows into Kuji River.[3]
Municipalities in the basin
In the basin there are five
cities, five
towns and two
villages, which are listed below. As of 1995[update] the population of the basin is approximately 200,000.[2]