List of rivers of Japan

Rivers of Japan 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, 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 plains in their lower reaches which enable the Japanese to cultivate rice fields 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.

Hokkaidō

There are 326 rivers in Hokkaido, including 13 class A river systems (1級水系 or 一級河川, ikkyū suikei) designated by the central government. The class A rivers are administered by Hokkaidō Regional Development Bureau (北海道開発局, Hokkaidō kaihatsukyoku). There are six class B river systems.

The following table lists the of rivers of Hokkaidō by length. Use the column headers to sort by name, class, or tributary status.

Honshu

Rivers are listed by length. Columns can also be sorted by name, class, and tributary status.

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

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

See also

• Geography of Japan

References

• 全国１０９の一級水系 (109 of first class rivers; by 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

• Rivers of Japan - Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)
• Digital data- by MLIT

1. Lists of rivers
2. Classification of rivers in Japan
3. List of emperors of Japan
4. List of rivers by discharge
5. List of prime ministers of Japan
6. List of rivers of Asia
7. Prefectures of Japan
8. List of regions of Japan
9. List of rivers of China
10. List of islands of Japan
11. List of earthquakes in Japan
12. List of rivers of Korea
13. List of rivers of Oregon
14. List of ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy
15. List of birds of Japan
16. Japan
17. List of mammals of Japan
18. Emperor of Japan
19. Empire of Japan
20. List of major crimes in Japan