| Kuji River | |
| Name Other: | 久慈川 |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Japan |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Honshu |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Fukushima, Tochigi, Ibaraki |
| Length: | NaNkm (-2,147,483,648miles) |
| Discharge1 Location: | Sakakibashi (榊橋) |
| Discharge1 Avg: | NaNcuft/sNaNcuft/s |
| Source1: | Mount Yamizo |
| Source1 Elevation: | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) |
| Mouth: | Pacific Ocean (at Hitachi and Tokai) |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 36.4817°N 140.6162°W |
| Basin Size: | NaNkm2 |
is a river in Fukushima Prefecture, Tochigi Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It rises at the northern slope of Mount Yamizo, where the border of these three prefectures is located, and flows into Pacific Ocean at Hitachi and Tokai in Ibaraki Prefecture. It has a length of 124km (77miles) and a drainage area of 1490km2, and is designated as a Class A river.
The name Kuji is thought to be derived from the phonetically similar word for whale (kujira in Japanese). , one of the existent fudoki, states: "There were a hill that resembled a whale [''kujira'']. Then the emperor named the land Kuji." 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. A fishing weir (梁 yana) for tourists is installed along the river in Daigo. Fukuroda Falls are located on the Taki River (滝川 Takigawa), which is one of its tributary rivers. One midwinter phenomenon is called , in which frazil ice that is formed at the bottom floats to the surface.[1] 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.
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 and 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.[2] [3]
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.[4]
Yamizo River originates from the southern slope of Mt. Yamizo in Daigo, Ibaraki. It is 20.8 kilometers long. The natural springs of Yamizo River (八溝川湧水群 Yamizogawa Yūsuigun) are located at the source of the river. It is one of the, which were designated by Ministry of the Environment in 1985.[2] [5] [6] [7] [8]
It is 27.4 kilometers in length and flows into Kuji River.[2]
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.[9] [2]
It is 20.0 kilometers in length and flows into Kuji River.[2]
It is 23.9 kilometers in length and flows into Kuji River.[2]
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.[2]
Its source is in (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., 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 3000000m2 and the height of 45m (148feet). 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.[2] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
It is 51.4 kilometers in length and flows into Kuji River.[2]
In the basin there are five cities, five towns and two villages, which are listed below. the population of the basin is approximately 200,000.