Tama River - Futako-Tamagawa Station　（玉川 二子玉川 ーたまがわ　ふたこたまがわ）

Around 15 minutes (less than Y200) from Shibuya on the Tokyo Den'en Toshi Line is Futako-Tamagawa Station. If you get off the train and down the hill there is a river with a few backwaters. If you walk to the right (upstream) on the first backwater you come to there is a bit of depth and a few carp and catfish up to around 5kg below the bridge which gives you access to the park. The locals fish from the high concrete bank next to the bridge but there is some access down to the water to make things a little more civilised. Upstream of this bridge there is a section with some trees and lots of carp. There is an English lad who fishes here a lot and catches a lot of carp on treble sweetcorn presented on a ledger rig cast towards the trees. He recommends dusk and dawn as the best times, with the middle of the day being less productive. 

Downstream of the rail bridge (on the same back water) I have seen some carp feeding on floating bread in the section where the backwater meets the main river. 

The fast water is only a couple of feet deep and there are carp there. From the pebble beach (access from the next station unless you want to wade across) you can see the carp, which come right into the bank on summer evening. Generally it is a bit too crowded with partying locals to do any sensible fishing though.  

 

Last updated 21st August 2009