Structured Lists Directory

JSON

Rivers of Japan - JSON

Japan's rivers are characterized by many short, rapid-flowing rivers due to the topographical feature that approximately 70% of the country is mountainous. There are approximately 35,000 rivers nationwide, of which 109 river systems with 14,083 rivers are designated as first-class rivers, and 2,710 river systems with 7,081 rivers are designated as second-class rivers. The Shinano River (367km) is the longest in Japan, while the Tone River holds the record for the largest basin area at 16,840km². These rivers are managed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and respective prefectures from the perspectives of flood control, water utilization, and environmental conservation.

rivers first-class rivers second-class rivers Shinano River Tone River MLIT flood control water utilization 
[
  {
    "code": "01",
    "slug": "shinano-river",
    "name": "Shinano River",
    "description": "The longest river in Japan, flowing from Nagano Prefecture to Niigata Prefecture into the Sea of Japan.",
    "lengthKm": 367,
    "basinAreaKm2": 11900,
    "source": "Mount Kobushi (Nagano Prefecture)",
    "mouth": "Sea of Japan (Niigata City)",
    "prefectures": [
      "長野県",
      "新潟県"
    ],
    "riverClass": "一級河川",
    "ranking": 1
  },
  {
    "code": "02",
    "slug": "tone-river",
    "name": "Tone River",
    "description": "The river with the largest basin area in Japan, flowing through the Kanto Plain into the Pacific Ocean.",
    "lengthKm": 322,
    "basinAreaKm2": 16840,
    "source": "Mount Ominesan (Gunma Prefecture)",
    "mouth": "Pacific Ocean (Choshi City)",
    "prefectures": [
      "群馬県",
      "栃木県",
      "埼玉県",
      "茨城県",
      "千葉県",
      "東京都"
    ],
    "riverClass": "一級河川",
    "ranking": 2
  },
  {
    "code": "03",
    "slug": "ishikari-river",
    "name": "Ishikari River",
    "description": "The longest river in Hokkaido, famous for salmon fishing.",
    "lengthKm": 268,
    "basinAreaKm2": 14330,
    "source": "Mount Ishikari (Hokkaido)",
    "mouth": "Sea of Japan (Ishikari City)",
    "prefectures": [
      "北海道"
    ],
    "riverClass": "一級河川",
    "ranking": 3
  },
  {
    "code": "04",
    "slug": "teshio-river",
    "name": "Teshio River",
    "description": "The second longest river in Hokkaido, known as a famous canoeing spot.",
    "lengthKm": 256,
    "basinAreaKm2": 5590,
    "source": "Mount Teshio (Hokkaido)",
    "mouth": "Sea of Japan (Teshio Town)",
    "prefectures": [
      "北海道"
    ],
    "riverClass": "一級河川",
    "ranking": 4
  },
  {
    "code": "05",
    "slug": "kitakami-river",
    "name": "Kitakami River",
    "description": "A representative river of the Tohoku region, famous for the cherry blossom trees at Kitakami Tenshochi.",
    "lengthKm": 249,
    "basinAreaKm2": 10150,
    "source": "Yumiya-no-Izumi spring (Iwate Prefecture)",
    "mouth": "Pacific Ocean (Ishinomaki City)",
    "prefectures": [
      "岩手県",
      "宮城県"
    ],
    "riverClass": "一級河川",
    "ranking": 5
  },
  {
    "code": "06",
    "slug": "abukuma-river",
    "name": "Abukuma River",
    "description": "A river flowing through Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, with tourist attractions such as the Abukuma Line boat tours.",
    "lengthKm": 239,
    "basinAreaKm2": 5400,
    "source": "Mount Asahi (Fukushima Prefecture)",
    "mouth": "Pacific Ocean (Sendai Plain)",
    "prefectures": [
      "福島県",
      "宮城県"
    ],
    "riverClass": "一級河川",
    "ranking": 6
  },
  {
    "code": "07",
    "slug": "mogami-river",
    "name": "Mogami River",
    "description": "A rapid river flowing through Yamagata Prefecture, known from Matsuo Basho's haiku.",
    "lengthKm": 229,
    "basinAreaKm2": 7040,
    "source": "Mount Azuma (Yamagata Prefecture)",
    "mouth": "Sea of Japan (Sakata City)",
    "prefectures": [
      "山形県"
    ],
    "riverClass": "一級河川",
    "ranking": 7
  },
  {
    "code": "08",
    "slug": "kiso-river",
    "name": "Kiso River",
    "description": "A river flowing from Nagano Prefecture to Mie Prefecture into Ise Bay.",
    "lengthKm": 229,
    "basinAreaKm2": 9100,
    "source": "Mount Hachimori (Nagano Prefecture)",
    "mouth": "Ise Bay",
    "prefectures": [
      "長野県",
      "岐阜県",
      "愛知県",
      "三重県"
    ],
    "riverClass": "一級河川",
    "ranking": 7
  },
  {
    "code": "09",
    "slug": "tenryu-river",
    "name": "Tenryu River",
    "description": "A river flowing through Nagano, Aichi, and Shizuoka prefectures into the Enshu Sea.",
    "lengthKm": 213,
    "basinAreaKm2": 5050,
    "source": "Lake Suwa (Nagano Prefecture)",
    "mouth": "Pacific Ocean (Enshu Sea)",
    "prefectures": [
      "長野県",
      "愛知県",
      "静岡県"
    ],
    "riverClass": "一級河川",
    "ranking": 9
  },
  {
    "code": "10",
    "slug": "aganogawa-river",
    "name": "Agano River",
    "description": "A river flowing through Fukushima and Niigata prefectures, winding through deep mountains.",
    "lengthKm": 210,
    "basinAreaKm2": 7710,
    "source": "Mount Araumi (Fukushima Prefecture)",
    "mouth": "Sea of Japan (Niigata City)",
    "prefectures": [
      "福島県",
      "新潟県"
    ],
    "riverClass": "一級河川",
    "ranking": 10
  },
  {
    "code": "15",
    "slug": "fuji-river",
    "name": "Fuji River",
    "description": "One of Japan's three great rapid rivers, flowing through Shizuoka Prefecture.",
    "lengthKm": 128,
    "basinAreaKm2": 3990,
    "source": "Mount Noko (Yamanashi Prefecture)",
    "mouth": "Suruga Bay",
    "prefectures": [
      "長野県",
      "山梨県",
      "静岡県"
    ],
    "riverClass": "一級河川",
    "ranking": 15
  },
  {
    "code": "B7",
    "slug": "yodo-river",
    "name": "Yodo River",
    "description": "A river flowing through the center of the Kinki region, with the largest basin population in western Japan.",
    "lengthKm": 75,
    "basinAreaKm2": 8240,
    "source": "Lake Biwa (Shiga Prefecture)",
    "mouth": "Osaka Bay",
    "prefectures": [
      "滋賀県",
      "京都府",
      "大阪府",
      "兵庫県",
      "奈良県",
      "三重県"
    ],
    "riverClass": "一級河川",
    "ranking": null
  }
]