White-spotted Char in Japan

The fish

Japanese

イワナ · iwana

Scientific name

Salvelinus leucomaenis

Typical size

20–40 cm (8–16 in)

Water

Freshwater

Across the year

The best month at any of the 6 places we have checked. Each place has its own window, and the season elsewhere in Japan may differ.

Where we have checked it

These are examples, not a complete list. White-spotted Char is caught far more widely in Japan than the 6 waters below. We list a place only once we have worked out which rules apply there, so the absence of a water means we have not checked it — not that the fish is missing.

• Lake AkanHokkaido · FreshwaterJune is the prime month.
• Niseko mountain streamsHokkaido · FreshwaterMay, June, July and August are the prime months.
• Kitakami River systemIwate · FreshwaterMay, June and July are the prime months.
• Kinugawa systemTochigi · FreshwaterMay, June and July are the prime months.
• Lake ChuzenjiTochigi · FreshwaterMay and November are the prime months.
• Nagara River (Gujo)Gifu · FreshwaterMay, June, July and August are the prime months.