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Goldfish Scooping World Championship
Yamatokoriyama City, Nara Prefecture
Only in Japan and only in Yamatokoriyama, Nara Prefecture has the traditional festival game of goldfish scooping been taken to the level of a major competition. The Goldfish Scooping World Championship is a family-friendly summer event that draws thousands of visitors and encourages tourists from across the globe to participate.
Held at Goldfish Square, it’s a fun tournament that anyone can sign up for, and the rules are simple. Pick a small scooper, position yourself over a pool of tiny goldfish, then ladle as many you can into a tub within just three minutes. There is one caveat: the scooper is made of fine paper. Scoop too fast, and the paper will rip; scoop too slowly, and the fish will glide away.
If that’s too much competitive scooping, step outside the venue to enjoy numerous stalls selling foods and goods.
How to get there
To get from Shin-Osaka Station to Yamatokoriyama, first transfer to JR Osaka Station and go to the JR Yamatoji Line platform. Board a train on the JR Yamatoji Line heading to Yamatokoriyama Station. The travel time is typically around 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.
At Yamatokoriyama, take a No. 71 or No. 72 bus from Kintetsu-Koriyama Station and get off at Shiei Gurando-mae. Alternatively, take a No. 71, No. 72, or No. 73 bus from JR Yamato-Koizumi Station and get off at Shiei Gurando-mae. The journey time is approximately 15 minutes by bus from either train station.
2 Yatayama-cho, Yamatokoriyama-shi, Nara-ken
Links
More Information
Kansai Region | JNTO Official Website
Nara Prefecture | JNTO Official Website
