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Goldfish Scooping World Championship
Yamatokoriyama City
Only in Japan and only in Yamatokoriyama, Nara Prefecture, has the traditional festival game of goldfish scooping been taken to major competition level. The Goldfish Scooping World Championship is a summer, family friendly 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 slow and the fish will glide away.
The record to beat currently stands at 87 fish, but if that’s too much competitive scooping, step outside the venue to enjoy scheduled music concerts and numerous stalls selling foods and goods.
How to get there
In Yamatokoriyama City take a No.71 or N0.72 bus from Kintetsu-Koriyama Station and get off at Shiei grando-mae. Alternatively, take a No.71, No.72 or No.73 bus from JR Yamato-Koizumi Station and get off at Shiei gurando-mae. Journey time is approximately15 minutes by bus from either train station.
