In April 2024, I enjoyed birdwatching at Kamo River in Kyoto, and this was my first time birding in this part of Japan. While I was in the city for work, I took several extra days to go birding around the historic city.

After some research, I found that the Kamo River, with its serene ambience and lush surroundings, provides one of the ideal habitats for various Japanese bird species; therefore, I know this would be my favourite place.

Birdwatching at Kamo River in Kyoto

I wanted to write a birdwatching trip report for Kyoto, but I decided to make it a simple article for everyone. Even beginners can enjoy reading this, accompanied by some photos, rather than making it overly detailed and technical.

Every morning, before I headed to work, I would visit the riverbanks, looking for common birds that frequent the area, such as the Japanese Wagtail, Grey Heron, Mandarin Duck, and the beautiful Japanese Cormorant.

I was told that if I were lucky, I could spot more elusive species, such as the Common Kingfisher or the Japanese Bush Warbler. Well, that section of luck was not shining during April, or maybe I didn’t go off too far up the river.

For your added information, the Kamogawa River runs for 31 kilometres, and the part that cuts through downtown Kyoto is around two to three kilometres long. Typically, people walk along this part of the river.

On my morning Kamo River birding sessions, I would take a five-minute walk from my hotel in Kawaramachi. As always, early mornings or late afternoons tend to be the best times for birdwatching when bird activity is at its peak around the river.

Armed with my Canon R7 and my RF 100-500mm lens, I would spend about an hour in the morning walking an estimated one to two kilometres along the Kamo River. Ducks are probably one of the most common birds to spot, with an estimated three to four species in April.

The ever-popular Black Kites are abundant as they are seen hovering over the river, sometimes up to eight or ten of them at one go. Often, you will see the large-billed crows chasing the kites away.

Kamo River Bird List

Here are some of the common and notable bird species I encountered while birdwatching along the Kamo River in Kyoto:

1. Japanese Wagtail (Motacilla grandis)
2. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
3. Japanese Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus)
4. House Swift (Apus nipalensis)
5. Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis)
6. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
7. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
8. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
9. Medium Egret (Ardea intermedia)
10. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
11. Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
12. Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope)
13. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
14. Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
15. Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
16. White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus)
17. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
18. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
19. Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha)
20. Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)
21. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
22. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
23. Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

What I wanted to see but did not see;

1. Japanese Bush Warbler (Cettia diphone)
2. Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
3. Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Additional Tips and Information

Birding along the Kamo River is relatively easy, as you only need to walk up and down the river. There are proper walkways, and many people hang out at the banks of the rivers all day. In the heat of the day, people are sunbathing or lying down; at lunchtime, they eat here, and people hang out at night.

The Kamo River appears to be an integral part of Kyoto, as most locals and visitors are drawn to this location. I know I was, simply because it was in the main city, and birds are easy to spot here.

When I was here for work, I stayed at the Travelodge Kawaramachi Kyoto, along the main street and a five-minute walk to the Kamo River. The convenience of staying here was incredible, particularly in terms of logistics, convenience, and comfort. Everything was within arm’s reach.

Conclusion

As this was my first time birdwatching at the Kamo River in Kyoto, I must admit that it was probably one of the best experiences I have had in Japan. It was so easy, convenient, and hassle-free. When I return to Kyoto, I will definitely come here to do more birding. Check out some of the birding locations in Kyoto that I have covered in another article.

During my time here, I also enjoyed birdwatching at Kyoto Imperial Park, one of the highlights of birding if you know where to look. The park is vast, but somehow, my bird instinct took me to the right place. I will post additional photos taken with my Canon R7 camera in another article.