List of rivers of Japan

Rivers of Japan are characterized by their relatively short lengths and considerably steep gradients due to the narrow and mountainous topography of the country. An often-cited quote is 'this is not a river, but a waterfall' by the Dutch engineer (o-yatoi gaikokujin) Johannis de Rijke who had visited the Jōganji River, Toyama Prefecture. The Mogami, the Fuji and the Kuma are regarded as the three most rapid rivers of Japan.

Typical rivers of Japan rise from mountainous forests and cut out deep V-shaped valleys in their upper reaches, and form alluvial plains in their lower reaches which enable the Japanese to cultivate rice fields and to set up cities. Most rivers are dammed to supply both water and electricity.

The longest river of Japan is the Shinano, which flows from Nagano to Niigata. The Tone has the largest watershed and serves water to more than 30 million inhabitants of Tokyo metropolitan area.

Hokkaidō
There are 326 rivers in Hokkaido, including 13 class A river systems (1級水系 or 一級河川) designated by the central government. The class A rivers are administered by Hokkaidō Regional Development Bureau (北海道開発局). There are six class B river systems.

The following table lists the of rivers of Hokkaidō by length. Use the column headers to sort by name, class, or tributary status.

Honshu
Rivers are listed by length. Columns can also be sorted by name, class, and tributary status.

Shikoku
First class rivers under control of Shikoku Regional Bureau (四国地方整備局)
 * Yoshino-gawa (吉野川) - Kochi, Ehime, Tokushima, Kagawa
 * Naka-gawa (那賀川) - Tokushima
 * Doki-gawa (土器川) - Kagawa
 * Shigenobu-gawa (重信川) - Ehime
 * Hiji-kawa (肱川) - Ehime
 * Monobe-kawa (物部川) - Kochi 	6
 * Niyodo-gawa (仁淀川) - Ehime, Kochi
 * Shimanto-gawa (四万十川) - Ehime, Kochi

Kyūshū
First class rivers under control of Kyushu Regional Bureau (九州地方整備局)


 * Onga-gawa (遠賀川) - Fukuoka
 * Yamakuni-gawa (山国川) - Oita, Fukuoka
 * Chikugo-gawa (筑後川) - Kumamoto, Oita, Fukuoka, Saga
 * Yabe-gawa (矢部川) - Fukuoka
 * Matsuura-gawa (松浦川) - Saga
 * Rokkaku-gawa (六角川) - Saga
 * Kase-gawa (嘉瀬川) - Saga
 * Honmyo-gawa (本明川) - Nagasaki
 * Kikuchi-gawa (菊池川) - Kumamoto
 * Shira-kawa (白川) - Kumamoto
 * Midori-gawa (緑川) - Kumamoto
 * Kuma-gawa (球磨川) - Kumamoto
 * Ōita-gawa (大分川) - Ōita
 * Ōno-gawa (大野川) - Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Ōita
 * Banjo-gawa (番匠川) - Ōita
 * Gokase-gawa (五ヶ瀬川) - Kumamoto, Ōita, Miyazaki
 * Omaru-gawa (小丸川) - Miyazaki
 * Ōyodo-gawa (大淀川) - Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki
 * Sendai-gawa (川内川) - Miyazaki, Kagoshima
 * Kimotsuki-gawa (肝属川, 肝付川) - Kagoshima