The Jinzū River (神通川) is a river that flows from Gifu Prefecture to Toyama Prefecture in Japan. The upper reaches of the river in Gifu are called the Miya River. It is 120 km in length and has a watershed of 2720 km2.

Etymology

The official name for the river is "Jinzu Gawa" (written じんづうがわ (Jinzū-gawa or Jindzū-gawa)) according to the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan and Japan Coast Guard. However, the pronunciation of the name has variations, including じんずうがわ (Jinzū-gawa) and じんつうがわ (Jintsū-gawa).

Geography and development

The Jinzū River flows from a source at 1626 m on the slopes of Mount Kaore in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture and meets the Takahara River at the border between Gifu and Toyama Prefectures. The upper reaches of the river in Gifu Prefecture are also called the Miya River (宮川). From the border it flows generally north and empties into Toyama Bay on the Sea of Japan. It's drainage basin covers an area of 2720 km2. It once meandered through the city of Toyama, but the new waterway was constructed in the west of the city to avoid floods. Toyama City Hall and other governments are located on the reclaimed land of the old river.

Municipalities

Tributaries

Pollution

The river was polluted with cadmium due to mining and caused the itai-itai disease in the downstream towns around World War II.

Legacy

The Japanese Navy cruiser JAPANESE CRUISER Jintsū was named after this river.