Kushiro Shitsugen ( Wetland ), Hokkaido

Kushiro Shitsugen, one of the Ramsar Wetlands is located in the east of Hokkaido, Japan and in the north of Kushiro city ( as above ). The wetland is also registered as Kushiro Shitsugen National Park. The Shitsugen include areas of Kushiro city, Kushiro town, Shibecha town and Tsurui village.

The above photo shows a landscape of Kushiro Shitsugen in winter. It seems that everthing is frozen and that there live no animal alive. On the contrary, lots of wild animals live in the wetland and surrounding areas even in winter.

The most beautiful in Kushiro Shitsugen, especially in winter is Tanchou-Zuru ( above - taken in Tsurui-Ito Tanchou Sanctury, Tsurui village ). In addition, it is easier to see them in winter than in other seasons. So I like visiting the Kushiro wetland in winter.

In spring and in summer, some of Red Crowned Cranes ( Tanchou-Zuru ) are seen in Russia, Mongolia and China as well as in Korea in winter. However about 1,500 are resident in Kushiro Shitsugen. They are also called Japanese Crane while their scientific name is Grus japonensis.

The above photo, taken from Otowa Bridge in the morning, shows River Setsuri. There sleep lots of Tanchou-Zuru while some have already gotten up. It is worth getting up so early to see cranes get up.

However the temperature in this area in winter could be around minus 15 degrees in Celsius, for which tourists are recommended to be ready.

After getting up, Tanchou-Zuru fly away from River Setsuri as above. They move to some places where they are fed. For example, in Tsurui-Ito Tanchou Sanctury in Tsurui village, their breakfasts are prepared.

Tanchou-Zuru in Kushiro Shitsugen are wild and feed by themselves here and there in the wetland. However especially in winter, it is so difficult to find plenty of food and they move to places where they are fed. So it is easier to see them in winter than in other seasons.

One of the places where Tanchou-Zuru visit in winter is Akan International Crane Center where they are fed on fish. In the Crane Center, there is Tanchou Observation Center where tourists could see cranes being fed ( as above ) through Nov - Mar ( Observation Center closed Apr - Oct ).

In Akan International Crane Center, tourists could see Ojiro-Washi ( White Tailed Eagle - above ) as well. Fishes prepared for cranes are attractive to eagles too. Ojiro-Washi fly to Hokkaido from the north in winter while some are resident there.

When watching Tanchou-Zuru, tourists could find a Steller's Sea Eagle high in the sky ( as above ). They fly to Hokkaido in winter from the north.

Access is limited in Kushiro Shitsugen National Park. However, canoeing in the wetland can be arranged by some tourist agencies. Also walking paths around the wetland are maintained ( as above ).

Especially in summer, walking around Kushiro Shitsugen would be pleasant and wild animals and birds could be seen. However, be careful about brown bears, some of whom can be taller than 2.5m and heavier than 250kg. They could be too dangerous.

Along the walking paths around Kushiro Shitsugen, there are many obsevation platforms, from which tourists could enjoy viewing the landscapes of the wetland ( as above ).

6,000 years ago, sea level was a few meters higher so the wetland was a bay at the time. 4,000 years ago, sea level lowered and the bay became a wetland as it is.

On the hills surrounding Kushiro Shitsugen, people had lived for thousands years. In the sites of their villages, hundreds of pits have been discovered. At Hokuto, some of their houses were restored as above. In addition, evidences showing their living and cultures have been unearthed. Excavated artifacts can been seen in Hokuto Ancient Ruin.