ITINERARY
A haven for wild birds that can only be seen at Kushiroshitsugen in winter.
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Summer is the most popular time to visit Kushiroshitsugen National Park, home to Kushiroshitsugen, one of Japan’s largest wetlands. Winter has its own draws too though, and it is a great time for bird watching. There you can join an ecotour to observe the courtship dance of red-crowned cranes, where males and females sing and dance while facing each other. Various activities like canoe tours on the Kushiro River where you can spot rare birds of prey like Steller’s sea eagles and white-tailed eagles will let you experience the incredible landscape of the Kushiroshitsugen in winter, along with the flora and fauna that call it home.
Itinerary Highlights
- Watch the courtship dance of red-crowned cranes.
- Warm up in a Finnish sauna while gazing out over the marsh.
- Explore enchanting Kushiroshitsugen through activities like canoeing, snowshoeing, and horse trekking.
Observe red-crowned cranes in the wild and learn about efforts to protect them
To make the most of your time at Kushiroshitsugen, it’s a good idea to stay over in Kushiro City the night before. In the morning, you travel by car to the Toro Nature Center where you join an eco-tour to observe red-crowned cranes in the wild. These birds have been designated as a special national natural treasure.
After driving back to Kushiro City and having lunch, at the Kushiroshitsugen Wildlife Center you learn about the rare animals living in the wetlands and the ways they are protected. Next, you drive to the Onnenai Visitor Center where you learn about Kushiroshitsugen. With that information in mind, you set out to snowshoe along the boardwalk.
When evening comes, you head to the hotel and check in. At the Craft Hostel & Finland Sauna, you can warm up from your core while taking in a view of gorgeous Kushiroshitsugen covered in ice.
A magical experience canoeing among icy trees and snowshoeing over a blanket of snow
The beauty of Kushiroshitsugen in the morning covered in rime ice is almost otherworldly. Joining this Nature Canoe Tour will let you experience paddling slowly through this truly fantastic scenery. You may well encounter various birds of prey.
When the tour is finished, you travel by car to Toro. After having lunch, you snowshoe on completely-frozen Lake Toro. Walking over the landscape covered in powder snow and leaving only your footprints is an experience to remember. From there, you move to Lake Shirarutoro to observe whooper swans and other wildlife before checking into your hotel within the national park.
View Kushiroshitsugen from horse back and a steam locomotive
In the morning, you travel by car to Tsurui Dosanko Ranch. There you ride a Dosanko horse (Hokkaido pony) on a horseback riding tour. This horse variety has been an essential part of Hokkaido life since Japanese settlers first arrived. Apart from canoeing and snowshoeing, this is yet another way to enjoy viewing Kushiroshitsugen. You then move on to Tsurui Village. After lunch, you travel from Toro Station to Kushiro Station on the SL Fuyu-no-Shitsugen steam train before returning to Kushiro City.