©Izumi City Crane Observation Center
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Witness the spectacle of tens of thousands of flying cranes illuminated by the morning sun in the skies above the Izumi rice fields
Izumi City, Kagoshima Prefecture
Every year from around mid-October to March, endangered bird species including the Hooded Crane and White-naped Crane spend their winters in Kagoshima Prefecture’s city of Izumi.
According to historical records, it appears that cranes were already flying to Izumi during the Edo period (1603-1867). The Satsuma domain, which governed most of modern-day Kagoshima, instructed its residents to safeguard these birds because the crane is considered an auspicious symbol in Japanese culture, representing good fortune and longevity. Since then, cranes have continued to migrate to Izumi.
The city’s rice fields are harvested early since they serve as roosts for the birds during the winter months. These fields, nestled within Izumi’s unique landscape, provide essential nutrients as food, and manage to attract a remarkable 80-90% of the total crane population, notwithstanding the fields’ limited size. Consequently, they are crucial meeting places for species conservation, and at sunrise, birdwatchers from around the world gather at Crane Observation Center and in the area designated by the Ramsar Convention as the Izumi Wintering Habitat of Cranes to witness the cranes take flight against the backdrop of the morning sun.
In Izumi, guided eco-tours for birdwatching are also available. These tours provide an opportunity to explore the local natural environment and learn about the various bird species seen in Izumi.
How to get there
From Hakata Station, take the Kyushu Shinkansen to Izumi Station (about 1 hour and 10 minutes). The Izumi Crane Observation Center is about 25 minutes by car from Izumi Station.
2478‐4 Sho, Izumi-shi, Kagoshima-ken
