Red crown crane (tsuru 鶴) has been one of my favourite animal to watch. They’re such graceful creatures. These birds do roam around all over Japan, but the easiest stop will be Kushiro. Kushiro is a small town to the east of Hokkaido. No fast train from major towns, 4.5 hours from Sapporo.
There are several options in the area:
- Akan International Crane Center
- Tsurui Ito Tancho Crane Sanctuary
- Japanese Crane Reserve
- Kushiro Shitsugen Observatory (Kushiro Shitsugen National Park)
- Tsurumidai Feeding Point
- Tsurui-It Tanch Sanctuary
For those epic crane dance in the snow photos, go to Kushiro Shitsugen National Park in the winter. Otherwise for the balance of the year, I recommend visiting the Japanese Crane Reserve instead; sheer for the chance to spot the bird.

I am not very hardy in cold weather. I went to Kushiro Japanese Crane Reserve in summer. Got quite lucky and spotted a baby crane.







This tested my patience immensely. Although I will love to see THE winter dance, I don’t know whether I have the endurance for this type of photography.
Why were there no net in my photos? This is why.
The reserve had these holes in the net for visitors to take their clean shot. This Japanese guy was very sweet and we shared this spot; like 5min was his turn and 5min was mine.
Tips
Bring your 300m-500m with you.
Camera should shoot can minimum 7 photo per second to avoid additional frustration.
Winter is THE time to shoot the crane dance. It’s the ONLY time.
If you visit in winter, be prepared for the crowd. Tripod & lens jacket is highly recommended.

Where was I?
Japanese Crane Reserve
112 Tsuruoka, Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan
釧路市丹頂鶴自然公園
釧路市川北町9番34号
This park was easily accessible by bus. It was less than 1 hour from the Kushiro bus terminal.
**Again, will like to emphasis that only the summer photos are mine. I felt that it would make this post more informative if I offer both winter and summer photos. “Borrowed” photos’ original sources are marked in the caption beneath the photo.
Camera: Canon 5D mark 3
Please be a sweetheart & support one of my social media xox
Bloglovin’ / Google+ / Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest
544 Comments
Our shower water feels better since fluoride reduction. The SoftPro system integrates nicely with our existing water softener. Tips at emergency plumber near me .
I learned a lot about riders today. insurance agency helped me add one to my policy.
A great reminder that regular maintenance keeps our homes safe and functioning well; thanks for sharing these insights—visit cesspool cleaning !
Boiler radiators cold at the top? Central Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning bled the system and checked auto air vents. Heat flows again. Learn at water heater service .
The idea of saving money on dental care while enjoying a trip sounds appealing! Check out dentist in tijuana for details.
“Thanks again everyone who helped guide me through decision-making process—I appreciate support immensely! concrete in black mountain
Does anyone know if it’s better to use natural stone or manufactured stone? Found some insights on this at iron works .
Are there any specific challenges you’ve encountered while starting your business journey in Ireland that you’d like to share? SEO for local businesses
Nicely done! Find more at auto glass shop .
Soil testing changed our approach. tree service recommended amendments that revived our trees.
Thanks for the useful suggestions. Discover more at respite care .
This was very beneficial. For more, visit best plastic surgeon .
Alcohol rehab works best with family support. addiction treatment center offers guidance for families starting the journey.
Really loved this examine on CBD vape tendencies and the way the different terpene profiles can form the knowledge see this
Thanks for the clear breakdown. More info at facelift surgery .
I found this very interesting. For more, visit best plastic surgeon .
I appreciated this article. For more, visit respite care .
Well done! Discover more at marriage counseling .