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.

8-red-crowned-crane-courtship-dance-eastern-hokkaido-japan
This photo is from http://www.wildencounters.net/weblog/2010/03/hokkaido-japan-february-2010/ Paul’s blog has AMAZINGly high quality photos. Totally pro. He (& Peevna) captures wildlife beautifully. This is definitely shooting in sub zero Hokkaido winter. Need to be brave to do these shots. The title photo is also from Paul’s blog.

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.

japanese-crane-reserve-kushiro-tancho-red-crown-cane-2923
Must say, the baby didn’t look anything like its parents.
Japanese Crane Reserve Kushiro Tancho red crown cane-2794.JPG
Papa was feeding the baby. It was too cute.

Japanese Crane Reserve Kushiro Tancho red crown cane-2835.JPG

japanese-crane-reserve-kushiro-tancho-red-crown-cane-2633
It was my first time operating the 300m lens free hand. Clearly I was not doing well *LOL*
japanese-crane-reserve-kushiro-tancho-red-crown-cane-2635
Ops I missed again. I like crane’s butt? *LOL*

japanese-crane-reserve-kushiro-tancho-red-crown-cane-2629

japanese-crane-reserve-kushiro-tancho-red-crown-cane-2954japanese-crane-reserve-kushiro-tancho-red-crown-cane-2853This 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.Japanese Crane Reserve Kushiro Tancho red crown cane-2631.JPGThe 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.

tsurui-ito-tancho
Kushiro Shitsugen observatory in winter. Hot spot for crane photos. Photo is from http://www.talonjapan.com/kushiro-shitsugen-national-park/

 

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

http://kushiro-tancho.jp

This park was easily accessible by bus. It was less than 1 hour from the Kushiro bus terminal.kushiro-akan-bus-2565**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 / FacebookPinterest

 

Author

Salut, I am Joyce. 40 something living in Paris. Appreciate little things and share giggles. Prudent, no nonsense reviews. #ExploreLaughRepeat

5,793 Comments

  1. [url=https://valeriakarat.ru/]Гадание онлайн[/url] дает точные ответы на вопросы любви и отношений, каждое гадание построено по авторской методике, дает советы по восстановлению доверия и счастья в паре, онлайн гадание удобно и безопасно, поиск ответов на сложные эмоциональные ситуации, Валерия Карат использует проверенные методы и карты Таро, экономит время и дает понятные результаты, выходят на свет скрытые причины конфликтов и недопониманий, доступно как разовое гадание, так и серия сеансов, онлайн консультации позволяют экономить время и силы, потомственная ясновидящая делится своими знаниями и опытом, консультации проводятся в комфортных условиях для клиента, подход индивидуален и учитывает ваши обстоятельства, вы получите поддержку и уверенность в своих решениях, результат доступен сразу после гадания, каждый расклад сопровождается объяснениями и рекомендациями, дает рекомендации для улучшения личной жизни, каждое решение учитывает уникальные обстоятельства, идеально для срочных вопросов, вы можете доверять профессионализму Валерии Карат, гадание дает уверенность и ясность в действиях.
    https://valeriakarat.ru/

  2. I’ve been diving into collagen for hair health here in the US for a while, and honestly, it’s a mixed bag—but mostly promising! What’s cool is that collagen provides amino acids like proline and glycine, which are the building blocks for keratin Click here for info

  3. When Australia’s most renowned Indigenous actor David Gulpilil passes away in South Australia his family struggle against huge logistical challenges to fulfill his final wish, to bury him on his Homeland, over 4,000 kilometres away. For those looking to refine their own gaming strategies, we’ve linked to extensive guides for blackjack, roulette, and baccarat to help you improve your play. Whether you’re a seasoned gambler or new to the web casino landscape, these resources” “plus top-rated casino web sites are sure to be able to provide endless entertainment and in order to earn big. In synopsis, the best on-line casinos in Sydney for 2025 present a diverse in addition to exciting assortment of alternatives for players. From generous welcome bonuses at Ricky Casino and NeoSpin for the extensive game your local library at 1Red Gambling establishment, there is anything for everyone.
    https://zeus183.org/fortune-gems-by-tadagaming-online-casino-game-review-for-indian-players/
    These two electronic wallets are also highly convenient and easy to use, total bets and total losses for that period. Biggest Wins Online Casino Free Online Mobile Casino Slots These two electronic wallets are also highly convenient and easy to use, total bets and total losses for that period. To start playing, first of all, open a casino site. Register if you are new there, or log into your player account if you already have one. Find the pokie in a search line or in a menu, you should search for the 15 Dragon Pearls Hold and Win logo. Once you have found it, tap “Play” to start the game. You can make the necessary settings if you need to. These include popular games like Aces and Faces and Deuces Wild, but the provider has presented it in an attractive way. Most of the best Internet casino websites in Morocco will also provide live chat support, we at GamblingGuy have created a one-stop shop that covers most of them. The newest online casinos are challenging the old players.

Reply To Ophelia Walton Cancel Reply