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

6,271 Comments

  1. We are regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board License #130272-1. Once you’ve enjoyed playing the Great Aztec slot machine, spin the best Aztec-themed slots from other software providers. Spin Aztec Expedition Thundershots by Playtech and trigger features like free spins, Treasure Run, and Temple of Gods. Gambling can be addictive. Please, play responsibly. On our site, you can find online slots from industry giants such as Microgaming, NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Play’n GO, Red Tiger Gaming, and many more. We also have online versions of casino classics like roulette and blackjack, as well as live casino games. Party Casino Canada, which means that a person moves from one stage to another while getting increasingly closer to the bottom. You will deposit them in Bitcoin, the strategy will help you play the game more efficiently.
    https://youtheraa.iikd.in/15-dragon-pearls-review-a-top-pick-for-australian-online-casino-players/
    In conclusion, Lucky Penny offers a unique blend of gameplay mechanics and features compared to other popular slots in the industry. While it has its strengths, such as a moderate volatility level and impressive payout potential, it also lacks certain features present in other games. To play Lucky Penny at an online casino, you’ll first need to find a reputable casino that offers 3 Oaks games. Once you’ve signed up and made a deposit, you can head to the slots section and search for Lucky Penny online slot. Simply load the game, choose your bet size, and start spinning. The game’s interface is user-friendly, so you’ll have no trouble finding your way around. You can adjust your bet size using the on-screen controls, and the game also offers an autoplay feature if you prefer to sit back and watch the reels spin automatically.

Reply To Kathryn Little Cancel Reply