[Kushiro Marsh National Park] Red-Crowned Crane and Wildlife Observation Guided Tour (Hokkaido)

I came to Kushiro wanting to see Hokkaido's wild birds and animals, so this was the perfect tour. It snowed, which is rare for eastern Hokkaido, and since I can't drive myself, I completely relied on Yuki-san to take me to places where animals and wild birds were likely to be. I was able to see Ezo deer and foxes. It was a valuable experience to be able to photograph round-shaped jungle crows and cranes that looked like black and white photographs in the whiteout-like world that only a snowy day can bring.

we were collected by guide Yuki from the train station. immediately she made us feel welcome and was so cheerful. she initiated our introductions in the car to the other tour members, which I thought was a really nice touch. we arrived at the restaurant for the Cranes and was astounded to see so many. our tour through the wetlands saw a Fox, birds, eagles, deer and local farm cows and Hokkaido horses. it was a fantastic day. she also went above and beyond to ensure we all returned to our hotels.

I can definitely recommend this experience 100%. Yuki, the guide, is a very professional bilingual guide who is extremely knowledgeable about wildlife and always provided polite and easy-to-understand explanations. She is also a very considerate person who paid attention to each participant and supported everyone to ensure they had a great time. We were able to see a lot of wildlife, and even though we couldn't drive, we were able to fully enjoy the magnificent nature of the Kushiro Marsh.

an unforgettable trip, seem a couple of wildlife, guide was nice and a good ending at the charming little house with a cup of matcha.

The tour group members came from all over the world, including Japanese, Canadians, and Swiss people. Our tour guide and driver, Yuki, was very competent. She frequently introduced us to animals and chatted with us. We first went to the Onnenai Boardwalk to stroll through the wetlands. We saw bear footprints. We also saw animals such as eagles, nests, and deer. After that, we went to Tsurumidai to see countless red-crowned cranes. These are the most common and famous animals in Kushiro. The tour guide even introduced us to one that was only one year old. What was most unexpected was that their size was actually bigger than humans. Then, the tour guide took us to a local cafe to take a break. I ordered a matcha latte and tried some snacks. Everyone also shared their bird-watching experiences. The vehicle continued to move towards the wetlands. During that time, we saw two red-crowned cranes wandering nearby. We also saw cranes stealing food from cows. We also frequently saw deer quickly crossing the road. Just like that, we arrived at Lake Shirarutoroko when it was almost completely dark. Although we couldn't see much, we learned that this lake does not freeze. This is because the river water flowing from the high ground is hot. Just like that, we returned to Kushiro, ending this nature trip.

Pick up went smoothly, we spotted quite some wild animals. We enjoyed the marshland of Kushiro. Our guide was really nice and provided lots of information.

Yuki has very good knowledge on the animals and spotting them. She provides great binoculars for viewing.

It was raining, but it was fun. The bus was international, and I was able to talk to people from overseas. The guide was also good.

This is a very beautiful route, around and inside the marsh. Without a car, it would be impossible to do such a route. Our guide was very kind and attentive. When we came across animals, she took the time to slow down or even stop, always very carefully, to give us the chance to observe them (Sika deer, red fox, eagles, cranes, horses...). We went to Tsurui and the Nusamai Bridge to observe the cranes. We warmed up in a charming cafe for a friendly atmosphere with all the participants (small group of 6). Thanks again to our guide :)

Our guide provided very thorough explanations and excellent service. Observing wildlife is difficult on your own, so we were very glad we hired a guide.