Kushiro Shitsugen National Park

Japan's largest marshland, a Ramsar-designated wetland of international importance covering approximately 269 square kilometers in eastern Hokkaido and serving as the primary habitat for the Japanese crane, known locally as tancho, a species that recovered from near extinction in the twentieth century. Elevated viewing platforms and canoe routes through the reed beds provide access without disturbing the ecosystem. Winter concentrations of cranes at supplemental feeding stations have made the park a significant wildlife photography destination.