Crane Spectacle in Kyushu
A five-day winter route from Fukuoka to Izumi and Saga for cranes, spoonbills, winter waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors.
About this tour
Travel through Kyushu on a five-day winter birding route built around the crane gathering at Izumi. The journey starts in Fukuoka, crosses forest and agricultural landscapes to Kagoshima, then returns north through Saga and the Ariake Bay tidal flats.
Hooded and White-naped Cranes are central to the program, with time to look for rarer cranes among the flocks. The wider route adds Black-faced Spoonbill, Saunders’s Gull, Baikal Teal, buntings, woodpeckers, winter thrushes, shorebirds and open-country raptors across parks, reservoirs, rice fields and reclaimed coast.
Yamadori Factory leads the itinerary in English under Kaze Travel Co., Ltd. The sequence can change with tides, weather and current bird activity, and all named species remain wild possibilities rather than guaranteed sightings.
Planning a wider trip? Read our birdwatching guide to Japan.
Birds you can spot
Sibirionetta formosa
target
Platalea minor
target
Megaceryle lugubris
target
Circus spilonotus
target
Mareca falcata
target
Grus monacha
target
Aix galericulata
target
Saundersilarus saundersi
target
Antigone vipio
target
Itinerary
Day 1
Fukuoka parks and Imazu
Begin in Ohori Park for winter waterfowl and woodland birds, then visit the Imazu area for Black-faced Spoonbill, Saunders’s Gull and other coastal species.
Day 2
Aburayama and the Izumi cranes
Search Aburayama for buntings, woodpeckers and forest birds before driving south to Izumi for the first afternoon with Hooded and White-naped Cranes.
Day 3
Birding around Izumi
Spend the day around crane fields, rice country and wetland habitat for spoonbills, crakes, harriers, jackdaws, redstarts, sparrows, plovers, stints and thrushes.
Day 4
Kagoshima to Saga
Use the morning for woodland, river and reservoir birding near Izumi, then drive toward Saga and finish at a reservoir used by Baikal Teal.
Day 5
Ariake Bay tidal flats
Explore Daiju-garami and nearby reclaimed land for shorebirds, Saunders’s Gull, Black-faced Spoonbill and harriers before returning to Fukuoka Airport.
Locations & map
- Fukuoka - Japan
- Izumi - Japan
- Kagoshima - Japan
- Saga - Japan
- Ariake Bay - Japan
Availability & pricing
Price: Price on request
Availability is confirmed after your inquiry.
Policies & FAQ
Insurance & Safety
Are bird sightings guaranteed?
No. The route is planned around habitat, season and recent activity, but all observations depend on wild birds, weather and field conditions.
How do I confirm price and availability?
Send an inquiry through BirdWatch with your preferred date and party size. Current availability, price and practical arrangements will be confirmed with the operator before booking.
Send inquiry
Ask about this tour before booking. Your preferred date is optional and availability will be confirmed after your inquiry.