Kurshiro

Discover Kushiro

Located 300km east of Sapporo, the port town of Kushiro lies on Hokkaido’s coast facing the Pacific Ocean. Despite Hokkaido’s snowy winters, Kushiro’s weather conditions are much less snowy, resulting in a bio-diverse landscape of marshlands and unique animal habitats. Due to its location in the North Pacific, Kushiro fostered international trade between Japan and the United States, along with the United Kingdom since the 19th century.  

Bustling sea trade and commercial fishing make for a busy harbour area and contributes to the energy of the city. The views at sunset are stunning looking past the harbour walls into the Ocean. The city is full of secret, cozy restaurants serving delicious charcoal barbeque known as “Robata yaki”. At Kushiro Washo Market you can create your own seafood dish, “kattedon”, just grab a bowl of rice and top it with pieces of fresh seafood from different stalls.

Just 25km outside of Kushiro City lies the Kushiro-Shitsugen National Park, a wetland ecosystem which has been designated a national natural monument. The marshlands in the park are home to the only known population of endangered Japanese cranes, along with other unique flora and fauna, which attracts visitors every year to birdwatch, hike and explore this natural wonder. The Japanese cranes were once thought to be extinct, but with conservation efforts, they have endured and can be seen performing many rituals such as feeding and dancing in Kushiro-Shitsugen National Park. They are popular emblems in Japan, even making up the logo for the national airline, Japanese Airlines. It is said traditionally that the crane will grant favours in return for acts of service.