Take In Spectacular Scenery and Ainu Culture! 10 Popular Tourist Spots in Kushiro

Autumn is the recommended season for sightseeing in Kushiro.
The weather is comfortable for travel, and you can enjoy beautiful fall foliage as the mountains in the national parks turn vivid shades of red and orange.
It is also recommended to ride a sightseeing train such as the trolley train and take in the spectacular views of mountains and lakes colored by autumn leaves.
Winter is the best season if you want to see the red-crowned crane, a special natural monument of Japan.
February is around their courtship season, so you may be able to see their courtship behavior, known as the “dance of the red-crowned crane.”
In Kushiro Marsh, their habitat, you may also spot Steller’s sea eagles and Ezo deer in addition to the cranes.

Kushiro has an airport, so it takes Approx. 1 hour 45 minutes by plane from Tokyo to Kushiro.
From Osaka, it takes Approx. 3 hours 30 minutes with a flight connection.
From Sapporo, Hakodate, and Otaru, all popular destinations in Hokkaido, it takes Approx. 2 hours in each case.

Located near the mouth of the Kushiro River in central Kushiro City, Nusamai Bridge is Approx. 124.0 m long.
It connects Kitaodori in Kushiro with the Omachi area of the city.
It is widely known as a famous spot for viewing one of the world’s three great sunsets, and the sight of the entire sky glowing deep red at sunset is breathtaking.

This park opened in 1958 with the goal of protecting and breeding the red-crowned crane, a special natural monument of Japan.
It is also known as a facility with outstanding breeding techniques, having succeeded in the artificial hatching of red-crowned cranes, which were once on the verge of extinction.
The cranes are kept in pairs in open-air cages designed to resemble their natural environment, and visitors can observe the daily lives of more than a dozen cranes up close.

Opened in 1975, this is one of the largest zoos in Hokkaido, covering 47.8 hectares.
Nearly 50 species are exhibited here, ranging from large animals such as lions, tigers, giraffes, and polar bears to smaller animals such as red pandas, otters, and rabbits.
It also has an attached Red-Crowned Crane Conservation and Breeding Center and Japan’s only Blakiston’s fish owl conservation and breeding center, and it is actively engaged in breeding research for rare animals.

Lake Akan is the fifth-largest freshwater lake in Hokkaido and is known as a habitat for marimo moss balls.
Marimo live in freshwater lakes around the world, but the marimo in Lake Akan are distinctive for their beautiful spherical shape measuring over 15 centimeters in diameter, giving them global value.

Founded in 1936, this is a place where you can learn about the rich nature and history of the Kushiro area.
The current museum opened in 1983. It stands on a hill overlooking Lake Harutori, which is designated as a national natural monument, and one of the first things you will notice is the building’s distinctive design.
Its long, stepped shape was designed to evoke the image of the red-crowned crane, one of Hokkaido’s representative birds, spreading its wings.

This national park contains Japan’s largest marshland, and including the surrounding hilly areas, it covers as much as 28,788 hectares.
Kushiro Marsh is an area rich in untouched nature. It was the first wetland in Japan to be registered under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance, and it is also designated as a national natural monument.
From budding flowers in spring, lush greenery in summer, autumn leaves in fall, and snowy scenery in winter, you can enjoy seasonal landscapes throughout the year.

One of Hokkaido’s leading kotan, or villages, dedicated to sharing Ainu culture and history.
It is a living community where people still reside today, preserving inherited traditions while continuing to develop in its own unique way.
Based on the Ainu belief that “all things have a soul,” it embodies the spirit of “6” such as connecting, creating, releasing, and living with nature.
Within the grounds, there is no shortage of things to see, including galleries displaying Ainu folk crafts, an indoor theater presenting history, and restaurants where you can experience Ainu food culture.

Kushiro Marsh Observatory, located on a hill on the western side of the marsh, is a spot especially recommended as your first stop if this is your first visit to Kushiro Marsh.
The three-story building has paid exhibits starting from the second floor. From the observatory room on the third floor and the rooftop, you can enjoy panoramic views of the marsh, the Akan mountains, and the city of Kushiro. On the second floor, various materials related to the marsh are displayed, including a diorama recreating the marsh, animal and plant models, and video corners. The first floor has a shop and restaurant, both of which can be used free of charge.
In the surrounding area, there is a walking trail of Approx. 2.5 km that starts at the observatory, allowing visitors to enjoy a stroll through untouched nature.

If you ride the Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko Train, a sightseeing train that travels slowly through Kushiro Marsh, a wetland of international importance registered under the Ramsar Convention, you can directly experience Hokkaido’s rich natural environment.
The route runs from Kushiro Station to Toro Station and takes Approx. 45 minutes.
From the train windows, you can see the marsh stretching out like a green carpet, the winding Kushiro River, and if you are lucky, wild animals such as red-crowned cranes, Ezo deer, Steller’s sea eagles, and red foxes.

Onneto is a lake located at the westernmost edge of Akan-Mashu National Park. The color of the lake changes into five different shades depending on the season, time, and viewing angle, which is why it is also called Goshikinuma, or Five-Colored Marsh. The trail around the lake is a short 2.5 kilometers, and it takes only Approx. 40 minutes to walk the full circuit while enjoying the vividly colored scenery.
The color most commonly seen is cobalt blue, but when the mountain trees turn green, the green mountains reflect on the lake and make it appear green. During the fall foliage season, red leaves reflect on the surface and make the lake look red, and depending on the time of day and season, it can also appear purple or white.

A multi-purpose commercial complex located next to Nusamai Bridge at the mouth of the Kushiro River. MOO is a coined name made from the initials of “Marine Our Oasis,” and it is beloved by many people as a symbol of the waterfront.
Inside, you will find souvenir shops selling seafood and famous sweets, a tourist information center, and Minato no Yatai, an area lined with food stalls styled like casual izakaya.

A huge shopping mall in Kushiro City.
Located Approx. 8 minutes by car from the nearest JR station, Shin-Fuji Station, the area is a large commercial zone centered on Aeon Kushiro Showa Store, with electronics retailers and large toy stores gathered nearby.
The site covers 150,000 square meters and features Approx. 80 specialty shops of many kinds.

When it comes to the kitchen of eastern Hokkaido and Kushiro, this is one of the first markets people mention. Established in 1954, it is the oldest market in Kushiro and is also known as one of Hokkaido’s three major markets.
More than 40 shops gather here, mainly selling seafood, along with general goods and fruit.
Many people fill the market in search of fresh ingredients, from professional buyers to local residents looking for dinner ingredients, creating a lively atmosphere.

ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Kushiro is located a 15-minute walk from JR Kushiro Station, close to the Kushiro River.
One of its main attractions is the elevated dining experience, with a restaurant where you can enjoy a meal while watching the sun set over Kushiro Bay, as well as a café serving original sweets.
The many dishes made with ingredients sourced in Kushiro are all excellent.
Not only the guest rooms but the entire property is filled with a sense of luxury and cleanliness, making your time at the hotel part of your travel memories as well.

Conveniently located within a 10-minute walk from JR Kushiro Station.
Kushiro Prince Hotel is known for its location overlooking the “Kushiro sunset,” considered one of the world’s three great sunsets alongside Bali in Indonesia and Manila in the Philippines.
As the tallest building in the city, it has guest rooms on the Standard Floors from the 6th to 14th floors and on the High Floors on the 15th and 16th floors, and the Twin Rooms and Double Rooms offer sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.

A resort hotel standing on the southern shore of Lake Akan, the fifth-largest freshwater lake in Hokkaido and a leading sightseeing destination in eastern Hokkaido.
The entire area is part of Akan-Mashu National Park, and from the hotel you can enjoy lake views with a beautiful contrast between the blue water and green forest. In the warmer seasons, activities such as canoeing and cycling are available, while in winter, when the lake freezes over, you can enjoy smelt fishing. At night, you can also see a sky full of brilliant stars.