Home to marshlands protecting endangered Japanese cranes, Kushiro is a fog-draped city along the Kushiro River. It boasts a vibrant dining and entertainment precinct on its picturesque riverfront, as well as an architecturally impressive cultural and natural history museum.
Things to do in Kushiro
Near Kushiro’s bustling port is the Fisherman’s Wharf MOO (Marine Our Oasis) whose name reflects the Japanese character for “fog”. It’s packed with fishmongers and restaurants specialising in local seafood where you can try robatayaki-style grilled fish and sanmanma sushi made with Pacific saury.
This lively precinct is topped by a temperature-controlled conservatory known as the EGG (Ever Green Garden), which provides the perfect escape from chilly Kushiro winters. It’s a short stroll from the beautiful Nusamai Bridge, which exudes a romantic atmosphere with its ornate street lamps and bronze statues, making it a particularly popular spot to watch the sunset.
Discover the natural and cultural heritage of the region at the striking Kushiro City Museum, whose hilltop architecture was designed to represent a crane spreading its wings. Witness prehistoric artefacts and learn about the cultural traditions of the Ainu people, as well as the elegant Japanese crane that inhabits eastern Hokkaido.
Sprawling to the north of Kushiro is the Ramsar-listed wetland of Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, which supports Japan’s only known population of endangered Japanese cranes. Follow the walking trails that lead from the Kushiro Marsh Observatory to its viewing platforms to see these charismatic birds performing their choreographed mating dance.
Getting around Kushiro
Kushiro Airport is around 30 minutes’ drive from the city centre, which is four hours by train from Sapporo. Buses travel throughout Kushiro and connect to surrounding destinations, while the sights along the riverfront are easy to explore on foot.