Wildlife
The cranes of Kushiro Marsh: 1 Live Camera in Japan
Red-crowned cranes in Japan's largest wetland. They do not migrate, so they are there year-round, but they are easiest to find in winter. A camera you search.
What you can see
Kushiro Marsh is the largest wetland in Japan and, in 1980, became the country's first Ramsar-listed site. What lives there is the red-crowned crane.
The species very nearly disappeared, and came back through decades of protection. Unlike the cranes at Izumi they are resident and do not migrate, so they are in this marsh all year.
The camera only covers one point of a very large wetland, though, so opening it does not guarantee a bird. Open it expecting to search the frame. Look for a large white bird with black flight feathers and a red crown. In grass they are less conspicuous than you would think.
Cameras you can watch now: 1
All 1 are still images. Tap one to open it in the camera list.
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Sample August 2026
Red-crowned cranes, Kushiro Marsh
Kushiro, Hokkaido · Nature · Wildlife
A vast wetland home to a protected species. With luck you catch one walking the grass, or the moment it takes off.
When to watch
They are easiest to find in winter. Once the marsh grass has died back and snow has covered the ground, the background simplifies and the shape of a large bird stands out. In summer the grass grows tall enough to hide them.
Winter is also when pairs face each other, spread their wings and leap in a courtship dance, calling as they go. An hourly refresh cannot follow the movement, but you do sometimes get a frame with two birds side by side.
Mornings. Cranes spend the night standing in the river and move to feeding grounds at first light. Hokkaido winter days are short — dark by mid-afternoon in December — so open it before noon to be sure.
Where The cranes of Kushiro Marsh is
Agencies publishing the cameras on this page
- Ministry of the Environment — Internet Nature Institute (PDL 1.0) — Official site
The footage belongs to each agency. This site is an unofficial guide, and each sample frame was copied once per camera under that agency's terms of use.