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Main Prefectures Where Swans Migrate and Guide to Swan Migration Sites


About Research Methods and Display of Swan Migration Sites in Japan

Below are the main swan migration sites (wintering grounds) by prefecture in Japan. This information is based on website surveys of "swan" and "swan migration" search results for each prefecture on the Internet as of August 2024, and some telephone interviews. On-site surveys were conducted only in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Map links allow you to view photos of swans registered on Google Maps at locations with registered points. You can also view information from swan guide pages of tourist associations and blog sites.

Regarding the listed locations, Hokkaido lists famous spots where more than 500 to several thousand swans visit annually. There are actually over 40 famous swan migration sites. Aomori Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, and other Tohoku regions, as well as Niigata Prefecture, generally list famous spots with over 200-300 swans, and it is estimated that there are actually more than double the number of migration sites in each of these prefectures. Other locations are generally migration sites where dozens of swans visit annually, and are considered famous spots at a national or regional level.
Shikoku and Kyushu prefectures were also surveyed similarly, and it seems that there were places where swans regularly visited until about a decade ago. However, based on this online survey, it is believed that migration sites where dozens of swans winter annually have disappeared, possibly due to the effects of global warming.


Main Prefectures Where Swans Migrate and a List of Swan Migration Sites

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Below are the main prefectures and migration sites for swans in Japan, based on the above survey. Please note that the listings are published at Ibaraki VR Tour's sole discretion and do not guarantee the content.


Main Swan Migration Sites in Hokkaido

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(1) Wakkanai City: Onuma
(2) Hamatonbetsu Town: Kutcharo Lakeside
(3) Abashiri City, Koshimizu Town: Tofutsu Lake
(4) Teshikaga Town: Lake Kussharo Lakeside
(5) Betsukai Town: Odaito
(6) Betsukai Town: Lake Furen
(7) Nemuro City: Lake Furen
(8) Nemuro City: Onnenuma
(9) Otofuke Town: Tokachi River
(10) Tomakomai City: Lake Utonai
(11) Bibai City: Miyajimanuma

Major Swan Migratory Spots in Aomori Prefecture

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(1) Mutsu City: Ominato Bay
(2) Rokkasho Village: Obuchi Marsh
(3) Tohoku Town: Lake Ogawara
(4) Hiranai Town: Asadokoro Coast
（５）Aomori City: Aomori Bay
（６）Fujisaki Town: Swan Interaction Plaza　

Main Swan Sanctuaries in Iwate Prefecture

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（１）Kitakami City: Otsutsumi Park・Shintsutsumi
（２）Morioka City: Takamatsu Pond
（３）Ichinoseki City: Kamazawa Embankment

Main Swan Sanctuaries in Miyagi Prefecture

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（１）Kurihara City: Izunuma
（２）Tome City: Naganuma・Uchinuma
（３）Tome City: Byodōnuma
（４）Osaki City: Eai River
（５）Osaki City: Kabukurinuma (Kabukurinuma)
（６）Taiwa Town: Naosawa Park, Swan Sanctuary
（７）Ishinomaki City: Former Kitakami River Tenno Bridge
(8) Higashimatsushima City: Kakugara Embankment (Swan Village)
(9) Ogawara Town: Shiraishi River

Main Swan Migration Sites in Akita Prefecture

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(1) Noshiro City: Otomo Marsh
(2) Akita City: Oogata Plaza in Koizumigata Park

Main Swan Migration Sites in Yamagata Prefecture

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(1) Sakata City: Mogami River Swan Park
(2) Tsuruoka City: Oyama Shimoike Pond / Oyama Kamiike Pond

Main Swan Migration Sites in Fukushima Prefecture

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(1) Nihonmatsu City: Mizuhara River
(2) Shirakawa City: Swans of Yanagimori "Oike"
(3) Fukushima City: Abukuma River / Abukuma Shinsui Park
（４）Inawashiro Town: Lake Inawashiro
（５）Koriyama City: Lake Inawashiro Koiso Point
（６）Iwaki City: Natsui River (Hirashio/Shin-kawa Confluence)

Main Swan Migration Sites in Ibaraki Prefecture

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Swan migration sites in Ibaraki Prefecture provide individual guidance based on swan species. Additionally, swan observation spots can be viewed via VR tour. Please check the "Ibaraki Prefecture Observation Spots by Swan Species" on this page.


Main Swan Migration Sites in Tochigi Prefecture

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（１）Otawara City: Haneda Marsh Wild Bird Park
（２）Otawara City: Biwa Pond

Main Swan Migration Sites in Gunma Prefecture

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（１）Tatebayashi City: Tataranuma Marsh
（２）Tatebayashi City: Gabanuma Marsh
（３）Tatebayashi City: Jonuma Marsh

Main Swan Migration Sites in Saitama Prefecture

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（１）Kawajima Town: Oppe River
（２）Kawajima Town: Near the Confluence of Oppe River and Iimorisawa River

Major Swan Migration Sites in Chiba Prefecture

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（１）Inzai City: Motono Swan Village
（２）Shiroi City: Shimizuguchi Regulating Pond

Major Swan Migration Sites in Nagano Prefecture

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（１）Azumino City: Goboden Retarding Basin
（２）Azumino City: Saigawa Swan Lake
（３）Okaya City: Lake Suwa

Major Swan Migration Sites in Niigata Prefecture

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（１）Murakami City: Omukuba-Oike Park
（２）Agano City: Hyoko-Suikin Park
（３）Shibata City: Kajigawa River
(4) Niigata City: Toyanogata Lagoon / Seigoro Pond
(5) Niigata City: Fukushima Lagoon
(6) Niigata City: Sakata Lagoon

Major Swan Migration Sites in Toyama Prefecture

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(1) Toyama City: Tajiri Pond

Major Swan Migration Sites in Ishikawa Prefecture

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(1) Hakui City: Ochi Lagoon
(1) Kanazawa City: Kahoku Lagoon

Major Swan Migration Sites in Fukui Prefecture

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(1) Wakahama Town: Nature Waterfowl Observation Building (Roadside Station Mikata Five Lakes)

Major Swan Migration Sites in Shiga Prefecture

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(1) Nagahama City: Kohoku Bird Center

Main Swan Migration Sites in Kyoto Prefecture

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(1) Miyazu City: Aso Sea

Main Swan Migration Sites in Hyogo Prefecture

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(1) Kasai City: Sanda Pond

Main Swan Migration Sites in Tottori Prefecture

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(1) Yonago City: Yonago Waterbird Park

Main Swan Migration Sites in Shimane Prefecture

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(1) Yasugi City: Nogi Plain
(2) Matsue City: Lake Shinji
(3) Matsue City: Katanouchi

Reasons for Investigating Swan Migration Sites Nationwide

The reasons for investigating swan migration sites nationwide this time are as follows:

  1. To widely inform people about places where swans can be observed.
  2. To confirm if the swan migration conditions described on this site are appropriate, and if there are any temperature effects due to global warming, etc.
  3. To confirm the environment of swans and their relationship with humans in prehistoric times, ancient times, and the present.

Regarding the above, we plan to describe the confirmed content on this site in the near future.