Izumi City, Kagoshima Prefecture, Is Advancing Initiatives to Attract Repeat International Visitors by Leveraging Its 10,000 Cranes and Japan Heritage Assets
Izumi City, located in northwestern Kagoshima Prefecture, is one of the world’s foremost wintering grounds for cranes. Each year, more than 10,000 migratory cranes arrive from Siberia between late October and March. Known as a site for natural wonders in Japan, Izumi supports approximately 90% of the world’s endangered Hooded Crane population, making it a site of immense global ecological importance. Following its registration under the Ramsar Convention and becoming Japan’s first certified Ramsar Wetland City, Izumi stands as a global model for the coexistence of human activity and wildlife conservation.
Alongside this natural heritage, Izumi is leveraging the Izumi-Fumoto Samurai Residences, a designated Japan heritage site to strengthen inbound tourism. Through participation in international travel exhibitions and promotional initiatives such as FAM tours for overseas travel agencies, the city is gaining attention as an emerging destination among repeat visitors to Japan seeking meaningful and authentic cultural experiences.
Alongside this natural heritage, Izumi is leveraging the Izumi-Fumoto Samurai Residences, a designated Japan heritage site to strengthen inbound tourism. Through participation in international travel exhibitions and promotional initiatives such as FAM tours for overseas travel agencies, the city is gaining attention as an emerging destination among repeat visitors to Japan seeking meaningful and authentic cultural experiences.
A Global Spectacle: The Scale and Rarity of Izumi’s Crane Colony
Located in northwestern Kagoshima Prefecture, Izumi City is renowned as a premier wintering site for over 10,000 migratory cranes that arrive from Siberia each year between late October and March.
The area is highly regarded for its academic significance, being one of the world’s largest wintering grounds. The sight of cranes taking flight together is widely admired as a majestic natural spectacle.
Located in northwestern Kagoshima Prefecture, Izumi City is renowned as a premier wintering site for over 10,000 migratory cranes that arrive from Siberia each year between late October and March.
The area is highly regarded for its academic significance, being one of the world’s largest wintering grounds. The sight of cranes taking flight together is widely admired as a majestic natural spectacle.
A Legacy of Coexistence: Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation
The Izumi Wintering Grounds for Cranes was registered under the *Ramsar Conventions in 2021, and the following year, Izumi became the first city in Japan to receive the Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation. Most of the wintering grounds consist of rice paddies (farmland) created through land reclamation dating back to the early Edo period. For over 400 years, a unique environment has developed through the coexistence of local communities and cranes.
Today, conservation efforts continue through the daily management and supplemental feeding conducted by residents and local protection groups. In addition, visitor cooperation fees are reinvested into environmental preservation, allowing sustainable tourism and conservation to advance hand in hand.
The Izumi Wintering Grounds for Cranes was registered under the *Ramsar Conventions in 2021, and the following year, Izumi became the first city in Japan to receive the Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation. Most of the wintering grounds consist of rice paddies (farmland) created through land reclamation dating back to the early Edo period. For over 400 years, a unique environment has developed through the coexistence of local communities and cranes.
Today, conservation efforts continue through the daily management and supplemental feeding conducted by residents and local protection groups. In addition, visitor cooperation fees are reinvested into environmental preservation, allowing sustainable tourism and conservation to advance hand in hand.
*The Ramsar Convention
Adopted in 1971, the Ramsar Convention is an international treaty that promotes the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands of international importance. In addition to protecting wetland ecosystems, which are rich in biodiversity, the Convention aims to maintain their natural functions—such as flood mitigation—and to encourage the sustainable use of wetland resources.
Adopted in 1971, the Ramsar Convention is an international treaty that promotes the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands of international importance. In addition to protecting wetland ecosystems, which are rich in biodiversity, the Convention aims to maintain their natural functions—such as flood mitigation—and to encourage the sustainable use of wetland resources.
Timeless Samurai Heritage and Immersive Cultural Experiences
Izumi is home to the Izumi-Fumoto Samurai Residences, the largest samurai district in Japan. The streetscape, which preserves the appearance of nearly 400 years ago, is designated both as a Japan Heritage site and a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Within these historic residences, the city offers immersive traditional experiences, including kimono dressing, samurai armor fittings, tea ceremonies, and tourist ox-cart rides. These programs are particularly popular among repeat international visitors seeking a deeper and more authentic experience of Japanese history and culture.
Izumi is home to the Izumi-Fumoto Samurai Residences, the largest samurai district in Japan. The streetscape, which preserves the appearance of nearly 400 years ago, is designated both as a Japan Heritage site and a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Within these historic residences, the city offers immersive traditional experiences, including kimono dressing, samurai armor fittings, tea ceremonies, and tourist ox-cart rides. These programs are particularly popular among repeat international visitors seeking a deeper and more authentic experience of Japanese history and culture.
Harmony with Nature and Living History: Attracting Inbound Travelers Seeking Authentic Japan
Izumi City is actively enhancing its hospitality infrastructure and promotional efforts, targeting inbound travelers who seek experiences beyond mass tourism and are eager to engage with a more authentic side of Japan.
Izumi City is actively enhancing its hospitality infrastructure and promotional efforts, targeting inbound travelers who seek experiences beyond mass tourism and are eager to engage with a more authentic side of Japan.
To support this goal, the city has implemented strategic initiatives such as the introduction of universal pictograms at tourism facilities and exhibiting for two consecutive years at the Taipei International Travel Fair (ITF). These efforts help communicate the region’s distinct natural environment and cultural heritage to a global audience.
The number of inbound visitors to Izumi continues to rise steadily. In the Taiwanese market in particular, the city has gained growing attention from both individual travelers and travel agencies through travel fairs and familiarization (FAM) tours.
Moving forward, Izumi will continue to promote high-value tourism by integrating its unique coexistence with migratory cranes and internationally recognized environmental conservation efforts with traditional cultural experiences at samurai residences, offering international visitors deeply moving and educational travel experiences.
Moving forward, Izumi will continue to promote high-value tourism by integrating its unique coexistence with migratory cranes and internationally recognized environmental conservation efforts with traditional cultural experiences at samurai residences, offering international visitors deeply moving and educational travel experiences.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Official PR Video:
Featuring popular Taiwanese influencer Lena, showcasing the city’s highlights.
Featuring popular Taiwanese influencer Lena, showcasing the city’s highlights.
Contact Information:
Tourism Exchange Division, Izumi City:
1-3 Midori-machi, Izumi City, Kagoshima, 899-0292, Japan
Phone: +81-996-63-4061 | Fax: +81-996-63-1331
Email: kanko_c@city.izumi.kagoshima.jp
1-3 Midori-machi, Izumi City, Kagoshima, 899-0292, Japan
Phone: +81-996-63-4061 | Fax: +81-996-63-1331
Email: kanko_c@city.izumi.kagoshima.jp
Official Tourism Website:
Photos (from the left):
1. The Flight of the Cranes
1. The Flight of the Cranes
2. Cranes Soaring into the Dawn
3. The Izumi-Fumoto Samurai Residence and the Sightseeing Ox-Cart Rides
4. The Tea Ceremony Experience at the Samurai Residences
