Japan

Summary

  • EAAFP Member since: 2006
  • Number of EAAFP Flyway Network Sites: 34
  • Focal Point Contact
    • Ms. Kaoru Sakai
      Assistant Director, Wildlife Division, Nature Conservation Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan
      Email: KAORU_SAKAI@env.go.jp
      Tel: +81-3-5521-8284

Japan has been a Partner since 2006 (MoP1). It now has 34 Flyway Network Sites, the most recent designation being, 2021, September. The sites supports as breeding habitat for Key Species of EAAFP such as Black-faced Spoonbill, a large number of Crane species as well as staging for many other migrating waterbirds. There is a very active community working to support migratory waterbirds in Japan. Particular activity is noted for Anatidae (ducks, geese and swans) and Crane.

Flyway Network Sites

Site Information

EAAF SITECODE NAME OF SITE SITE INFORMATION SHEET YEAR SIS UPDATED SITE PHOTOS VIEW IN GOOGLE EARTH
EAAF029 Akkeshi-ko & Bekambeushi-shitsugen SIS 1999* View
EAAF030 Izumi (formerly named "Arasaki") SIS 2023 View View
EAAF031 Kiritappu Marsh n/a View
EAAF032 Kushiro-shitsugen SIS 1999* View View
EAAF033 Yashiro n/a View
EAAF047 Biwa-ko SIS 1999* View
EAAF048 Biwase-wan SIS 1999* View
EAAF049 Fukushimagata SIS 1999* View
EAAF050 Hyouko-suikin-koen SIS 1999* View
EAAF051 Kabukuri-numa SIS 1999* View
EAAF052 Katano Kamoike SIS 1999* View View
EAAF053 Kutcharo-ko SIS 1999* View
EAAF054 Manko Tidal Flats SIS 1999* View
EAAF055 Miyajima-numa SIS 1999* View View
EAAF056 Otomo-numa SIS 1999* View
EAAF057 Sakata SIS 1999* View
EAAF058 Shiroishi-gawa SIS 1999* View
EAAF059 Yatsu Tidal Flats n/a View View
EAAF060 Yonago-Mizudori-koen SIS 1999* View View
EAAF061 Yoshino Estuary n/a View View
EAAF063 Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park SIS 2000* View View
EAAF071 Kashima Shingomori SIS 2001* View View
EAAF072 Utonai-ko n/a View
EAAF076 Osaka Nankou Bird Sanctuary SIS 2003* View
EAAF080 Fujimae-Higata SIS 2004* View View
EAAF081 Kumagawa Estuary SIS 2004* View View
EAAF088 Hachirogata-Kantakuchi SIS 2006* View
EAAF098 Kejo-numa SIS 2009* View
EAAF099 Furen-ko and Shunkuni-tai SIS 2010* View View
EAAF113 Arao-higata SIS 2013 View View
EAAF115 Izu-numa and Uchi-numa SIS 2014 View View
EAAF116 Notsuke-hanto and Notsuke-wan SIS 2014 View
EAAF124 Higashiyoka-higata SIS 2016 View View
EAAF151 Sarobetsu Wetland SIS 2021 View

Site Details

Key Species of EAAFP in Japan

Shorebird

Anatidae

Crane

Seabird

Others

Curlew Sandpiper

Baer's Pochard

Oriental Stork

Dalmatian Pelican

Black-Faced Spoonbill

Red Knot

Lesser White-fronted Goose

Siberian Crane

Chinese Crested Tern

Japanese Night-heron

Great Knot

Long-tailed Duck

Red-crowned Crane

Relict Gull

Chinese Egret

Asian Dowitcher

Steller's Eider

Hooded Crane

Saunder’s Gull

Swinhoe’s Rail

Far Eastern Curlew

White-naped Crane

 

Eurasian Curlew

Black-tailed Godwit

Spoon-billed Sandpiper

Spotted Greenshank

Akkeshi-ko & Bekambeushi-shitsugen

Location: Hokkaido Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 43.05000, 144.90000

Area: 4,896 ha

Date of joining: 1997 March 07

Status: National Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: Ramsar

Important for Cranes

Important species

Cygnus cygnus (Whooper Swan), Grus japonensis (Red-crowned Crane)

Izumi (formerly named "Arasaki")

Location: Hokkaido, Toyotomi - cho Teshio - gun

Coordinates (lat, long): 32.08333 130.33333

Area: 2,253 ha

Date of joining: 1997 March 07

Status: Prefectural Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: No listings

Important for Anatids

Important species
Anser albifrons Greater (White fronted Goose), Anser fabalis middendorffi (Middendorf's Bean Goose), Anser erythropus (Lesser White fronted Goose)

Kiritappu Marsh

Location: Hokkaido Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 43.08333 145.08333

Area: 2,504 ha

Date of joining: 1997 March 07

Status: National Special Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: Ramsar, Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Cranes

Important speciesGrus japonensis (Red-crowned Crane)

Kushiro-shitsugen

Location: Hokkaido Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 43.15000, 144.43333

Area: 7,726 ha

Date of joining: 1997 March 07

Status: National Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: Ramsar, Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Anatidae, Cranes

Important species

Anser albifrons (Greater White-fronted Goose), Anser fabalis (Bean Goose), Grus japonensis (Red-crowned Crane)

Yashiro

Location: Yamaguchi Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 34.01667, 131.90000

Area: 1,904 ha

Date of joining: 1997 March 07

Status: Prefectural Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Cranes

Important species

Grus monacha (Hooded Crane)

Biwa-ko

Location: Shiga Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 35.25000, 136.08333

Area: 65,602 ha

Date of joining: 1999 May 14

Status: Prefectural Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: Ramsar, Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Anatidae, and Others

Important species

Anser fabalis middendorffii (Middendorf’s Bean Goose), Cygnus columbianus (Tundra Swan), Anas penelope (Eurasian Wigeon), Anas strepera (Gadwall), Aythya ferina (Common Pochard), Aythya fuligula (Tufted Duck), Aythya marila (Greater Scaup), Anas crecca (Eurasian Teal), Anas poecilorhyncha (Spot-billed Duck), Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard), Podiceps cristatus (Great Crested Grebe), Podiceps nigricollis (Black-necked Grebe), Phalacrocorax carbo (Great Cormorant)

Biwase-wan

Location: Hokkaido Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 43.08333, 145.10000

Area: 9,300 ha

Date of joining: 1999 May 14

Status: Protected Area

Other listings: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Anatidae

Important species

Branta bernicla (Brent Goose)

Fukushimagata

Location: Niigata Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 37.90000, 139.25000

Area: 163 ha

Date of joining: 1999 May 14

Status: National Special Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Anatidae

Important species

Anser fabalis middendorffi (Middendorf’s Bean Goose), Cygnus columbianus (Tundra Swan), Anas crecca (Eurasian Teal)

Hyouko-suikin-koen

Location: Niigata Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 37.83333, 139.21667

Area: 390 ha

Date of joining: 1999 May 14

Status: National Special Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: Ramsar

Important for Anatidae

Important species

Cygnus columbianus (Tundra Swan), Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard), Anas acuta (Northern Pintail), Anas crecca (Eurasian Teal), Cygnus cygnus (Whooper Swan)

Kabukuri-numa

Location: Miyagi Perfecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 38.61667, 141.10000

Area: 150 ha

Date of joining: 1999 May 14

Status: Protected Area

Other listings: Ramsar,Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Anatidae

Important species

Anser albifrons (Greater White-fronted Goose), Anser fabalis (Bean Goose)

Katano Kamoike

Location: Ishikawa Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 36.31667, 136.29167

Area: 10 ha

Date of joining: 1999 May 14

Status: National Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: Ramsar,Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Shorebirds, Anatidae

Important species

Numenius phaeopus (Whimbrel), Tringa nebularia (Common Greenshank)
Xenus cinereus (Terek Sandpiper), Numenius madgascariensis (Far Eastern Curlew), Anser albifrons (Greater White-fronted Goose)

Kutcharo-ko

Location: Hokkaido Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 45.16667, 142.33333

Area: 1607.0 ha

Date of joining: 1999 May 14

Status: National Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: Ramsar

Important for Anatidae

Important species

Cygnus columbianus (Tundra Swan), Anas penelope (Eurasian Wigeon), Anas acuta (Northern Pintail), Aythya marila (Greater Scaup)

Manko Tidal Flats

Location: Okinawa Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 26.19631, 127.68303

Area: 58.0 ha

Date of joining: 1999 July 25

Status: National Special Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: Ramsar

Important for Anatidae

Important species

Anser albifrons (Greater White-fronted Goose), Cygnus columbianus (Tundra Swan), Anas acuta (Northern Pintail), Anas crecca (Eurasian Teal), Mergus albellus (Smew)

Miyajima-numa


Location: Hokkaido Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 43.33333, 141.71667

Area: 30.0 ha

Date of joining: 1999 May 14

Status: National Special Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: Ramsar

Important for Anatidae

Important species

Anser albifrons (Greater White-fronted Goose), Cygnus columbianus (Tundra Swan), Anas acuta (Northern Pintail), Anas crecca (Eurasian Teal), Mergus albellus (Smew)

Otomo-numa

Location: Akita Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 40.16667, 140.06667

Area: 60.0 ha

Date of joining: 1999 May 14

Status: Prefectural Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Anatidae

Important species

Anser albifrons (Greater White-fronted Goose), Anser fabalis (Bean Goose)

Sakata

Location: Niigata Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 37.81667, 138.88333

Area: 76.0 ha

Date of joining: 1999 May 14

Status: National Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: Ramsar, Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Anatidae

Important species

Cygnus columbianus (Tundra Swan), Anser fabalis middendorffi (Middendorf's Bean Goose), Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard), Anas crecca (Eurasian Teal)

Shiroishi-gawa

Location: Miyagi Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 38.03333, 140.73333

Area: N/A

Date of joining: 1999 May 14

Status: Riverside park

Other listings: N/A

Important for Anatidae

Important species

Cygnus columbianus (Tundra Swan)

Yatsu Tidal Flats


Location: Chiba Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 35.68333, 140.00000

Area: 40.0 ha

Date of joining: 1999 July 25

Status: Shorebird reserve

Other listings: Ramsar

Important for Shorebirds

Important species
Calidris alpina (Dunlin), Haematopus ostralegus (Eurasian Oystercatcher), Pluvialis squatarola (Grey Plover), Charadrius alexandrinus (Kentish Plover), Charadrius mongolus (Lesser Sandplover), Numenius phaeopus (Whimbrel), Heteroscelus brevipes (Grey-tailed Tattler), Limosa lapponica (Bar-tailed Godwit), Arenaria interpres (Ruddy Turnstone), Calidris alba (Sanderling)

Yonago-Mizudori-Koen


Location: Tottori Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 35.43333, 133.28333

Area: 30.0 ha

Date of joining: 1999 May 14

Status: Waterbird Sanctuary

Other listings: Ramsar

Important for Anatidae

Important species

Cygnus columbianus (Tundra Swan), Aythya ferina (Common Pochard), Anser albifrons (Greater White-fronted Goose)

Yoshino Estuary


Location: Tokushima Prefecture

Coordinates(lat, long): 34.08333, 134.60000

Area: 500.0 ha

Date of joining: 1999 July 25

Status: Protected Area

Other listings: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Shorebirds, Anatidae

Important species:

Charadrius alexandrinus (Kentish Plover), Pluvialis squatarola (Grey Plover), Calidris alpina (Dunlin), Anas penelope (Eurasian Wigeon)

Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park

Click Here to Download FNS Cards in Flickr

Location: Tokyo Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 35.58333, 139.764925

Area: 25.0 ha

Date of joining: 2000 June 17

Status: Nature Reserve

Other listings: Important Bird Area

Important for Shorebirds

Important species

Charadrius mongolus (Mongolian Sandplover)

Kashima Shingomori

Location: Saga Prefecture, Kyushu

Coordinates (lat, long): 33.10000, 130.13333

Area: 66.8 ha

Date of joining: 2002 May 09

Status: Protected Area

Other listings: Ramsar

important for Shorebirds

Important species

Numenius phaeopus (Whimbrel), Tringa nebularia (Common Greenshank), Xenus cinereus (Terek Sandpiper), Numenius madgascariensis (Far Eastern Curlew), Saundersilarus saundersi (Saunder's Gull)

Utonai-ko

Location: Hokkaido Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 42.70000, 141.71667

Area: 510 ha

Date of joining: 2002 April 18

Status: National Special Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: 42.70000, 141.71667

Important for Anatidae

Important species

Anser albifrons (Greater White-fronted Goose), Cygnus cygnus (Whooper Swan), Anser fabalis (Bean Goose)

Osaka Nankou Bird Sanctuary

Location: Osaka Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 34.63333, 135.63333

Area: 19.3 ha

Date of joining: 2003 July 21

Status: Bird Sanctuary

Other listings: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Shorebirds, and Others

Important species

Charadrius dubius (Little Ringed Plover), Charadrius alexandrinus (Kentish Plover), Calidris ruficollis (Red-necked Stint), Heteroscelus brevipes (Grey-tailed Tattler), Tringa guttifer (Spotted Greenshank), Calidris pygmaea (Spoon-billed Sandpiper)

Fujimae-Higata


Location: Aichi Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 35.08330. 136.83330

Area: 323.0 ha

Date of joining: 2004 August 01

Status: Protected Area

Other listings: Ramsar, Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Shorebirds

Important species

Vanellus cinereus (Grey-headed Lapwing), Charadrius alexandrinus (Kentish Plover), Pluvialis squatarola (Grey Plover), Arenaria interpres (Ruddy Turnstone), Calidris alpina (Dunlin), Calidris ruficollis (Red-necked Stint), Heteroscelus brevipes (Grey-tailed Tattler), Xenus cinereus (Terek Sandpiper), Numenius phaeopus (Whimbrel)

Kumagawa Estuary


Location: Kumamoto Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 32.46667, 130.56667

Area: 180.0 ha

Date of joining: 2004 August 01

Status: Protected Area

Other listings: No listings

Important for Shorebirds

Important species

Heteroscelus brevipes (Grey-tailed Tattler), Xenus cinereus (Terek Sandpiper), Numenius phaeopus (Whimbrel)

Hachirogata-Kantakuchi

Location: Akita Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 40.00000, 140.00000

Area: 17005 ha

Date of joining: 2006 January 06

Status: Special Protection Area

Other listings: Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Shorebirds, Anatidae

Important species

Pluvialis fulva (Pacific Golden Plover), Cygnus cygnus (Whooper Swan), Anser fabalis (Bean Goose), Anser fabalis middendorfii (Middendorf's Bean Goose), Anser albifrons (Greater White-fronted Goose)

Kejo-numa

Location: Miyagi Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 38.61667, 140.95000

Area: 34.0 ha

Date of joining: 22 January 2010

Protection status: National Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: Ramsar Site, Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Anatidae

Important species:

Anser albifrons (Greater White-fronted Goose), Anser fabalis serrirostris (Thick-billed Bean Goose), Anas formosa (Baikal Teal), Branta bernicla orientalis (Brent Goose), Branta canadensis leucopareia (Canada Goose)

Furen-ko and Shunkuni-tai


Location: Hokkaido Prefecture

Coordinates (lat, long): 43.29722, 145.35556

Area: 6139.0 ha

Date of joining: 4 October 2010

Protection status: National Wildlife Protection Area

Other listings: Ramsar Site, Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Shorebirds, Anatidae, Cranes, and Others

Important species:

Charadrius mongolus (Mongolian Plover), Heteroscelus brevipes (Grey-tailed Tattler), Arenaria interpres (Ruddy Turnstone), Calidris pygmaea (Spoon-billed Sandpiper), Cygnus cygnus (Whooper Swan), Anser fabalis serrirostris (Tundra Bean Goose), Branta bernicla (Black Brant), Anas penelope (Eurasian Wigeon), Anas falcata (Falcated Duck), Anas acuta (Northern Pintail), Aythya marila (Greater Scaup), Mergus serrator (Red-breasted Merganser), Grus japonensis (Red-crowned Crane), Podiceps nigricollis (Black-necked Grebe)

Arao-higata

Location: Arao City

Coordinates (lat, long): 32.963015, 130.430099

Area: 32.96784 ha

Date of joining: 21 February 2013

Protection status: Special Protection Area of National Wildlife Protection

Other listings: Ramsar Site

Important for Shorebirds, and Others

Important species:

Arenaria interpres (Ruddy Turnstone), Calidris alpina (Dunlin), Heteroscelus brevipes (Grey-tailed Tattler), Xenus cinereus (Terek Sandpiper), Limosa lapponica (Bar-tailed Godwit), Numenius phaeopus (Whimbrel), Charadrius mongolus (Lesser Sand Plover), Pluvialis squatarola (Grey Plover), Charadrius alexandrinus (Kentish Plover), Platalea minor (Black-faced Spoonbill), Saundersilarus saundersi (Saunders's Gull)

Izu-numa and Uchi-numa

 

Click Here to Download FNS Cards in Flickr

Location: Miyagi

Coordinates (lat, long): 38.71666, 141.10000

Area: 559.0 ha

Date of joining: 11 December 2014

Protection status: Protected Area

Other listings: Ramsar Site, Important Bird and Biodiversity Area, World Heritage

Important for Anatidae

Important species:

Anser albifrons (Greater White-fronted Goose), Anser fabalis middendorffii (Bean Goose), Cygnus cygnus (Whooper Swan), Anas acuta (Northern Pintail)

Notsuke-hanto and Notsuke-wan

Location: East part of Hokkaido Island

Coordinates (lat, long): 43.34000, 145.16000

Area: 6053.0 ha

Date of joining: 11 December 2014

Protection status: Protected Area

Other listings: Ramsar Site, Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

Important for Shorebirds, Anatidae, Cranes, and Others

Important species:

Arenaria interpres (Ruddy Turnstone), Heteroscelus brevipes (Grey-tailed Tattler), Charadrius mongolus stegmanni (Mongolian Plover), Cygnus cygnus (Whooper Swan), Branta bernicla (Brant Goose), Aythya marila (Greater Scaup), Grus japonensis (Red-crowned Crane)

Higashiyoka-higata

Click Here to Download FNS Cards in Flickr

Location: the north shore of the Ariake Bay

Coordinates (lat, long): 33.17499, 130.25000

Area: 218ha

Date of joining: 5 May 2016

Protection status: Special Protection Area

Other listings: Ramsar Site

Important for shorebirds

Important species:

Tringa guttifer (Spotted Greenshank), Saundersilarus saundersi (Saunders’s Gull), Calidris pygmeus (Spoon-billed Sandpiper), Numenius madagascariensis (Far Eastern Curlew), Platalea minor (Black-faced Spoonbill), Pluvialis squatarola (Grey Plover), Calidris alpina (Dunlin), Charadrius alexandrinus (Kentish Plover), Limosa lapponica (Bar-tailed Godwit), Numenius phaeopus (Whimbrel), Tadorna tadorna (Common Shelduck), Tringa nebularia (Common Greenshank), Xenus cinereus (Terek Sandpiper), Calidris ruficollis (Red-necked Stint), Calidris tenuirostris (Great Knot)

Sarobetsu Wetland

Location: the north part of Hokkaido

Coordinates (lat, long): 45º05’N, 141º42’E

Area: 2,253ha

Date of joining: 25 October 2021

Protection status: Special Protection Area

Other listings:

Important for Swans, Gesse and Ducks

Important species:

Anser albifrons (Greater White fronted Goose), Anser fabalis middendorffi (Middendorf's Bean Goose), Anser erythropus (Lesser White fronted Goose)

Resources

For pages and posts on the EAAFP site related to Japan follow search: Japan

  • Promotional Materials/Websites
    • Poster of Flyway Network Sites in Japan produced by The Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan

    • BirdLife International Wetlands Pamphlet (English, Japanese)
    • BirdLife International Tokyo video seminar "Stories of Migratory Birds and Wetlands" (Japanese)

    • Online Environmental Magazine of Japan "Ecojin"( Japanese )