Tancho (Japanese Crane)   The Tancho is a resident bird, and they are a special National Natural Monument. The Tancho lives in Eastern Hokkaido and from Northeastern China to the basin of the Amur River. On Average, They are 140cm long, with a wingspan of 240 cm The Tancho build 2metre wide, 30cm high nests by piling up reeds on the ground.  They lay 2 eggs from late March to late April, and the male and the female watch over them for about 32 days. The young birds can fly about 100 days after hatching, and they become adults in 4 years. There are several places where you can observe Japanese Cranes in Eastern Hokkaido.
Kushiro Japanese Crane Reserve   In August 1958, The Japanese Crane Reserve opened with five Japanese Cranes in Tsuruoka, Kushiro, with the purpose to protect and breed the endangered Japanese Cranes. The ecology of the crane  was unknown in early years. After 10 years of attempting to have the cranes reproduce, natural hatching succeeded. Artificial hatching also succeeded, in 1970. Since then, many cranes have reproduced. At present, 18 Japanese Cranes freely move throughout the reserve.
Places Where Japanese Cranes Feed   There are approximately 600 Japanese Cranes in the Kushiro Marshland. In summer, they stay in the deep marshland raising their young with an abundance of food, so they are rarely seen. In winter, they cannot find enough food in the marshland, so they approach people. They gather at places such as Tsurumidai Plain, Tsurui Itoh Japanese Crane Sanctuary, and the Japanese Crane Observation Center for food which people give them.

Akan International Crane Center   The farm fields near the town of Akan are known as artificial feeding grounds for the Japanese Cranes. The area is well-known as a major wintering area for large flocks of cranes. Although the people of Akan have been involved in crane conservation for many decades, the Akan International Crane Center is a new institution dedicated to public education and crane research. It takes 1 hour and 30 minutes from Kushiro JR Station by bus. Address: 23-40 Akan, Hokkaido Tel: 0154-66-4011 Open: 9:00-17:00
Tsurui /Itoh Japanese Crane Sanctuary   The Wild Bird Society of Japan established the Ito Japanese Crane Sanctuary at the Itoh feeding station. A Nature Center opened there in 1987. There is an observation room on the first floor, and the second floor has a study room. In winter, nearly 200 Japanese Cranes gather here. It takes 1 hour from Kushiro JR Station, and walk 1 Km to the Itoh Japanese Crane Sancutuary. Open: Oct 1-Mar 31  9:00-16:30 Closed: Tuesdays, Wednesdays but except for National Holidays.
Tsurumidai Plain (in Tsurui Village)   Around 1963, Shimosetsuri Primary School students began feeding Japanese Cranes in winter. The school was closed in 1974, and Mrs Watanabe, a local resident, continued to feed The Japanese Cranes.   Over 100 Japanese Cranes come here during the winter season. Japanese Cranes can sometimes even be seen here during the summer season.   It takes 45 minutes from Kushiro JR Station by bus.