Private Car Oriental White Stork Tour (with English-speaking guide)

The once-extinct Oriental White Storks were last seen flying in the skies of Japan right here in Toyooka City.

To save the Oriental White Stork from complete extinction, the city first had to capture the last remaining ones and raise them in captivity before releasing them back into the wild.

Due to these efforts, now over 350 storks fly freely in Japan.

Through this tour, learn about the ecology of the storks and the city's commitment to fulfilling their promise of returning the Oriental White Storks to Japan's skies.

Travel through lush wetlands, which consist of rice paddy fields converted into a wetland and are registered with the Ramsar Convention.

It creates an organic connection between the surrounding undeveloped woodland area, streams, rice fields, river and ocean, enhancing the wetland ecosystem.

Near the mountains you can see Oriental White Storks nesting in an artificial nest at the top of the tower each spring.

Visit facilities dedicated to the restoration of the Oriental White Stork.

You will learn about the storks, breeding, and the conservation program through a short film and an explanation given by one of the museum staff.

Travel across the Maruyama River by boat and receive a guided tour of Toyooka's Genbudo Caves, part of the UNESCO San'in Kaigan Geopark and another scenic spots frequented by storks.

After lunch, either take a ride to Kukuhi Shrine, the local shrine of the Oriental White Stork, or to the nearby Fukuda Rice Fields and Hachigoro Toshima Wetlands. The choice is yours!

Kukuhi Shrine is known for receiving worshippers hoping for a child or who are already expecting.

After a short break at the nearby Avian Tot cafe, guests can purchase the cafe's stork-themed Ema prayer plaques to hang at Kukuhi Shrine as an offering!

The Fukuda Rice Fields and Hachigoro Toshima Wetlands are great options for seeing storks in the wild, with nearby nesting towers for viewing baby chicks in the spring!