Izumi Area出水エリア
Kagoshima鹿児島県
Crane migrations and Bansho Park of Akune city, which used to be a watch station for illegal tradel.
Izumi is located on the northwestern edge of Kagoshima and faces the Sea of Yatsushiro. It is famous for the site of the Izumi-fumoto samurai residences of the Edo Period (from 17th to 19th century) and as a resting ground for migratory cranes from Siberia.
In the early 17th century, stone walls were built around the samurai retainers’ residences in Izumi-fumoto as a fortification against invaders from the neighboring provinces. Some of these residences still remain today and have been designated as an “Important Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings” in Japan.
Every fall, cranes migrate from Siberia and stay until spring before they return home. Visitors can observe the cranes from the Crane Observation Center. There are various exhibits related to cranes on display at Crane Park Izumi, which has a crane museum and the Dome Theater (with a diameter of 15m) where one can experience the virtual flight of a crane.
Directions
From Tokyo :
[Air] 1h 50 min from Haneda to Kagoshima Airport, and 1h 21 min from the airport to Izumi Station, or 1h 55 min to Akune Station by bus.
[Rail] 5h from Tokyo to Hakata Station by JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Line. 1h 20 min from Hakata to Izumi Station by JR Kyushu Shinkansen Line.
From Osaka :
[Air] 1h 10 min from Itami to Kagoshima Airport.
[Rail] 2h 25 min from Shin-Osaka to Hakata Station by Shinkansen.
