Otowa Bridge
音羽橋
A small bridge over the Yukisato River in Tsurui Village. On clear winter mornings, you can photograph cranes roosting in the misty river while ice crystals coat the branches.
The Yukisato River under Otowa Bridge is a winter roosting site for red-crowned cranes. The river water is warmer than the air, so on bitterly cold mornings steam rises from the surface. Combined with rime ice (hoarfrost) on the branches and cranes standing in the shallow water, the scene is extremely atmospheric and well known among photographers. The best time is around sunrise on clear, windless days from December to February, when the temperature is around -20°C. It is free, but there is limited space on the bridge, and it is often crowded with photographers before sunrise. Dress for extreme cold, and do not block the road. It is about 5 minutes by car from Tsurumidai.
Opening hours
Open all day (best around sunrise)
Nearby sights
- Tsurumidai
- Tsurui-Ito Tancho Crane Sanctuary
- Onnenai Boardwalk
- Kushiro Marsh Observatory
- Kushiro Wetland Sightseeing Trains
- Kushiro Wetland Hosooka Observatory
- Akan International Crane Center "Grus"
- Kushiro Japanese Crane Reserve