Kabukuri Swamp is a beautiful wetland in the former Tajiri area of Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Located within the Kitakami River watershed, the wetland is surrounded by expansive rice paddies and peaceful rural landscapes.
The wetland covers approximately 100 to 150 hectares, much of which is covered by reeds and wild rice plants. Although there is relatively little open water, the shallow, vegetation-rich environment provides ideal habitat for waterfowl, fish, insects, and many other forms of wildlife.
Willows and plants such as Penthorum chinense can also be found around the wetland, creating changing scenery throughout the year. Kabukuri Swamp is particularly famous for the spectacular numbers of migratory birds that arrive during the colder months.
Kabukuri Swamp is one of Japan’s most important wintering grounds for the Greater White-fronted Goose. From autumn through winter, tens of thousands of geese migrate here from areas around Siberia and spend the winter in the surrounding wetlands and rice paddies.
One of the most spectacular sights occurs at dawn. As the sun begins to rise, huge flocks of geese suddenly leave their roosts and take to the sky. Known as the “morning takeoff of the geese,” this dramatic spectacle can fill the sky with thousands of birds.
In the evening, the birds return to their roosting areas, sometimes forming enormous flocks against the colors of the sunset. These morning and evening movements are among the most memorable experiences for birdwatchers and photographers.
Other winter visitors include the Greater White-fronted Goose’s close relative, the Greater Bean Goose, as well as Whooper Swans and Bewick’s Swans. Together, these birds make the area an important refuge for migratory waterfowl.
Kabukuri Swamp and the surrounding rice paddies have received international recognition for their ecological importance.
In 2005, the area was designated as the Kabukuri Swamp and Surrounding Rice Paddies Wildlife Protection Area under Japan’s national wildlife conservation system. The protected area covers approximately 3,061 hectares, including a special protection zone of approximately 423 hectares.
In the same year, the area was registered under the Ramsar Convention at the 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties, held in Uganda. The official Ramsar site is known as “Kabukuri-numa and its Surrounding Rice Paddies.”
It is particularly notable because the designation encompasses not only the wetland itself but also the surrounding agricultural rice fields. This landscape demonstrates how wetland conservation and traditional agriculture can coexist, making Kabukuri Swamp an interesting example of a sustainable relationship between people, farming, and migratory birds.
One of the most distinctive conservation practices around Kabukuri Swamp is known as fuyumizu tambo, meaning “winter-flooded rice paddies.” Instead of draining and cultivating the fields during winter, farmers leave water standing in the paddies.
For migratory birds, these flooded fields provide valuable places to feed, rest, and spend the winter. At the same time, bird droppings can naturally enrich the soil, providing nutrients that benefit agriculture.
This practice creates a mutually beneficial relationship between farmers and wildlife. Rather than viewing the presence of migratory birds only as a challenge for agriculture, the local community has developed ways to incorporate the birds into the rural ecosystem.
The winter-flooding approach is an important part of the area’s efforts to maintain both productive agriculture and a healthy natural environment.
Kabukuri Swamp provides habitat for a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Fish such as crucian carp, carp, goby, and mullet inhabit its waters and contribute to a diverse aquatic ecosystem.
The extensive reed and wild rice beds are equally important. They provide shelter and breeding habitat for small birds, insects, and other wildlife, while shallow water and muddy areas support numerous aquatic organisms.
For visitors, the area offers a chance to observe how a wetland, rice paddies, and surrounding rural landscapes function together as one interconnected ecosystem.
Kabukuri Swamp has a long history closely connected with the surrounding community.
According to the Edo-period geographical record Funai Meisekishi, the area around the swamp once contained many chestnut trees and was known for producing delicious chestnuts. This is said to have led to the name “Kabukuri.”
Another account appears in the Annaga Fudoki, which states that turnips with a flavor resembling chestnuts were grown in fields near Kumano Shrine. According to this tradition, the deity was worshipped as Kabukuri Myojin, and this became associated with the place name.
Historical records also show that during the era of the Sendai Domain, birds caught in the swamp were presented to the domain authorities. A fishing and trapping structure known as a yana was also established near the outlet of the swamp, and taxes were collected from its use.
Kabukuri Swamp is a natural flood-retention area surrounded by low hills. Several rivers flow into the wetland, and deltas formed around the swamp. These geographical conditions made the surrounding area suitable for developing new rice-growing land.
From the Edo period through the postwar years of the Showa period, reclamation projects gradually transformed parts of the wetland into rice paddies.
However, conservation efforts later sought to restore some of the area’s former wetland environment. In 1997, approximately 50 hectares in the neighboring Shiratori district were restored as wetland, helping recover part of the natural landscape that had been lost through land reclamation.
As the number of migratory birds increased, the local community began developing new approaches to living alongside them. In 1999, Tajiri Town introduced an ordinance providing compensation for agricultural damage caused by migratory birds.
The goal was to address crop damage while also promoting coexistence with the birds. These community-based efforts contributed to the area’s later recognition as a wildlife protection area and Ramsar Site.
Today, Kabukuri Swamp is widely recognized as a place where wetland conservation, migratory bird protection, and agriculture are closely connected.
The main attraction of Kabukuri Swamp is, of course, birdwatching. The period from approximately November to February is particularly rewarding, when tens of thousands of Greater White-fronted Geese gather in the area.
The early morning departure of the geese is an especially impressive sight. Visitors can use designated observation areas and viewpoints to watch the birds while minimizing disturbance to the wildlife.
Bringing binoculars or a camera with a telephoto lens can make the experience even more enjoyable. Because the birds are wild animals, visitors should keep a respectful distance and avoid actions that could frighten them.
Kabukuri Swamp offers a different landscape in every season.
Spring brings fresh green growth and flowers around the water. In summer, the extensive reed beds create a lush green landscape. Autumn combines golden rice fields with the arrival of migratory birds, while winter brings snowy scenery, swans, and enormous flocks of geese.
For visitors interested in nature photography, birdwatching, or peaceful rural landscapes, each season provides a different reason to visit.
Location: Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan (former Tajiri Town)
By train: Approximately 20 minutes by car from Tajiri Station on the JR Tohoku Main Line.
By car: Approximately 45 minutes from the Furukawa Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway.
Kabukuri Swamp is an internationally important wetland and a valuable habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. Visitors are asked to help protect this fragile environment by taking all garbage home, staying in appropriate areas, and avoiding actions that disturb birds or plants.
In particular, visitors should avoid approaching birds too closely, making loud noises, or entering sensitive habitats without permission. Responsible behavior helps ensure that the wetland remains a safe wintering ground for migratory birds and a beautiful natural landscape for future generations.
Kabukuri Swamp is more than a scenic wetland. It is a remarkable landscape where migratory birds, rice farming, local communities, and nature have developed a relationship over many generations.
The sight of thousands of geese rising into the morning sky, the quiet winter rice paddies, and the traditional practice of flooding fields in winter all reveal a distinctive side of rural Japan.
For travelers seeking birdwatching, wetlands, Japanese countryside, wildlife, and sustainable relationships between people and nature, Kabukuri Swamp offers an unforgettable experience in Miyagi Prefecture.