Mizushiriike

Overview

Mizushiriike is a pond in Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture. Reclamation work in the modern era once turned it into a seasonal lagoon that shifted between water and farmland, but when rice cultivation on the surrounding land ceased around the end of the Showa era, it settled back into a pond that holds water all year round. Since the late 1960s it has been known as the southern limit of the regular wintering grounds for whooper swans, and in winter it becomes a quiet waterside where migratory birds rest. There are no flashy facilities here; its appeal lies in a water surface that changes with the seasons and in birdwatching.

Highlights

• ●A scientifically valuable location as the southern limit of whooper swan wintering
• ●Flocks of swans and migratory birds on the water at winter dawn and dusk
• ●A distinctive origin, returning to a year-round pond after reclamation and rice farming
• ●A quiet, un-touristed waterside for birdwatching

History

Mizushiriike was long used as a lagoon whose water and farmland alternated through human reclamation. In modern times rice was grown on the reclaimed land, and the site is said to have switched between pond and paddy depending on the season. When rice cultivation ended toward the close of the Showa era, the water no longer receded and it became a year-round pond. From the late 1960s it became established as a wintering ground for whooper swans, and its position as the southern edge of their migration gave it real significance in understanding the distribution of migratory birds.

Map

35.5182, 134.0940 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Drive from central Tottori to the pond area and take in the full view of the water
2. 2Bring binoculars to observe wintering whooper swans and other migratory birds
3. 3Photograph the water and birds in the beautiful light of morning or evening
4. 4Round off the day by combining the trip with sights or hot springs in Tottori City

Did you know?

💡 Though called an ike (pond), Mizushiriike took its present form through a history of reclamation and rice farming, making it a waterside where the relationship between people and nature runs deep. Its role as the southern limit of the whooper swan's regular wintering grounds gives this small pond a special place in the bird world.

Nearby spots