Lake Hyōko

What it is

• An artificial irrigation pond completed in 1639 in Agano City.
• A registered Ramsar Convention wetland and National Natural Monument.
• A National Wildlife Protection Area providing habitat for 100 bird species.
• The first site where wild swans were successfully fed in 1954.

What to see

• Approximately 6,000 migrating swans during the winter months.
• Lotus and iris flowers growing around the perimeter of the water.
• The surrounding Hyoko Suikin Park and its diverse bird populations.
• A gourd-shaped lake that serves as a major waterfowl sanctuary.

When to go

• October to March to see the thousands of migrating swans.

Getting there

• Located two kilometers east of Suibara Station.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.