basic information

The Oriental Stork (konotori) became extinct in Japan due to modern farming practices killing off its food supply of frogs, fish and other wetland animals. The last bird died near Kinosaki in 1971.

With birds obtained from Russia, the Konotori no Sato Park was built to reintroduce the storks to Japan. Designated a special protected animal by the government, the Oriental Stork has become a symbol of the Tajima region around Kinosaki, where even the local airport is named after it (Konotori Tajima Airport).

Located 10 km south of Kinosaki, the Konotori no Sato Park is part museum, part breeding habitat, where visitors can learn about storks, the breeding program and conservation, as well as see the birds on the sanctuary grounds.

The aims of the program are being realized as local farmers are altering their farming practices to preserve the wetland habitat, and the storks are being successfully reintroduced into the wild. In May 2007, for the first time since 1964 a stork chick hatched in nature. Its parents were born at the sanctuary and released into the wild.

Wild Oriental Stork in flight

Breeding grounds of Konotori no Sato

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how to get there

The Konotori no Sato Park is located roughly 10 kilometers south of Kinosaki Onsen and 4 kilometers east of Toyooka city center. There is about one bus per hour from Toyooka Station to the park. The one way trip by bus takes about 15 minutes, while a taxi ride takes about 10 minutes.

Toyooka Station can be reached in a 10 minute train ride from Kinosaki Onsen Station. Limited express trains from Kyoto and Osaka to Kinosaki also make a stop at Toyooka Station. The bus ride from Konotori Tajima Airport to Toyooka Station takes 15 minutes.

How to get to and around Kinosaki Onsen

hours and fees

Konotori no Sato:

Admission: free
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00. Closed on Mondays, unless a national holiday falls on Monday, in which case the park is closed on the following day. Closed from December 28 to January 4.

travel community

Users who have been to Kinosaki: 17
Users who have been to Stork Sanctuary: 2

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