About IZUMI

• About IZUMI
• about CRANE PARK

About IZUMI

Cranes in Izumi

Cranes in the Arasaki district of Izumi City are well known for their large number and variety. The Natural Treasure Conservation Act has designated this district as a national natural treasure and a wildlife protection area since March 3, 1921.
Furthermore, the the district has been designated by Kagoshima Prefecture as a migration area of cranes as a special natural treasure since March 29, 1952. The designated area is approximately 245 hectares in size.
It is said that the Arasaki district of Izumi has been cranes' roost since the Genroku era (around 1695), which was a few decades after the Shimazu Domain completed the first reclamation of the district by drainage.
It seems that there were several migration places of cranes in Kyushu in the past. Presently, cranes fly to the Arasaki district of Izumi only. It is said that cranes fly southward to Korea from Siberia via China and then they pass Iki Island, the Nagasaki peninsula, and the Sea of Yatsushiro to arrive here. The sight of cranes dancing wildly in the sky is great.
Moreover, it is mysterious and breathtaking. In June 1996, the Environment Agency selected the district as on of the 100 great sound scenes of Japan desired to be preserved.

The Wintering Cranes in Izumi, 2007

Precautions for Crane Watching

Cranes are timid. Please pay attention to the following precautions.
1. Do not enter the off-limits zone.
2. Do not throw stones or pieces of wood at cranes or make loud noise.
3. Cranes are afraid of lenses and glittering objects. Pay utmost attention at the time of taking pictures.
4. Always follow the instructions of the staff in charge of crane protection.

Crane Observation Center ■Open period:From November 1 to the fourth Sunday in March ■Open time: 9:00 to 17:00 ■Admission fees 　Child: 100yen 　Adult: 210yen 　Group discount(30 or more persons) 　Child: 50yen 　Adult: 150yen 　●Child: schoolchild or junior high school student 　●Combination tickets valid for the Crane Observation Center and CranePark are available.

Samurai residences in Fumoto
(National Important Traditional Building Preservation Area)

In the Edo period, Tsurumaru Castle was the main castle of the Satsuma Domain in control of the area with administrative blocks called tojo made in the territory.
The center of each administrative blocks was called fumoto.
The fumoto of the Izumi tojo in those days included Mukae, which is located on the left bank of the Taira River, the plots of both high-class samurai mansions presently designated as a histric preservation district, and towns for folks (Hommachi, Nakamachi, Konyamachi) that are sandwiched between Mukae and the plots.
The histric preservation district of Izumi is located almost in the center of the city. It is said that the hilly area continuing from Shiroyama to the Komenotsu river was leveled about 400 years ago, and the roads and stonewalls were constructed with river stones ober a period of 30 years or so.
Even now, the streets that have never been changed since the time of construction, the stone walls and hedges on both sides of the streets, and the trees in the yards in the area harmonize with the samurai gates and residences seen through the hedges, providingfor a calm street scene.

Takezoes' Residence	Takemiyas' Residence	Saishos' Residence
The Takezoes were relatives of Sagara, who was the Lord of Tama Castle in Hitoyoshi in the Higo Domain. In 1637, they moved their residence from Komenotsu to Fumoto. Then they assumed key posts of Izumi Go(village), such as the post of group leader and atsukai(i.e., the highest political position of the village), for generation after generation. It is said that the building was constructed not before the beginning of the Meiji Era.	The Takemiyas moved to Izumi in the Tensei Period (from1573 to 1592). Then theyassumued the key posts of group leader and atsukai (i.e., the highest political position of the village), for generation after gereration. The residence is located next to Okariya, where an integral gate of Kamegajo Castle is situated. It is said that the present building was constraucted just before of early in the Meiji Era.	The Saishos assumued the post of the highest political position of the village for generation after generation after they moved from Kaseda in 1599. The present residence is presumed to have been constructed in the late Edo period, and it is a typical high-class local mansion. The outside is open to the public.

Izumi Map

■Airport Bus
　　Izumi Bus Center → Izumi Station → Miyanojo → Satsuma Branch Office　→ Nagano → Kagoshima Airport
■Crane sightseeing excursion bus (operating from December 1 to the last day of February) arrive and depart to the bus stop at the west entrance of Izumi Station
　　Izumi Station → Crane Park → Crane Observation Center → Fumoto old samurai residences → Izumi Station
■Sightseeing excursion taxi (Approximately 20% to 30% lower than usual taxi fares)

Inquiries

IZUMI CITY CRANE OBSERVATION CENTER
2478-4 Sho, Izumi City,Kagoshima Prefecture 899-0435
Phone/Fax:0996-85-5151(Japan)
Phone/Fax:81-996-85-5151
Open period:From November 1 to the fourth Sunday in March
Open time: 9:00 to 17:00

OPEN SAMURAI RESIDENCE(TAKEZOES' RESIDENCE)
5-17 Fumoto, Izumi City,Kagoshima Prefecture 899-0204
Phone/Fax:0996-62-5505(Japan)
Phone/Fax:81-996-62-5505
Open time: 9:00 to 17:00
(Admissin free and open throughout the year)

OPEN SAMURAI RESIDENCE(TAKEMIYAS' RESIDENCE)
8-25 Fumoto, Izumi City,Kagoshima Prefecture 899-0204
Phone/Fax:0996-62-0977(Japan)
Phone/Fax:81-996-62-0977
Open time: 9:00 to 17:00
(Admissin free and open throughout the year)

IZUMI STATION SPECIAL SOUVENIR SHOP HIRARI
548-3 Kamisababuchi,Izumi City,Kagoshima Prefecture 899-0203
Phone/Fax:0996-62-2354(Japan)
Phone/Fax:81-996-62-2354

THE COMMERCE, INDUSTRY＆TOURISM SECTION OF THE IZUMI CITY
INDUSTRY PROMOTION DEPARTMENT
1-3 Midori,Izumi City,Kagoshima Prefecture 899-0292
Phone:0996-63-4061(Japan)
Phone:81-996-63-4061

IZUMI CITY TOURISM ASSOCIATION
40‐3 Showa, Izumi City, Kagoshima Prefecture 899-0202
Phone:0996-62-1337(Japan)
Phone:81-996-62-1337