Where to See Swans in Hokkaido: Utonai & Kucharo Lakes in Autumn, Kussharo Lake in Winter [2026]

The lineup of swans you can see in Hokkaido changes with the season. Lake Utonai in Tomakomai and Lake Kutcharo in Hamatonbetsu are stopovers where whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) and tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus) rest during their migration to and from Siberia in autumn and spring. Sunayu, on Lake Kussharo in Teshikaga, is a wintering ground: most of the lake freezes over in mid-winter, but swans gather at the one corner kept ice-free by geothermal heat. Even though all three are “lakes where you can see swans,” the season to visit and the reason the swans are there are different.

All sources below were checked on 2026-09-29. This article only states what could be confirmed from official information from the Wild Bird Society of Japan, the Town of Hamatonbetsu, the Town of Teshikaga (Lake Mashu Tourism Association), the City of Tomakomai, and Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, and it says so wherever the number of birds or the exact dates could not be confirmed for a given year.

When can you see swans in Hokkaido? The spot changes between autumn migration, winter wintering, and the spring return north

The Wild Bird Society of Japan describes Lake Utonai this way: “In spring and autumn, you can observe the lake surface crowded with waterfowl on their migration, including greater white-fronted geese, bean geese, and whooper swans” (Wild Bird Society of Japan – Lake Utonai (Tomakomai, Hokkaido)). Materials published by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment about Lake Kutcharo state that “from autumn through spring, ducks including tundra swans gather” (Ministry of the Environment – Hamatonbetsu Lake Kutcharo Waterfowl Observation Hall). Both lakes are migration stopovers, and their peak seasons are autumn and spring.

Sunayu on Lake Kussharo is different. Materials compiled by the Town of Teshikaga state: “In winter, the lake freezes over almost entirely. The scattered areas near the shore with high geothermal heat do not freeze, and these become landing sites for swans” (Town of Teshikaga – Lake Kussharo Rules & Manners for Proper Use (PDF)). Rather than a migration stopover, this is a place where swans gather at the warm water’s edge in the depths of winter, when the rest of the lake is frozen. If you want to see the migration in autumn, go to Lake Utonai or Lake Kutcharo; if you want to see swans in mid-winter, the destination changes to Lake Kussharo and Sunayu.

Lake Utonai (Tomakomai): an autumn-and-spring stopover, 15 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport

Lake Utonai was established in 1981 as Japan’s first sanctuary by the Wild Bird Society of Japan, and was registered as a Ramsar wetland in 1991 (Ministry of the Environment – Lake Utonai Wildlife Protection Center). Tomakomai City’s official page describes each season: “Spring – as the ice on the lake begins to melt, tens of thousands of greater white-fronted geese from across Japan, along with ducks and swans, gather one after another. (…) The lake is busiest until early April, when the birds head north”; “Autumn – as the autumn foliage draws to a close, the birds return in their striking plumage. Bean geese and greater white-fronted geese arrive first, followed by tundra swans and whooper swans, which rest their wings for a while and feed on the aquatic plants growing thickly in the lake”; “Winter – as the grasslands are covered in snow and the lake surface freezes, most waterfowl move south, but a small number of ducks and whooper swans remain to spend the harsh winter” (Tomakomai City – Lake Utonai Nature Information). About 270 bird species have been confirmed at the lake to date (same page).

In short, swans are easiest to see in large numbers during two windows: from late autumn, once the foliage has finished, through mid-winter, and again from when the snow starts to melt until early April. Visit in midsummer and you will find almost no swans. The Lake Utonai Wildlife Protection Center is open 9:00–17:00, closed on Mondays (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday) and over the New Year holidays, and admission is free. It is about 15 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport (Tomakomai City – Lake Utonai Wildlife Protection Center, Hours and Access). For travelers entering Hokkaido by ferry, it also makes a good stop in the Tomakomai-Shiraoi area. Overnight parking information for the whole area is summarized in the Tomakomai & Shiraoi Campervan Guide.

Lake Kutcharo (Hamatonbetsu): the largest stopover in northern Hokkaido, where some swans stay for the winter

Hamatonbetsu Town’s official page describes Lake Kutcharo and its surroundings: “In spring and autumn, tundra swans can be seen mid-migration,” and “During this period, some tundra swans do not migrate and instead spend the winter here, gathering near the mouth of the Tonbetsu River” (Town of Hamatonbetsu – Lake Kutcharo Waterfowl Observation Hall). Materials from Japan’s Ministry of the Environment likewise state that “from autumn through spring, ducks including tundra swans gather” (Ministry of the Environment – Hamatonbetsu Lake Kutcharo Waterfowl Observation Hall), confirming the same pattern: migration is the main event in autumn and spring, with a portion of the birds staying through winter.

Lake Kutcharo became Japan’s third Ramsar-registered wetland in 1989, and the town has continuously tracked the number of swans arriving since 1973 (same page). It is a lake with more than half a century of accumulated records. The Waterfowl Observation Hall is open 9:00–17:00, closed on Mondays (open if Monday is a holiday), the day after a public holiday, and over the New Year period (Dec 31–Jan 5); admission is free, with free parking for 52 standard vehicles and 8 large vehicles (Town of Hamatonbetsu – Lake Kutcharo Waterfowl Observation Hall). It’s a good stop for anyone building northern Hokkaido into their itinerary.

Lake Kussharo & Sunayu (Teshikaga): the water’s edge that never freezes, where whooper swans gather in the depths of winter

Lake Kussharo is Japan’s largest caldera lake, and most of its surface freezes over in winter. The Lake Mashu Tourism Association’s official site describes Sunayu this way: “This spot stays warm from geothermal heat, so even in the coldest part of winter, it never freezes here. The winter scene of whooper swans that have migrated from Siberia resting together in flocks has become one of Sunayu’s seasonal hallmarks” (Lake Mashu Tourism Association – Sunayu). Materials from the Town of Teshikaga explain the same reason (Town of Teshikaga – Lake Kussharo Rules & Manners for Proper Use (PDF)).

Sunayu is free, has no closed days, and is an outdoor spot open 24 hours (Lake Mashu Tourism Association – Sunayu). We could not find an official announcement of exact start and end dates for the swans, but since the structure is that they gather at the warm water’s edge while the lake is frozen, the rule of thumb is “as long as the lake surface is frozen.” Overnight parking information for winter at Lake Kussharo and the nearby Bihoro Pass area is summarized in the Bihoro Pass & Lake Kussharo Campervan Driving Guide.

Lining up all three lakes makes the reason to visit each one clear

Here is the same information organized into a table and key points.

Location	Why swans are there	Rough timing	Registration / survey record
Lake Utonai (Tomakomai)	Migration stopover; some overwinter	Late autumn (once foliage ends) through mid-winter, and snowmelt through early April	Sanctuary established 1981, Ramsar-registered 1991, about 270 species confirmed
Lake Kutcharo (Hamatonbetsu)	Largest stopover in northern Hokkaido; some overwinter	Spring and autumn; some remain near the Tonbetsu River mouth through winter	Ramsar-registered 1989 (Japan’s 3rd), swan counts tracked continuously since 1973
Lake Kussharo / Sunayu (Teshikaga)	Wintering site at the geothermally ice-free water’s edge	While the lake surface is frozen (mid-winter)	Special Protection Zone I, Akan-Mashu National Park

Turned into a checklist, it becomes easier to decide where to go.

• Want to see migrating flocks in large numbers → build Lake Utonai or Lake Kutcharo into an autumn or spring trip
• Want snow scenery together with swans → build Lake Kussharo & Sunayu into a mid-winter trip
• Want somewhere close to New Chitose Airport → Lake Utonai (about 15 minutes by car)
• Have an itinerary covering northern Hokkaido → work Lake Kutcharo into the route
• Have an itinerary covering eastern Hokkaido / the Bihoro Pass area → work Lake Kussharo & Sunayu into the route

What about observation manners? Check local signage for whether feeding is allowed

At none of the three sites could we find wording in official sites or published materials that explicitly “prohibits feeding” or “asks visitors to refrain from feeding” (as of September 29, 2026). Do not read the absence of such wording as “feeding freely is fine” — follow the signage on site and any guidance from staff. Depending on the season and the year, local authorities may strengthen calls to avoid feeding wild birds as a precaution against infectious diseases such as avian influenza. Checking each facility’s official site or calling ahead before you go is the reliable way to get the latest guidance.

Use binoculars or a spotting scope and keep your distance from the birds while observing. Do not approach the ice or the frozen edge of the lake. Park only in each facility’s parking lot or in designated spaces. These three rules apply equally at all three locations.

Driving there? Check what gear each season calls for as well

The best viewing window at Lake Utonai and Lake Kutcharo in autumn runs from when the foliage ends through the start of deep winter. October in Hokkaido sees a big temperature swing between early and late month, and this is when mornings and evenings start getting seriously cold. You can check typical temperatures and clothing in Hokkaido in October: Temperatures and What to Wear. The mid-winter season at Lake Kussharo & Sunayu falls in the period when snowy roads and winter tires are a given.

If you’re planning a route from New Chitose Airport starting at Lake Utonai, comparing vehicles you can rent near the airport is the first step. Check vehicle types and rental bases in Campervan Rental from New Chitose Airport before deciding on your destinations and dates.

Where can you stay nearby? Tomakomai has an RV park, and you can pair the trip with other wildlife-watching spots

If you’re spending the night in the Tomakomai area, the only RV park is Itoi no Mori, and nearby alternatives for when it’s full are also covered in Tomakomai Has Only One RV Park, at Itoi no Mori. If you want a broader list of places to watch wildlife besides swans — Steller’s sea eagles, red-crowned cranes, Blakiston’s fish owls, and more — 10 Places to Watch Wildlife in Hokkaido is worth reading alongside this article to help build your itinerary. If you want a list of things you can only experience in Hokkaido in winter, 43 Things Only Hokkaido Has in Winter also touches on Lake Kussharo & Sunayu in winter.

Frequently Asked Questions

From when to when can you see swans in Hokkaido?

It depends on the location. Lake Utonai and Lake Kutcharo are migration stopovers, so autumn and spring are the main seasons. Lake Kussharo & Sunayu is a wintering site where swans gather at the warm water’s edge once the lake freezes in mid-winter (Tomakomai City, Ministry of the Environment, Lake Mashu Tourism Association).

When is Lake Utonai at its best?

According to Tomakomai City’s official materials, in autumn tundra swans and whooper swans start arriving once the foliage has finished. In spring, the lake is busiest from when the snow starts melting until the birds head north in early April. A small number of whooper swans also remain through winter (Tomakomai City – Lake Utonai Nature Information).

When should I go to Lake Kutcharo to see swans?

They can be seen during the spring and autumn migration, and some tundra swans skip migration entirely, spending the winter near the mouth of the Tonbetsu River (Town of Hamatonbetsu – Lake Kutcharo Waterfowl Observation Hall). If you’re going in winter, the key is to look near the river mouth rather than the open lake.

Why are there swans at Lake Kussharo & Sunayu even in the depths of winter?

Sunayu has one corner that stays ice-free thanks to geothermal heat, even as the rest of the lake freezes. Whooper swans that have migrated from Siberia gather there to rest (Lake Mashu Tourism Association – Sunayu). Unlike Lake Utonai and Lake Kutcharo, this isn’t a migration stopover — it’s a wintering site where the swans gather at the one spot that never freezes.

Can I feed the swans?

We could not confirm a clear statement about whether feeding is allowed on any of the three official sites or published materials (as of September 29, 2026). Do not interpret the absence of a statement as permission — follow the on-site signage and staff guidance. Observing from a distance with binoculars or a spotting scope is the safe approach at any of the three locations.

By car, how far are these from New Chitose Airport?

The Lake Utonai Wildlife Protection Center is about 15 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport (Tomakomai City – Hours and Access). Lake Kutcharo and Lake Kussharo & Sunayu are in northern and eastern Hokkaido, far enough that they call for an itinerary with an overnight stay rather than a day trip.

Read Next

• 10 Places to Watch Wildlife in Hokkaido: Steller’s Sea Eagles, Red-Crowned Cranes, Blakiston’s Fish Owls, Pikas — Seasons, Areas, and How to Drive There and Stay Overnight
• Bihoro Pass & Lake Kussharo Campervan Driving Guide: A Complete Guide to the Sea of Clouds, Sunayu, and Scenic Overnight Parking Spots [2026 Edition]
• Tomakomai & Shiraoi Campervan Guide: Ferry Terminal, Upopoy, and Overnight Parking at the Gateway to Lake Shikotsu [2026 Edition]
• Tomakomai Has Only One RV Park, at Itoi no Mori: Rates, How to Book, and 4 Nearby Alternatives When It’s Full [2026 Edition]
• 43 Things Only Hokkaido Has in Winter, and Where You Can Stay Nearby: The Snow Festival Is the Most Popular, Drift Ice Is the Only One Unique to Hokkaido — All Confirmed Officially [2027]

Featured photo: Kyoichi Narukami, “Swan kussyaro” (CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons)