Wild birds at Higashiyoka-Higata

A foraging Sandpiper

Higashiyoka-Higata is a protected wetland that boasts the largest number of wild birds in all of Japan, including migratory birds, sandpipers and plovers.. Sandpipers and plovers breed in Siberia and Alaska during the summer, while in winter they travel south to Australia and New Zealand. Higashiyoka-Higata is one of the places that they stop on the way, when more than 10,000 birds gather.

View over Higashiyoka-Higata

The body of water there is called the Ariake Sea and is known for its large tidal range along the coastline. It is said to be equivalent to about 40% of the total area of tidal flats in Japan. Various kinds of plants live there, some of which are unique to the area. Plankton is also abundant in the tidal flat and more than 100 types of wild birds come to forage throughout the year.

Wild birds of Higashiyoka-Higata

Seeing the wild birds at Higashiyoka-Higata

A binocular telescope is installed on the coast overlooking the Higashiyoka-Higata. This is a highly recommended spot for wild bird watching. In addition to wild birds, you can also observe mudflat animals such as mud hoppers, mudskippers, and fiddler crabs.

When seeing wild birds in Higashiyoka-Higata, we recommend checking the timing in advance. Wild birds can be observed near the coast for about 1 to 2 hours before and after the high tide time (when the tide level exceeds 5 meters). You can check the best time for observing wild birds on websites such as the Saga Prefecture official website. Start planning your visit to Higashiyoka-Higata today.