Blog
Blog
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Black-faced spoonbill
It closely resembles the Eurasian spoonbill, but its black eye patch and the lack of a visible boundary between its eye and bill led to its English and Japanese names meaning 'black-faced'. Its population once dwindled to around 300 birds, bringing it to the brink of extinction. It primarily nests on the cliffs of islands along North Korea's west coast, but its numbers are said to have plummeted due to environmental destruction during the Korean War in the 1950s and pesticide use. It is now protected as a flagship species for wetland conservation along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and…
- Birds
- Kagoshima
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Eurasian spoonbill
The Eurasian spoonbill, characterised by its spoonbill-like beak. In Japan, small numbers migrate annually, primarily to Kyushu. In the Izumi Plain, they can be seen quite close by, such as along the roads of the East Reclamation Area, and are often photographed alongside large flocks of cranes. Though not classified as endangered, its breeding range in Europe is localised, leading to its listing under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In Senegal, where I was based, small numbers migrate from Europe during winter. Research using GPS tags…
- Birds
- Kagoshima
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Happy New Year
Happy New Year🎍 Thanks to you all, our guide and accommodation bookings are quite full right through to the end of this year. Some dates are set as reserve days, so if you have specific guide or accommodation requests, we would be grateful if you could contact us by email. The photo shows a humpback whale photographed in Sydney last October. I'd heard they were seen with considerable frequency, but I never imagined one would dive right in front of me. Our guesthouse is now entering its eighth year. We look forward to your continued support this year.
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Bōdara
Essential to Kyoto's New Year dishes, bōdara (dried cod). Particularly, imobō—simmered dried cod and ebiimo—is a traditional dish representing Kyoto. Dried cod is made by filleting Hokkaido-caught cod into three pieces with the tail intact, then drying it. This is rehydrated over a week or more, changing the water daily, then simmered with taro root for another day or more. Ebiimo is a variety of taro known as a symbol of prosperity and is a quintessential Kyoto winter vegetable. Due to the considerable effort involved, it is now rarely prepared in individual households. Nevertheless, bōdara appears in supermarkets towards…
- Culture
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Hooded crane
Alongside the white-naped crane, this crane is a primary attraction drawing overseas birdwatchers to Japan. Breeding in south-central to south-eastern Siberia, nearly 10,000 individuals migrate to the Izumi Plain each year. With the global population estimated at 11,600 birds, this means almost 90% migrate to the Izumi Plain. While they now overwinter not only in the Izumi Plain but also in parts of Shikoku and the Chūgoku region, it is thought they once migrated to various parts of the country. During the Edo period, they were part of the “Three Birds and Two Fishes” delicacies, and it is said that…
- Birds
- Kagoshima
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White-naped crane
The white-crowned crane, designated as an endangered species, is one of the birds sought after by foreign birdwatchers visiting Japan. There are two main groups of white-naped cranes: the western group breeds in northeastern Mongolia and China's Hanyang Lake, wintering in the lower Yangtze River region; the eastern group breeds in the Amur River basin of China and Russia, wintering in central Korea, Japan, and particularly the Izumi Plain. The number migrating varies significantly from year to year in Japan, exceeding 3,000 birds in some years and dropping to around 200 in others. Reports indicate their numbers in central Korea…
- Birds
- Kagoshima
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Common crane
Among the flocks of cranes in the Izumi Plain, the common crane is the hardest to spot. Though several migrate here each year, finding them among over ten thousand cranes proves quite a challenge. Their global population is estimated at 500,000 birds. In France, it is said that royalty and nobility once savoured them as a delicacy. In Japan, the more common hooded crane was particularly favoured by the upper classes when salted, suggesting cranes were a globally cherished delicacy symbolising longevity.
- Birds
- Kagoshima
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Sandhill crane
The sandhill crane, known in Japan as the “Canadian Crane”. Several birds migrate to the Izumi Plain almost every year. This year, three are said to be overwintering here, two of which are always inseparable. From morning till night, they spent their time together, never straying far apart. Though a rare bird in Japan, it is the world's most abundant crane, with an estimated population exceeding 1.5 million. In some US states, hunting of the sandhill crane is permitted for pest control of crops and for sport hunting. Reports indicate that, for now, capture is being carried out at sustainable…
- Birds
- Kagoshima
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Siberian crane
Another rare crane species has arrived at this year's Izumi Plain. It is the endangered Siberian Crane, of which only 3,200 to 4,000 are thought to exist worldwide. According to locals, it appeared to have an injured leg when it first arrived, but now half of one leg is missing, possibly due to necrosis. It occasionally displayed behaviour suggesting it was pecking at the leg with its beak, perhaps in pain. The Siberian Crane breeds in northern Russia. However, environmental changes in its wintering grounds, heavy pesticide use, and poaching are believed to be the primary causes of its significant…
- Birds
- Kagoshima
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Demoiselle crane
Among foreign birdwatchers visiting Japan, the eagles riding the drift ice in eastern Hokkaido and the vast flocks of cranes in Kagoshima's Izumi Plain are particularly popular. Having heard that the demoiselle crane had arrived for the first time in five years, I went to scout the location. This year, over 13,000 cranes have arrived, but only one of the demoiselle crane. Locals mentioned young one had arrived and that the rice fields it frequented was constantly changing. Just as I thought it might be hopeless, I spotted one quite easily. The dark grey hooded crane dominate the flock, so…
- Birds
- Kagoshima
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Nabura: Ramen that Muslims should try
Kyoto is a fiercely competitive ramen hotspot. There are numerous delicious ramen shops near our guesthouse. That said, few dishes divide opinion quite like ramen. In my youth, I adored rich, heavy flavours such as pork-based ramen, but as I've grown older, I've come to prefer lighter, soy sauce-based varieties, called Chuka-soba in Japanese. Nabura serves a rich yet refreshingly light-tasting broth. Made from kelp and mackerel stock, it contains no pork. Instead of chashu pork, it features mackerel tempura. While there are Muslim-friendly ramen shops in Kyoto, this one is the best. Though a little off the tourist site,…
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Kyoto Cuisine: Kinobu
The most frequent enquiry we receive from guests is where they can find cuisine that truly embodies Kyoto. When speaking of cuisine representative of Kyoto, nothing comes to mind more than Kyoto cuisine called `Kyo-ryori’ in Japanese. It was designated a Japanese Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2022. However, when asked to explain precisely what Kyoto cuisine entails, it proves difficult to articulate. Recently, at a meeting of the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I had the opportunity to hear from Mr Takahashi, the third-generation proprietor of Kibune, a restaurant representing Kyoto cuisine. They conducted a survey among Kyoto…
- restaurant