Maruyamagawa and Tajima Terraced Rice Fields: Rich Rural Scenery Where White Storks Soar

In the Tajima region of northern Hyogo Prefecture, the area around the Maruyamagawa River flowing through Toyooka City is known for its beautiful rural scenery where storks take to the skies. Famous as the place that succeeded in returning the once-extinct Oriental White Stork to the wild, it offers landscapes of terraced fields and rice paddies where people and nature coexist.

Highlights

Restoration of the Oriental White Stork The Oriental White Stork went extinct in the wild in Japan in 1971, but through protection and breeding activities at Toyooka City Stork Home Park, wild releases began in 2005. Today breeding is confirmed across Hyogo and beyond, and the graceful sight of storks soaring overhead has returned. A bird whose wingspan reaches about two meters resting on nest towers or in the paddies is a scene unique to Tajima.

Stork Home Park Toyooka City Stork Home Park has display and observation facilities for learning about stork ecology. Storks can be seen up close in the breeding area, and with luck, wild storks flying through the countryside can be observed. Admission is free, making it a spot where families can learn about nature and the environment.

Rural Scenery and the Stork-Nurturing Farming Method The farming areas along the Maruyamagawa River offer peaceful scenery of terraced fields and rice paddies. Here farmers practice the stork-nurturing farming method, reducing pesticides and chemical fertilizers to raise the small creatures storks feed on. Rice grown this way is prized as a brand and draws national attention as a model of sustainable agriculture.

Seasonal Enjoyment

Stork observation is possible year-round, but spring coincides with rice planting when storks move actively through the paddies in search of food. Fresh early-summer greenery, golden autumn rice ears, and snow-covered winter fields each show a different face. The Maruyamagawa offers cherry blossoms in spring, fireflies in summer, and autumn foliage, as well as canoeing and kayaking.

Access and Basic Information

• Base station: Toyooka Station on the JR Sanin Main Line
• To Stork Home Park: about 15 minutes by car from Toyooka Station, also close to Kinosakionsen Station
• Admission: free (park)
• From Osaka and Kyoto: about 2.5 to 3 hours by the Kounotori or Kinosaki limited express
• Getting around: a car is convenient as the sights are spread out

Practical Travel Notes

For a relaxed nature experience, spring to early summer around rice-planting time, or autumn when the rice ears turn golden, are the most pleasant seasons. Stork Home Park takes about one to two hours to explore. Combined with Kinosaki Onsen (about 15 minutes by car), you can enjoy hot springs and rural walks in a single day. Nearby Genbudo Cave and Kinosaki Marine World make it convenient for family touring. In terms of budget, park admission is free, and even with a meal or a bath the cost starts from a few hundred to a couple thousand yen. Wild storks live in the open landscape, so taking time to scan the paddies and riverbanks improves your chances of a sighting.

A Word of Advice

Storks are wary, so if you spot one, avoid loud voices or approaching too closely and simply watch quietly. A pair of binoculars makes observation far more rewarding. Since travel here is mostly by car, renting one from Toyooka or Kinosakionsen Station lets you efficiently enjoy the rural scenery, hot springs, and seafood together.

📚 Sources

For the farmland around the Maruyama River and its storks, the Hyogo Park of the Oriental White Stork and Toyooka City's tourism information are reliable references. The story of the storks' return to the wild and the stork-friendly farming method can be confirmed through the park's exhibits and public information. For nearby Genbudo and Kinosaki Marine World, each operator's guidance is helpful. The park's opening hours and the fees of surrounding facilities may change, so please confirm each facility's official information before visiting.

Visitor Checklist

• Approximate time needed: About 1 to 2 hours to explore the Park of the Oriental White Stork carefully. Combined with Kinosaki Onsen, you can enjoy hot springs and rural walks in a day.
• What to bring and prepare: The park is free to enter. Binoculars make it more fun to spot wild storks. As the sights are spread out, a car is convenient.
• Suggested route: Using Toyooka or Kinosaki Onsen Station as a base, learn about the storks at the park and take your time gazing over the rice fields and riverside along the Maruyama River, following the flow described in the article.