Lake Hyoko

Lake Hyouko is a registered wetland under the Ramsar Convention, and is famous throughout Japan as a swan migration site.
It is an artificial lake created in 1639 as an irrigation pond, and was called “Hyouko” (gourd lake) because the shape of the pond at that time resembled a gourd.

It is designated as a national natural monument as a migratory site for swans in Suiwon, and as a national protected area for birds and animals (group migratory site) in Lake Hyouko (281 ha in area, including 24 ha as a special protection area).

Onibishi, lotus, reeds, and water bamboo grow in Lake Hyouko.

About 6,000 whooper swans and whooper swans fly to the lake every year from around October to March to overwinter.

In addition, 100 species of birds in 31 families have been confirmed to inhabit the area, and many ducks, such as pintails and white-winged teals, also fly to the area.

During the day, ducks and other ducks are more conspicuous as they forage in the surrounding rice paddies, but at night they rest their wings on the lake.

In 1950, the first swans flew to the lake, and in 1954, the first wild swans were successfully fed in Japan.

Feeding takes place three times a day at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 3:00 p.m. every day during the season.
Food is sold for 100 yen, so visitors can experience feeding the swans.

Fish such as crucian carp and crucian carp, and dragonflies such as onyanma and gin-yanma have also been observed.

The surrounding area is maintained as “Hyouko Suikin Park” and is also well known for its flowers and plants such as irises and lotuses, which are the “town flowers” of the former Suihara Town.

Around 400 cherry trees, including Someiyoshi and Yaezakura cherry trees, are planted around the lake, which usually bloom in mid-April, attracting many flower watchers when the light red spring colors appear on the lake surface.