Lake Nakaumi and Lake Shinji
Nature and History
Lake Nakaumi, the fifth largest lake in Japan, straddles the boundary between eastern Shimane Prefecture and western Tottori Prefecture. Both Lake Nakaumi and adjacent Lake Shinji connect to the Sea of Japan by means of the Sakai Channel. Although both lakes are brackish, the salinity of the water, and subsequently the resident wildlife species, differs in each.
Around 200 species of birds have been recorded at Lake Nakaumi and Lake Shinji. Visitors can observe up to half of these, including many rare species, at the Yonago Waterbird Sanctuary. Lake Nakaumi and Lake Shinji serve as one of Japan’s largest wintering grounds for waterfowl, including the Asian subspecies of tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus). The two lakes are registered as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.
Activities
Visitors can cruise across Lake Nakaumi aboard a boat, go for a ride in a seaplane, or try bird watching at Yonago Waterbird Sanctuary. The sanctuary is particularly enjoyable in winter when the tundra swans arrive.