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Photo: Beijing de xing at ja.wikipedia, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
The museum is on a hill overlooking Lake Harutori and its architecture is said to represent a Japanese crane spreading its wings. The museum has many excellent exhibits representing the natural history of the area and there are both Japanese and English explanations. One can garner a greater appreciation of the area by spending just an hour in this excellent museum..
Kushiro City Museum is a registered museum in Kushiro, Hokkaidō, Japan. The Museum's predecessor institution, the Kushiro City Folk Museum (釧路市立郷土博物館), began as an exhibition room at the offices of the local water board in 1936, before moving to a department store, then from 1949 to the relocated former Kushiro City Police Station. Upon completion of the new, dedicated museum building in 1983, the museum was renamed the Kushiro City Museum. The displays centre around the geology, flora and fauna, and history of the area, with exhibits including the fossil jaw from which the Kushiro tapir [ja] was described as well as Jōmon, Satsumon, and Ainu materials.
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Lake Harutori has the distinction of being the largest lake in Japan within a city. It has been designated a National Natural Monument as a habitat for the Red Crucian Carp. This lake is popular as a place for relaxing and for taking walks. It has a circumference of 4.7 km, an area of 36.1 ha, and the deepest part is 5.7 m.
Nusamai Bridge is located near Kushiro Fisherman's Wharf MOO. It is said to be one of the most beautiful bridges in Hokkaido. The atmosphere around Nusamai Bridge is very romantic with street lamps and bronze statues symbolizing the four seasons. It is especially lovely at dusk and as the sunsets the views around Nusamai Bridge are simply beautiful. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from Kushiro JR Station and is pretty both during the day and at night.
Kushiro Fisherman's Wharf MOO is a worthwhile stop with its bustling marketplace located on the waterfront, close to Nusamai Bridge. Its unique architecture and location near the ocean make it an excellent photo opportunity. Beyond this the building houses a multitude of restaurants, shops, and recreational facilities. Tourists and locals alike enjoy sightseeing, eating, shopping, and relaxing at the MOO. It sits overlooking the water and one can see fishing boats bobbing just outside its many windows. There is also a pool and a fitness centre on the top floor of the building. The EGG is a small, but delightful conservatory and is just what one needs when the long, cold Kushiro winter arrives. It is attached to the MOO.