Three mute swans that the Kyoto International Conference Center (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City) received from Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, were released into a pond in the center's garden. The swans seem to have gotten used to the water and swim leisurely on the water, and the center's staff hopes that they will become a beloved presence for many people.
The Kyoto International Conference Center has been keeping the swans for a long time since receiving them from a hotel in Kyoto City a few years after the center opened. However, two years ago, the swan was left alone as a male and felt lonely. In order to increase the number of swans, the center asked Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture to transfer them to them.
The three swans were born in May 2023 and lived in the moat of Hikone Castle. After being taken in by the center in November and December 2024, they were kept in cages to prevent infection with the avian influenza virus, and were released on March 18. There are two females and one male, and they are kept in pairs with a bridge over the pond as the boundary.
The swans are not usually available to view, but can be seen on "Open Days," when the lobby and gardens of the building are open to the public. The next time they can be seen will be from March 28th to 30th, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. A 25-year-old woman working in the General Affairs and Public Relations Division of the International Conference Center said, "This is a rare opportunity to see both the cherry blossoms and the swans together. I hope you'll take some photos."
