The Site is a lagoon composed of two permanent freshwater lakes lying in the Niigata sand dune system near the coast of the Sea of Japan. The slopes of the surrounding dunes feature Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) forests and fields of watermelons and radishes. Abundant aquatic insects and plants including common reeds and willows and the nationally threatened prickly water lily (Euryale ferox) attract some 27,000 waterbirds of 210 species each year. The Site is particularly popular for Anatidae waterbird species such as whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) and tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus) that migrate from eastern Russia in winter. There is a waterfowl and wetland centre at the Site, which was established in 1998 for educational, biodiversity monitoring and research purposes, and an ecological garden to preserve important native plant species. The Site is protected within the Sakata National Widlife Protection Area, and there is a management plan in place.