(Mt Fuji - Matsumoto - Obuse - Yudanaka Onsen) - Tsurui - Lake Kussharo - Mt. Iou - Notsuke Peninsula - Rausu - Aidomari - Nemuro - Lake Furen - Kiritappu Wetland
Explore the wonderful nature of Japan on one of AJT's special Japan Birding and Wildlife Tours. Despite being such a small island, Japan has a broad diversity of wild animals and birds, and the stars of our tour are some of the country's most famous creatures. These itineraries are perfect for birding enthusiasts, wildlife photographers, and nature-loving travelers who are interested in a wildlife tour of one of Hokkaido, with an option to add must-see destinations in Honshu. On these Japan ... View More
Explore the wonderful nature of Japan on one of AJT's
special Japan Birding and Wildlife Tours. Despite being
such a small island, Japan has a broad diversity of wild
animals and birds, and the stars of our tour are some of
the country's most famous creatures. These itineraries are
perfect for birding enthusiasts, wildlife photographers, and
nature-loving travelers who are interested in a wildlife tour
of one of Hokkaido, with an option to add must-see
destinations in Honshu. On these Japan nature trips you
will be able to see rare and incredible creatures native to
Japan as part of a small travel group of only 10 people at
most.
The first tour is our Charms of Hokkaido Birding and
Wildlife Photography Tour - a 9-day Hokkaido trip carefully
crafted to contain the most famous of this beautiful island's
wild birds and animals. The tour begins in Tsurui - a town
in the Kushiro region known as the top spot for viewing the
Tancho Red-crowned crane. Find that perfect picture of
this elegant and iconic bird in feeding or roosting grounds
at Tsurumidai, the Ito Tancho Crane Sanctuary, and Otawa
Bridge. The tour continues to Lake Kussharo: a large lake
in the Akan-Mashu National Park where the gorgeous
white Whooper swan can be seen roosting near a local
open-air hot spring. We explore around Mount Iou - a local
active volcano - before proceeding to the Notsuke
Peninsula to search for the Ezo Deer and Hokkaido Fox.
Next, in Rausu on the Shiretoko Peninsula, we look for
Blakiston's Fish Owl, one of the largest owls in the world
and a sacred bird to the indigenous Ainu people. We also
take a nature cruise to view the assorted variety of sea
birds that can be seen off the coast of the peninsula. In
Aidomari, which is the furthest point up Shiretoko you can
travel by car, we can see the colorful Harlequin Duck
among other sea birds of the region. We take cruise off
the coast of Nemuro for more opportunities to see the
countless native birds of the area. Over Lake Furen we
can find the enormous Steller's Sea Eagle and White-
Tailed Eagle in large groups around the brackish lake.
After, we explore the Kiritappu Wetland - a Ramsar Site
that hosts cranes, ducks, swans, and other local birds in
winter.
The second tour, our Hokkaido and Beyond - Birding and
Wildlife Winter Photography Tour is a 13-day itinerary that
adds an extension into Honshu to the Charms of Hokkaido
travel package. During the first five days of this excellent
Japan winter photography tour, we travel to Mount Fuji for
photo opportunities in the picturesque Fuji Five Lakes
region, which offers some splendid views of the iconic
mountain and other beautiful nature scenes. After, we
travel to Yudanaka Onsen in Nagano, stopping over at
Matsumoto to see the imposing Matsumoto Castle, and
again at Obuse, which preserves the woodblock print
artworks of the Edo-era artist Hokusuai at the Hokusai
museum. Finally, at Yudanaka Onsen, we visit the
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. The snow monkey is also
known as the Japanese macaque and can be
photographed bathing in a natural hot spring. We take
time to capture on film the antics of these curious
monkeys before the tour continues to the Hokkaido portion
of the tour.
Choose one of our professionally crafted Japan Birding
and Wildlife Winter Photography Tours, and explore the
incredible natural splendor and fascinating wildlife of
Japan. Our tours include comfortable transportation on
one of our private coaches and the assistance of an expert
Japan birding guide. Please browse our itineraries for
more information.