Wildlife and Culture of Japan Photo Safari

Day 1, Thursday, January 22, 2009:  Depart U.S.

Day 2, Friday, January 23:  Arrive Tokyo Narita Airport.
After clearing immigration and customs we will board our shuttle to the hotel. 
O/N: Haneda Excel Hotel

Day 3, Saturday, January 24:  Transfer to Kushiro
We fly to Kushiro on the northern island of Hokkaido, board our chartered bus and drive the 30 miles to Tsurui Village.  Great seafood here!

Hokkaido, Japan’s main northern island, lies near the same latitude as Toronto or Boston, and is far less populated than the country’s southern islands.  Like much of the Pacific Rim, Hokkaido’s geology and landscape is heavily influenced by volcanism and the island has innumerable beautiful parks.

While these scenic natural areas will provide ample subject matter for our lenses, our main targets here are the Japanese cranes and the Steller’s sea eagles that winter on the island.
O/N: Taito Hotel, Tsurui Vallage

Day 4 - 6, Sunday - Tuesday, January 25 - 27:  Photographing Japanese cranes.
The next days will be spent photographing the white red-crested crane, also known as the Japanese crane, around the the area. Other species, such as white-tailed sea eagles are possible.

We will work to get good approaches to the cranes, but this is a wary species, so be sure to bring a long lens in the 500 to 600mm range.
O/N: Taito Hotel

Day 7, Wednesday, January 28:  In transit to Kawayu Onsen
We travel to the village of Kawayu Onsen (onsen = hot springs), a farming village.

We’ll seek out some locations to photograph whooper swans.  This beautifully rugged region with its mountainous lakes, Akan and Kussharo, makes for a wonderful backdrop for these magnificent birds.
O/N: Grand Hotel Alex Kawayu, Kawayu

Day 8, Thursday, January 29:  Photograph Akan and Kusharo
This morning will be spent in the swan area along the lake, then make our way to Odaito. We also shouldn’t overlook the dramatic landscape around us: high volcanic mountains, some still steaming from their tops, and ice-covered lakes.
O/N Odainuma Seaside Hotel

Day 9, Friday, Januuary 30: Rausu area.
Our morning will be spent along the Notuke Peninsula photographing seascapes and sea eagles along the fast ice on the shore. Our afternoon boat ride at Rausu will take us out to the ryuhyu, ice from Siberia, which is stranded along the shore, where we should find good concentrations of the rare Steller’s sea eagle, white-tailed sea eagle and other specialties. 
O/N: Minenoyu Japanese styled Ryokan, Rausu

Day 10, Saturday, January 31: To Shiretoko.
We’ll take another boat ride to the floe edge this morning to maximize our chances of getting good shots of the eagles. After lunch we’ll drive the scenic route to the other side of the Shiretoko Peninsula.
O/N: Shiretoko Grand Hotel Kitakobushi

Day 11, Sunday, February 1: To Abashiri
Shiretoko National Park can offer some excellent photos of deer as well as dramatic landscapes and snowscapes. After lunch it’s off to Abashiri, stopping along the way to photograph a waterfowl refuge where we can expect more whooper swans and other migratory waterfowl.
O/N: Abashirikoso Hotel

Day 12, Monday, February 2: To Tokyo
We’ll photograph the stunning landscapes in the area, and if there’s time a bit more shooting at yesterday’s wildlife refuge, before transfering to the airport for our flight to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.
O/N: Le Meridien Pacific Hotel

Day 13 & 14, Tuesday & Wednesday, February 3 & 4: Tokyo to Jigokudani
This morning we’ll take the Japan Railway bullet train to Nagano, transfer to our motorcoach for the trip to the little remote ryokan (traditional Japanese-styled inn) at the Jigokudani hot springs.

We’ll have a full day photographing the Japanese macaques, or snow monkeys, as they are more popularly known.  These fascinating primates range through this national park and are especially fond of soaking themselves in the natural hot springs near our inn, where they are easy to photograph.  We’ll also hope for a timely snowfall during our stay!
O/N: Korakukan Traditional Ryokan

Days 15 - 17, Thursday - Saturday, February 5 - 7: To Kyoto
After a morning of more snow monkeys and a great Japanese lunch, we board the bullet train for Kyoto,  Japan’s most traditional city.

Kyoto is known for its abundance of traditional Japanese architecture: ancient Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples and gardens. We’ll spend the next two days intensively photographing these wonderful subjects. These shrines date back to 743 and before, and were spared bombing during World War II. 

The city is also famous for its fine handicrafts such as silk brocades, bronzes, damascene work, porcelain and laquerware.  We’ll take time to do some shopping in this area. 
O/N: Kyoto New Miyako Hotel

Day 18: Sunday, February 8: To Tokyo
After a final morning of exploring Kyoto and lunch, we’ll take the bullet train to back to Tokyo.
O/N: Le Meridien Pacific Tokyo

Day 19: Monday February 9: fly home
Our shuttle bus will take us to Tokyo’s Narita Airport for flights home.

For more photos and information on this tour, please visit our website:
www.wildlifeadventures.com
800-808-4492 (US & Canada)
206-463-1943