■Video & Vlog - Wildlife of Japan - Wildlife of Japan｜Saiyu Travel

2021.07.25 update

(Video) Hammerhead Sharks of the Yonaguni Island

Japan’s westernmost island is the Yonaguni Island. It is said that on a good visibility day in the summertime, you can see all the way to Taiwan. One of the things that make Yonaguni famous, are the schools of Hammerhead Sharks that can be observed here while diving.

We visited early April, which is the end of the hammerhead season, so we thought it would be difficult to encounter them, but we were able to see many schools multiple times.

Yonaguni Island’s Hammerhead Sharks　与那国島のハンマーヘッドシャーク

An unexpected encounter with a large school of hammerheads.

The hammerhead sharks at Yonaguni Island are all females and are generally calm and do not bite. Usually, they are found swimming at a depth of 35m to 40m, but this time we could encounter them at a relatively shallow depth of 25m to 30m.

Of course, while diving, we also visited the ‘Yonaguni Underwater Monument.’What looks like a terrace cut at right angles, looks man-made, but the natural formation is not actually a ruin. It is found in a spot that has a fast moving tide.

We stayed at Guesthouse FIESTA, where the owner prepared a wonderful BBQ for us.

The Yonaguni marlin are also famous. There are also many fishing boats that mainly target the marlin. We could get some fresh sashimi from the local Kinjo Tackel Shop. During our stay, we could also enjoy the fresh greater amberjack and green jobfish

We also had some locally produced ‘Island tofu (Shima tofu)’ cold and the last of the seasonal ‘Island Coriander/cilantro (shima pakuchii).’

This baby goat isn’t on the menu! This is the 2-month old goat of the Dive Shop Marlin, and it has been guaranteed the lucky designation as a lifelong pet.

Image & Text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Apr 2021, Yonaguni Island, Okinawa
Special Thanks: Yonaguni Diving Service MARLIN, Guesthouse FIESTA

Tags: Scuba diving in japan, Scuba diving tour in Japan, Yonaguni, Scuba diving in yonaguni, Dive in Yonaguni Island, Hammerhead shark, Yonaguni Monument, Wildlife of Japan, Yonaguni Underwater Ruins, Yonaguni Submarine Ruins, Dive in Japan, Wildlife in Japan, Wildlife tour of Japan, ハンマーヘッドシャーク, Diving tour of Japan, 与那国

2021.07.15 update

（Video）The First Flight of Dawn with the Geese in Kabukuri Wetlands

Kabukuri-numa in Miyagi Prefecture is a place where you can see geese which form large flocks together from Tohoku, Northern Japan for overwintering. The Greater White-fronted Geese and the Cackling Geese can be seen in large flocks. Also the Bean Geese and Lesser White-fronted Geese can be seen as well.

This is the morning scene around Kabukuri Wetlands in mid-November. On this particular day, perhaps due to the weather, the geese took flight in smaller groups, instead of taking off all at once.

The flight formation of the geese (called Gankou in Japanese), made for a breathtakingly beautiful scene with the Japanese snowy mountains as a backdrop.

Kabukuri-numa ・Geese take flight at dawn｜Saiyu Travel 蕪栗沼・雁の飛び立ち夜明けの蕪栗沼｜西遊旅行

Video & Text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: End of November, Kabukuri-numa wetlands, Miyagi
Special Thanks: Hobby’s World, Mr.Yoshinari TOSHITAKE

Tags: Wildlife Photography tour in Japan, Izunuma wetlands, Bird Watching Japan, Wildlife tour in Japan, Greater White-fronted Geese, Wildlife in Japan, Cackling Geese, Birds Photography of Japan, Bean Geese, Bean Goose, Kabukuri-numa, Lesser White-fronted Geese, Izunuma, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Kabukurinuma, Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, Gan, Wildlife of Japan, Kabukuri wetlands, Birding tour Japan, Birds of Japan, Izu-numa, Bird tour Japan

2021.07.05 update

（Video）Geese Going to Roost at Dusk (Kabukuri-numa Wetlands)

This is a winter report from Japan’s goose migration at Kabukuri-numa in Miyagi Prefecture.

The video below shows scenes of the geese heading to roost as dusk approaches. The weather on this day was not very good, but the Greater White-fronted Geese and Cackling Geese were coming in from all directions. It was so moving to take it all in, with the calls and the sight of Geese in every direction.

The Roost of Thousands of Geese at Kabukuri-numa in the moonlit night 月夜・雁のねぐら入りの景色

The formation of the flocks of geese as they fly (skein), in Japanese is called Gankou [雁行（がんこう）]. And geese alighting together in Japanese is called Rakugan [落雁（らくがん）] … beautiful Japanese words that bring such imagery when they are mentioned, can be seen in this video as the geese fly in unison as they enter the roost. It is so elegant to watch as they flutter and slow down just as they land in the water.

Video & Text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: End of November, Kabukuri-numa, Miyagi
Special Thanks: Hobby’s World,　Mr.Yoshinari TOSHITAKE

Tags: Kabukuri-numa, Rakugan, Kabukurinuma, Geese wintering in Japan, Cackling Goose, Birding tour Japan, Kabukuri wetlands, Bird tour Japan, Wildlife of Japan, Izu-numa, Bird Watching Japan, Birds of Japan, Greater White-fronted Geese, Wildlife in Japan, Wildlife Photography tour in Japan, Cackling Geese, Wildlife tour in Japan, Greater White-fronted Goose, roost of geese, Birds Photography of Japan, Izu-numa wetlands, Gankou

2021.06.25 update

（Video） Humpback Whale Watching & Swim in Amami Oshima

This is the highlight reel of the late March Amami Oshima Swim with Whales Tour. The main attraction of Amami Oshima is that you can do both whale watching and swimming here.

Amami Oshima is the main island of the Amami Island chain located between Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu and the Okinawa Islands. Every year, humpback whales migrate here from January to March. Some of the whales will stay nearby, while others migrate further south to Okinawa’s main island and the Kerama Islands.
During the whale encounter, we were able to swim with three whales: a one-year old baby whale, it mother, and an escort whale.

奄美大島のザトウクジラ Humpback Whale in Amami Oshima

Video: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Mar 2021, Amami Oshima
Special Thanks: Dive Species AMAMI

Tags: Amami Oshima, Wildlife of Japan, Amami, Wildlife tour in Japan, Whale swim, Whale swim in Japan, Whale swim in Amami, Humpback Whale in Japan, Whale watching in Amami Oshima, Whale Watching, Wildllife in Japan, Whale Watching in Japan, Zatoukujira, Wildlife tour of Japan

2021.04.30 update

Icy Lake Furen: Steller’s Sea Eagle and White-Tailed Eagle (Lake Furen, Hokkaido)

2021 Report from Winter in Hokkaido Photography Tour

In mid-February, the temperatures were high and with less snow on the ground, we were worried if that would mean less ice formation on Lake Furen. However, the Lake’s sunset show was spectacularly set at always. Best of all, with only a few foreign tourists around, it was not crowded at all.

After 8am, the Steller’s sea eagle and white-tailed eagle were waiting in standby on the lakeside trees, and a crow was waiting impatiently on the ice.

Sea Eagles on Ice lake Furen 風蓮湖の鷲｜西遊旅行

Video & text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Feb 2021, Lake Furen, Hokkaido
Special Thanks : Lodge “Lake Sunset”

*Contact us, Saiyu Travel for more information about wildlife and bird watching in Hokkaido. We can make various arrangements for your trip. We have our guesthouse Shiretoko Serai in Rausu on the Shiretoko Peninsula.

Tags: White-tailed sea eagle, Birding tour Japan, Steller's sea eagle, Bird tour Japan, Wildlife of Hokkaido, Eagle photography of Japan, Bird Watching Japan, Wildlife of Japan, Birds Photography of Japan, Wildlife in Japan, Birds of Hokkaido, Oowashi, Wildlife in Hokkaido, Birds of Japan, Ojirowashi, White-tailed eagle, Wildlife Photography tour in Japan, Wildlife tour in Japan, Furen Lake, Eagle fighting, Eagle in action, Lake sunset

2021.04.20 update

Love Is In The Air For The Hokkaido Fox! (Teshikaga, Hokkaido)

2021 Winter Report from Eastern Hokkaido Photography Tour

Towards the end of the second half of the tour, we could encounter some Ezo red foxes in the yard of the lodge “ Masuya” in Teshikaga. Every year from the end of January to late March is the mating season for foxes; and their offspring might be born around late March to early May. We were there in the middle of mating season, in mid-February, when we saw these two foxes behaving a little oddly. While observing them, we witnessed the courting and then mating behaviors. Come April, you may be able to see the kits of this red fox pair in Masuya’s yard.
Our delightful encounter with these two courting red foxes in the snowy forest landscape was an unforgettable moment.

Mating of Ezo red foxes キタキツネの交尾｜西遊旅行

Images & Text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Feb 2021, Teshikaga, Hokkaido
Special Thanks : Lodge ” Masuya”

*Contact us, Saiyu Travel for more information about wildlife and bird watching in Hokkaido. We can make various arrangements for your trip. We have a guesthouse, Shiretoko Serai, in Rausu, Shiretoko Peninsula.

Tags: Wildlife in Hokkaido, Hokkaido Fox, Red fox, Ezo-red fox, Wildlife of Hokkaido, Mating of ezo red fox, Wildlife of Japan, Kita-kitsune, Wildlife Photography tour in Japan, Kitsune, Wildlife tour in Japan, Teshikaga, Widlife in Japan, Eagle photography of Japan

2021.03.21 update

A Hokkaido Sika Deer Carrying the Head of Another Deer (Entangled Antlers) in Notsuke Peninsula

In 2021, during the winter season, one of the trending topics in Eastern Hokkaido was the Notsuke Peninsula’s “Entangled Antlers” Ezo-Sika Deer. There was a male deer that, as they normally do, must have battled an opponent during the rutting season. However, the antlers got entwined in a way that one unlucky deer could not free itself and died. This resulted in the head of the loser being carried around like a trophy by the surviving deer.

Of course, this is the story we think has happened, but no one can really know. This is the kind of event that makes you feel what a ‘Wild Life’ these animals lead.

Hokkaido Sika Deer with dead deer head （絡み角のエゾシカ・野付半島）｜西遊旅行

We observed it for two days, and it seemed the deer had a hard time raising its head compared to the other deer. Perhaps it was too heavy? Also during that time, it didn’t move around that much, possibly due to the poor visibility.

The deer’s antlers will fall in the spring. If this stag can wait a little longer, it will be free soon. It should be able to enjoy the spring with its newfound freedom, perhaps two deer’s worth!

Video & Text: Mariko SAWADA

Observation: Feb 2021, Notsuke Peninsula, Hokkaido, Sika Deer

*Youtube : Wildlife of Japan

Tags: Wildlife in Hokkaido, エゾシカ, Hokkaido Sika Deer, Ezo Sika Deer, Notsuke Peninsula, Hokkaido photography tour, Wildlife Photography in Japan, Wildlife in Japan, Wildlife of Hokkaido, 知床サライ, Wildlife of Japan, Shiretoko Serai, Wildlife tour in Japan

2021.03.13 update

At the Ogasawara Islands, During Humpback Whale Season

One of the highlights of visiting Ogasawara (also known as Bonin Islands) in the winter months is seeing the humpback whales. During the summer, the whales have spent their days feeding on the fish near the Kamchatka Peninsula to as far as the Aleutian Islands. Then they return to Ogasawara Islands for breeding.

You can see the mother and calf whales, leisurely floating along in the water, while the males are swimming frantically in their “Heat Run,” and maybe even a baby whale breaching!

There are shallow, sandy areas on the north side of the South Island, where it is easy to see the whales because there are also some diving sites. You might even have a chance to encounter the whales while diving if you are lucky.

Humpback whale of Bonin Islands

Video & Text: Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Jan-Feb 2021, Chichijima, Ogasawara Archipelago, Bonin Islands

Tags: Whale Watching in Ogasawara, Whale Watching in Japan, Wildlife tour of Japan, Wildlife of Japan, Wildlife in Japan, Wildlife tour in Japan, Humpback Whale in Japan, Bonin Islands, Ogasawara Islands, Whale Watching

2021.03.05 update

Hokkaido’s Ural Owl Feeding on a Large Field Mouse

Eastern Hokkaido Winter 2021 Report

Being told that the owls aren’t in their nests that much this year, we went to check the hole in the tree where they can usually be spotted. But just as our local guide said, they were not home. This owl pair that live near the “Tsurui Dosanko Ranch,” are a favorite because they are usually quite reliable to be close by and so very cute to watch.
Eventually we could see them. I couldn’t see both of them at the same time, but one of them had caught a large Japanese field mouse (Ezo Akanezumi). This subspecies of field mouse is Apodemus speciosus ainu and it is endemic to Japan!

Ural Owl（エゾフクロウ）｜西遊旅行

After the video was taken, the owl did not eat his prize field mouse right away, but instead put it down inside the burrow and just sat there watching us.

Video & Text : Mariko SAWADA
Observation: Feb 2021, Tsurui village, Hokkaido

Tags: Birds of Japan, Wildlife in Hokkaido, Wildlife Photography tour in Japan, エゾフクロウ, Wildlife tour in Japan, Tsurui village, Ural Owl, large Japanese field mouse, Hokkaido’s Ural Owl, Ezo Akanezumi, Wildlife tour of Japan, Ezo Ural owl, Birding tour Japan, Wildlife of Hokkaido, Bird tour Japan, Wildlife of Japan, Bird Watching Japan, Birds of Hokkaido, Wildlife in Japan