Early Summer in Shiretoko Experience the Nemuro Strait with Shearwaters and Orca

Highlights

Seasonal visits from Shearwaters and Orca (Killer) Whales
Flocks of short-tailed shearwaters that migrate from the Southern Hemisphere's Tasmania. At times, over a thousand birds will descend; resting after their long migration. Orca - Killer Whale start arriving in the Strait from late April and stay until July. Multiple pods have been confirmed in the area.
Ezo-Brown Bear Watching
The brown bears that are out on the coastline or on the slopes along the Shiretoko Peninsula. They are best seen from a small boat, departing from Rausu. Waking from their hibernation in April, by early May all the bears are actively moving around, including the mother bears with their cubs. Sunny coastal slopes are popular spots as the snow melts quickly and the hungry bears can eat the new grass shoots in the early spring.

Optional evening tour at the "Fish Owl Observatory" where you can see the Blakiston's Fish Owl
In Rausu, this location is famous as the place to observe and photograph the Blakiston's Fish Owls' natural behavior at night. For those who want to see this endangered bird, you will have a high likelihood of seeing them here. 6,000 yen per participant for optional tour at the Owl Observatory, including transportation fees.

Itinerary

May 27th 2023（5nights 6days）
June 3rd 2023（4nights 5days）

	City	Summary
1	Nakashibetsu Airport Rausu	In the afternoon, gather at Nemuro Nakashibetsu Airport at 14:30 (Recommended flight: ANA377 Haneda 12:25 / Nemuro Nakashibetsu 14:05). Take a private car to Rausu on the Shiretoko Peninsula. Optional tour at at the Blakiston's Fish Owl Observatory: At night, look for the endemic endangered species, at the Blakiston's Fish Owl Observatory. Overnight: Rausu Shiretoko Serai \| Meals Included : Dinner
2	Rausu	Cruise the waters of the Nemuro Strait in the morning and afternoon. Located between the mainland of Hokkaido and Kunashiri Island, the Strait is only 17km wide at the narrowest section. Observe flocks of Shearwaters and killer whales, and enjoy the dynamic coastlines of Kunashiri Island and the peninsula. Overnight: Rausu Shiretoko Serai \| Meals Included : Breakfast & Dinner
3	Rausu	Cruise the waters of the Nemuro Strait in the morning and afternoon to observe the flocks of shearwaters and Orca - Killer Whale in the strait. Overnight: Rausu Shiretoko Serai \| Meals Included : Breakfast & Dinner
4	Rausu	Same as Day 3. Overnight: Rausu Shiretoko Serai \| Meals Included : Breakfast & Dinner
5	Rausu Notsuke Peninsula Lake Furen	In the morning, observe the brown bears on the Shiretoko Peninsula from a small Fisherman's boat. In the afternoon visit Notsuke Peninsula, hoping to see Ezo-sika deer and red foxes along the coastlines. Overnight: Lake Furen in Lake Sunset \| Meals Included : Breakfast & Dinner
6	Lake Furen Ochiishi Bay Nakashibetsu	In the morning, we will go to Ochiishi Bay to take a cruise to watch the Tufted Puffin and Spectacled Guillemots. After that, we head to Nakashibetsu airport where the tour ends. Recommended flight: ANA378 Nemuro Nakashibetsu 14:45 / Haneda 16:40 Meals Included : Breakfast

* We offer other tours within Japan and can accommodate customized packages and quotes in combination with this one. Please feel free to inquire for more information from our agent.

1. During the day, a long-sleeved shirt should be enough. However, it can get cold on the ship, especially if there is bad weather. In addition to a sweater and fleece, you may need winter clothes and full raingear that will serve to protect you from the wind.
2. Lunch during the tour is not included. You will have a chance to buy food from the local convenience stores or eateries. Each person should prepare to pay for these individually.
3. In case of inclement weather or sea navigation condition, some boat tours may not be running. If this happens, we will try to adjust our schedule flexibly to maximize the chances of seeing wildlife. If the weather is bad and the sightseeing cruises are unavailable, the fees will be refunded to you after adjusting for any additional charges. Brown bear photo shooting boat is a privately chartered boat.
4. The purpose of this tour is to observe nature and for wildlife photography. According to weather reports and local information we will adjust your tour schedule as needed; based on recent sightings. However, these are wild animals and there is no guarantee of being able to see everything listed in the itinerary.
5. Tour price listed is per person, based on sharing twin rooms.

Price

Departure	Price per person
Saturday, May 27th, 2023 5nights 6days	Tour cost : JPY 258,000 Optional Tour ：JPY 6,000 Single room supplement ：JPY 16,000
Saturday, June 3rd, 2023 4nights 5days	Tour cost : JPY 208,000 Optional Tour ：JPY 6,000 Single room supplement ：JPY 18,000

■Offered only in a small group of 6 to 8 people. This tour is open to both Japanese domestic customers and foreign visitors.
Hence all the explanations will be made in Japanese first, followed by English. Please be aware of this nuance, an unavoidable inconvenience compensated by affordable cost per participant we offer.
■We do not accept kids under 12 years old unless it is only your family on this tour.
■The above rates are in Japanese yen and can be paid either by credit card or bank transfer.
Exchange rate may fluctuate if you prefer to pay in foreign currency – 125 yen for 1 USD is indicative and by no means final.

Important Notes

The detailed itinerary will be sent to all participants at the same time two weeks before the tour start. In the meantime, the best reference is the description hereabove.

Including :

English-speaking guide | Accommodation as per above (excluding hotel room single supplement) | Private vehicle with driver as per itinerary above | Four breakfast meals and four dinners (4nights 5days)/Five breakfast meals and five dinners (5nights 6days)(*) as per above (additional orders will be extra cost paid on the spot individually by participants) | All activities participation fees as per above
*if you have any food restrictions, please inform us at the time of booking the tour with as much detail as possible - we need time to confirm if we and how we can cater to the special dietary needs you have, and the extra cost involved. On short notice this is not possible. We reserve the right not to take any obligations in regard to strict food standards such as halal or kosher.

Exclusive of :

Any lunch meals or refreshments beyond breakfasts and dinners stated above | Domestic or international flights | Travel & Medical Insurance (Recommended to be arranged on your own) | Personal expenses (Souvenirs and Alcoholic Beverages, etc.)

Fitness Level: 1 out of 5

Suitable for people of all ages who can spend up to for 5 hours aboard a small boat a few days in a row. If you feel you must take any drug before the boat trips to prevent sea sickness, please consult with your physician and bring it with you to Japan. We won’t be able to offer any pharmacology-related advice.

Climate

Maximum temperature: 15℃, minimum: 8℃

Clothes

Water proof sports shoes / rainwear are necessary item to bring with you. For the cruises, layered/ warm clothes are essential.

Luggage

As we use private van, and luggage space is limited, we allow everyone to bring up to one suitcase per person.

Customize Your Tour?

If you wish to extend your stay or make additional arrangements, contact us to start discussing your custom tour! We'll listen to you and create an itinerary based on your budget, your choice of destinations, accommodations, and focus it on your interests. There might be customized itinerary design fees and estimate fees involved.

Contact us about this tour

Travel planning and implementation：SAIYU TRAVEL CO.,LTD.
3rd floor, Kyodo Bldg. jimbocho, 2-2, Kanda, jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051, Japan ｜Travel Agency Registration No. 607