- Feb 8th, 2025
Hokkaido Winter Wildlife Photography Tour & Workshop with Marco Ronconi - Hokkaido , Japan
- Small group photography tour & workshop
- Price
- from JPY 550,000
- Duration
- 7nights 8days
- Dates
- Feb 8th, 2025 Fully booked! Waiting list open
Highlights
- Small group photography tour & workshop: 5 participants (minimum 4 participants)
- Accompanied by Marco Ronconi, wildlife & nature photographer
The winter scenery of East Hokkaido is now well known to the world. This special program is designed to encounter and photograph the wildlife of the East Hokkaido region, including Steller's sea eagles and white-tailed eagles that gather at Lake Furen, Whooper swans in Lake Kussharo, Ezo shika deer and Red fox on the Notsuke Peninsula endangered Blakiston's fish owl in Rausu and more. In Rausu, we will have two chance to go on an early morning drift ice cruise of the Nemuro Straits. Great opportunity to photograph white-tailed and Steller's sea eagles on the stage of drift ice at the time of the beautiful morning glow.
Photography Guide: Marco Ronconi
Marco Ronconi is an Italian professional nature photographer and publisher, passionate about wildlife and landscapes of the northern hemisphere. His fine art prints have been exhibited in galleries and his images have been featured in various magazines. His photographic vision focuses on capturing suggestions and emotions using light and elements such as snow, ice, and mist. He tries to celebrate the pristine beauty of a landscape or the fleeting encounter with wildlife, with simplicity, giving as much importance to the unseen and is left to the imagination. His approach to nature photography is more artistic and philosophical, than scientific. He created his own publishing house, Kamui publishing. Instagram page: @marcoronconi_
Incredible Encounters with Wild Animals
Blakiston's Fish Owl
With a wingspan of about 180cm (5.9ft), it is the largest owl species. With only about 140 birds inhabiting Hokkaido, it is also one of the most endangered birds. In Rausu, fish are put in a rocky area in the river, and attracted by the fish, the Blakiston's fish owl can be seen from the observation area. The lighting is set exclusively for photography, so you can shoot even at night without a flash.Japanese Red-Crowned Cranes
From November to mid-March, when the snow begins to accumulate, cranes will gather from all over Eastern Hokkaido in Tsurui Village's Kushiro Marsh. We will guide you to the Otowa Bridge where you can observe the Japanese cranes sleeping in the river, and the places where you can observe the Japanese cranes flying to the roost in the evening with the sunset.Steller's Sea Eagle
The largest eagle in Japan with a wingspan of over 2m, which in the Ainu language is called "kapatcir kamuy" (God of Eagles). A majestic eagle with white wings and tail, and an orange-yellow beak. From January to March, it will come to Eastern Hokkaido from Sakhalin, the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Itinerary
| City | Summary | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kushiro Tsurui village |
Welcome to Hokkaido Japan, gather at Kushiro Airport at 13:15 pm. Then, be transported by private car to nearby Tsurui Village. We may have a chance to observe and photograph endangered Japanese Red-Crowned Cranes on the very first day. Check in, followed by a short meet and greet to discuss Day 2. Accom: Yumekobo in Tsurui village | Meals included : Dinner |
| 2 | Tsurui village | Early in the morning, head to Otowa Bridge, where we will photograph Red-Crowned Cranes sleeping in steamy warm thermal river waters, and weather permitting, bathed spectacularly in golden morning light. After that, we will visit various locations around Tsurui Village to photograph wildlife especially of the elegant Red-Crowned Cranes. You might even get a chance to see a Ural owl that lives in the forest nearby. Accom: Yumekobo in Tsurui village | Meals included : Breakfast and Dinner |
| 3 | Tsurui village |
Enjoy photographing more Red-Crowned Cranes in Tsurui village. After which, we will be heading to the undeniably beautiful and scenic Lake Kussharo, where we will spend time photographing graceful Whooper swans swimming in the days last light, spectacularly backdropped by distant mountains boarding the lake Accom: Bettei Suikazura in Kawayu Onsen | Meals included : Breakfast and Dinner |
| 4 | Kawayu onsen (Lake Kussharo) ( Lake Mashu) (Mt.Iou) |
We will spend full day around Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu. Photographing the swans on Lake Kussharo as they rest and bathe in natural steaming, thermal pools on the edges of the completely frozen lake. Also you will enjoy land scape photography at Lake Mashu, one of the most beautiful caldera lake in Japan and Mt Iou, an active volcano where hot steam escapes from the earth through 1,500 “fumaroles” (small vents) of various sizes. Accom: Bettei Suikazura in Kawayu Onsen | Meals included : Breakfast and Dinner |
| 5 | Kawayu Onsen Notsuke Nemuro |
After breakfast, we’ll journey to Nemuro, stopping by at the unforgettable Notsuke Peninsula. Here you will be thrilled by large herds of wild Ezo Sika deer, perching birds of prey and hopefully Red foxes as we drive by frozen oceans and smooth undisturbed snow fields. Accom: East Harbor Hotel in Nemuro | Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner |
| 6 | Nemuro Lake Furen Rausu |
In the morning, we will be photographing the truly majestic Steller's Sea Eagles & White-tailed eagles on the completely frozen Lake Furen, an incredible sight to behold. Then we will head towards north to Rausu. Accom: Shiretoko Serai in Rausu | Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner |
| 7 | Rausu | In the morning, take a Drift Ice Cruise to See the sunrise over Kunashiri Island, and be amazed as we photograph Steller's Sea Eagles & White-Tailed Eagles in flight, at very close proximity to our boat. Then back to our accommodation for breakfast. And some time to empty memory cards and re-charge our batteries. After a well-earned rest, we’ll have a relaxing afternoon exploring the local area on foot while looking for perching eagles and red foxes. At night, you will visit Blakiston's fish owls observation hut again. Accom: Shiretoko Serai in Rausu | Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner |
| 8 | Rausu
Nakashibetsu |
The next morning, we take one more Drift Ice Cruise for another change to capture some more images of the truly incredible Steller's Sea Eagles & White-Tailed Eagles in flight. Then transfer to Nakashibetsu airport for your departure. Tour ends at Nakashibetsu airport around noon. Meals included: Breakfast |
Price
| Price per person | |
|---|---|
| From Feb 8th to Feb 15th 2025 7nights 8days Fully booked! Waiting list open |
JPY 550,000 *For 4 to 5 participants |
| Single room supplement | JPY 50,000 |
**Tour price listed is per person, based on sharing twin rooms.
** This tour requires a minimum number of 4 participants (maximum 5 participants). Please do NOT book your airline reservations until you receive confirmation that the minimum number of tour participants has been reached.
** All the hotel has western style bed in the room. Hotel in Tsurui village does not have private shower in each room but shared bathroom is available.
** 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.
**The purpose of this tour is wildlife and nature 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.
** The detailed itinerary will be sent to all participants at the same time two weeks before the tour start.
Inclusions:
English-speaking guide | Accommodation as per above | Private vehicle with driver as per itinerary above | Meals as per above | All activities participation fees as per aboveExclusive of:
Transportation to/from Japan | Domestic flight in Japan | Travel & Medical Insurance | Daily Lunches & Additional Snacks | Personal expenses (Souvenirs and Alcoholic Beverages, etc.)Climate
In this season the warmest temperatures you can expect is -1°C (30°F), and it can go to as low as -15°C (5°F) to -25°C (-13°F). It may even feel colder in early morning hours when you will be photo-hunting or taking a drift ice cruise. Make sure you have layers of extra warm clothes for upper and lower body. Waterproof ski wear winter gear, snow boots, warm gloves and thermal underwear, warm hats and ear warmers will all come handy.Luggage
As we use private van, and luggage space is limited, we allow everyone to bring up to one suitcase per person. If there is not enough space in the trunk for the backpack with photo equipment, you may need to keep it on your lap as we drive.Dietary Restriction
Hotels in remote area such as Eastern Hokkaido only accept requests for special meals to medical (such as allergy) and religious needs.
Contact us about this tour
3rd floor, Kyodo Bldg. jimbocho, 2-2, Kanda, jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051, Japan ｜Travel Agency Registration No. 607
