Wildlife photography in Hokkaido

Wild Hokkaido in Winter : Feb 2025

Red-Crowned Cranes : Sea Eagles : Foxes : Ezo Deer

Date: Feb 10th – 21st 2025

Duration: 12 days

Group Size: 8

Full Price: US$6,950
Deposit: US$1000

FULLY BOOKED

Itinerary

Arrival Day:  09th Feb 2025.

To ensure we are all on the ground and ready for Day 1, the hotel room for the night before the start of the tour is included in your package.
Participants to make own way to the designated city hotel. This hotel room is included in the tour price. (Excluding meals and beverages)
During the evening we take time to meet and greet all participants and discuss the tour.

Day 1 – Red-Crowned Cranes.

Early domestic flight to Kushiro – northern part of Japan, we head out to Akan and thus the start of our Hokkaido photography adventure.
We spend this day and the following two days with the Red-Crowned Cranes in locations around Akan and Kushiro. (D)

Day 2, 3 – Red-Crowned Cranes.

Red-Crowned Cranes photography in locations around Akan and Kushiro, if we are lucky we will also encounter Black Kites, White Tailed Eagles, Foxes and Ezo Deer.

On one of the days, we will make a side trip for Owl Photography. (BD)

Day 4 – Red-Crowned Cranes.

Morning Red-Crowned Cranes Photography.
After an amazing four days in Kushiro / Akan area by midday on the 4th day, we head out to our next location where we spend the next two days photographing Sea Eagles. (BD)

Day 5, 6 – Sea Eagles / Whooper Swans.

Morning Sea Eagle photography.

By midday on the 6th day, we head out to Lake Kussharo where we spend the next two days photographing the graceful Whooper swans. (BD)

Day 7, 8 – Whooper Swans.

Early morning and afternoon Whooper Swans photography.

By mid morning on the 8th day, we make our way by over to the Shiretoko Peninsula and the quaint fishing town of Rausu. Time and weather permitting we may have a short side trip for Fox photography. (BD)

Day 9 – 11 – Sea Eagles. – At Sea and Land.

Over the next 4 days we will explore several locations in Eastern Hokkaido for Sea Eagle photography. This includes at least 3 boat cruises – This is a fast paced action packed birds in-flight photography session that will leave your heart pounding and the thirst for more!!
Our land location presents excellent opportunities to capture these birds in flight, in trees and on land with some very good chances of aerial combat.

On two of the days we will make a side trip for some Fox photography. (BD)

Day 12 – Sea Eagles – Land.

Another amazing morning with the Sea Eagles, by mid day we make our way over to the Airport.

Afternoon flight back to Tokyo Haneda Domestic Airport (B)

The Tour ends at Haneda Domestic Airport.

We say our farewells and then depart for our respective transfers to Narita / Haneda International Airports.

NOTE: This Photo Tour Does Not Include The Snow Monkeys.

Guest Photographer
Anette Mossbacher - Wildlife & Landscape Photographer

Anette Mossbacher

Joining us on this photography tour is Anette Mossbacher, Wildlife & Landscape Photographer

 
Accommodation

Accommodation:

• Comfortable traditional Japanese hotels / Inns and some western style hotels

• Single room accommodation for the entire tour. You do not need to share your room at any location .

• Double / Twin rooms are available upon request. (Additional expense will be confirmed at time of booking)

• Please make any dietary needs known when you fill in the online booking form

Included

What is included:

• All accommodation (Single occupancy) and meals ( BD – see schedule ) during your tour.

• Meals as indicated  (B = Breakfast,  D = Dinner)

• Flights from Tokyo Haneda airport to Hokkaido and back.

• Internal bus ( Chartered ) transfers within Hokkaido and Nagano for the entire trip . Ample space for all  !

• All location admission fees / cruise boat fees.

Excluded

What is excluded:

• Your flight / transportation cost to / from Narita International Airport.

• Your flight / transportation cost to / from  Haneda Airport.

• Hotels costs while traveling prior to the start or after the Photo Tour.

• Costs  of meals / beverages on Arrival  Day 0 .

• You are advised to schedule your arrival a day before the start of the Photo Tour, this not only reduces the impact of any international flight delays, but also enables international guests to sleep off any jet lag – Assistance with this additional booking is available , please make this know at the time of your tour  booking.

• Your Travel and Medical Insurance

• Visa fees ( If applicable )

• Laundry , Phone calls, Internet use (most places will have free WiFi )

• Any kind of drinks (alcoholic, non-alcoholic ,mineral, aerated)

• Snacks, Souvenirs , Tips

Insurance

Insurance:

You are required to take out comprehensive insurance to cover your entire time on the tour.

Your insurance should cover but NOT limited to the following  –  medical, travel , camera equipment , in addition to any other areas you deem required.

You are advised to ensure your medical insurance covers COVID-19.

Personal Care Information

Personal Care Information:

Please seek professional medical advice from your Doctor/GP/Physician on your intention to travel to an area of extreme cold . Vaccination might be required prior to travel!!
We will be travelling in rural Japan, where little medical facilities will be available, so please ensure you bring any needed medication along.

Participants with any form of breathing difficult or health issues in environments with extreme cold are advised to seek medical advice before booking a place on this tour. .

Scheduling Your Arrival

Scheduling Your Arrival:

It is imperative you ensure your flight arrives in Tokyo at least a day before the start of the tour.

We are able to assist with pre and post tour accommodation bookings if required.

What Do You Need For This Tour?

What is required for this photo tour?

• Love to travel and a passion for wildlife photography – All level welcome – Newbies to Guru!

• At bare minimum a camera (film or digital) and a telephoto lens.

Note: A long range 300 – 600mm telephoto lens is ideal for this tour.

• Thermal clothes, Gloves, and Thermal boots – It will be very cold. Trust me!

During the tour, the average temperature in Hokkaido will be in the single low digits and sometimes well below freezing, while Nagano will be in the mid  10’s range.

>>It is imperative you wear appropriate clothing<<

The early morning and evening being the coldest time of the day.

• Anti-slip Ice Cleats Boot Grips (Not a must, but may come in handy)

• A relatively good level of fitness (A degrees of walking and standing is required)

NOTE: Full details on what you need bring along and how to fully prepare for your adventure will be sent along with your confirmed booking details.

Booking & Cancellation Policy & Fees

Booking & Cancellation Policy & Fees

Booking your Place on the Tour:

Booking deposit – Non Refundable.

You can book online through this website by either paying the deposit or full payment upfront.

If you pay the deposit, then the full Balance payment must be made 120 days prior to the start of the photo tour.

Your booking and place on the photo tour will be confirmed once all forms and deposit are received.

Booking and Payment Methods: 

Online bookings here on this website:

You can choose between paying with a card (processed via Stripe) or Bank Transfer. Please note that card payments are all done using Stripe, and no one involved with this website will see your card details, and neither will they be stored on this server. If you choose to save your card details for future purchases, the details are saved securely on the Stripe server, and not this website.

Payment should be made in currencies quoted on the tour page.

Please complete the online booking form after paying the deposit or full amount.

Cancellation Policy / Fees / Refunds:

  1. All cancellation notices must be sent by email and will become effective as of the date of the email receipt.
  2. Cancellations made 90 days or more before the tour start date – The full 100% of the balance payment will be refunded. The booking deposit is non refundable.

Cancellation Fee: 100% of booking deposit only.

  1. Cancellations made 89 to 31 days before the tour start date – 50% of the balance payment will be refunded. The booking deposit is non refundable

Cancellation Fee: 50% of Balance payment, 100% of booking deposit.

  1. Cancellations made 30 days or less before the tour start date – No refund of the balance payment nor booking deposit can be made. We can accept no further liability.

Cancellation Fee: 100% of balance payment, 100% booking deposit.

  1. Any bank transfer charges incurred due to payment refunds will deducted from the amount due for refund.

 

Travel Insurance:

We travel to some remote and exotic locations, it is mandatory that you arrange comprehensive medical and travel insurance before the start of the photo tour and that covers for the entire period of your travel and photo tour.

Your insurance should at least cover the following – Life, Medical, Travel, Camera equipment, in addition to any other areas you deem required!!

You will be required to produce a copy of the insurance certificate prior start of the photo tour.

Questions:

We have tried to keep the rules and policy conditions very simple, but if you have any questions about the tours, policies, or would like to discuss your specific circumstances or ask any questions at all, please contact us as soon as possible at info@adephotography.com

or you can call us  on the number below-

Tel No: +81 3 5542-0879 (Timezone GMT +9)

Please note: If you live outside Japan, international long distance dialing rates may apply.

Feedback from other participants

THANK YOU ADE for making me feel welcome again! This was my second tour with Ade Photography and a return to the wonders of Hokkaido. The trip certainly didn't disappoint but in fact, exceeded my expectations! The wildlife of Hokkaido is truly amazing and the landscape simply stunning. With every detail organised on this tour for you, all you have to do is relax and put your energy into taking wonderful photographs. Excellent accommodations and meals to warm you up after a shoot, along with the friendly assistance of local guide, Kaori, made the traveling in extreme weather conditions very easy. As always, Ade is there to guide and encourage you with your photography, no matter your skill level. The small group size makes you feel as if you are traveling with friends and everyone shares the same goal, in capturing great images of the graceful cranes and swans, spectacular soaring eagles and many other beautiful creatures! I would definitely recommend Ade Photography if you are interested in experiencing a truly wonderful and unique side of Japan!
Jacqueline
Melbourne, Australia.
The photo opportunities on this tour were superb. It was really great that we had multiple days to shoot at the locations. It gave me plenty of time to improve on my wildlife photography techniques, to understand what kind of images I wanted and to be able to have multiple opportunities to get just the right shot. The small group was a positive factor in the experiences we had. Thank you.
Doris
USA.
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