PO Box 9021, Wilmington, DE 19809, USA
E-mail: font@focusonnature.com
Phone: Toll-free in USA 1-800-721-9986
 or 302/529-1876; Fax: 302/529-1085

 

 Japan

A Birding & Nature Tour in the Fall 
on the Islands of
Honshu & Hokkaido
(mostly Hokkaido)

With numbers of Sea-Eagles (2 species) 
and Red-crowned (or Japanese) Cranes,
 And our quest for the massive, rare 
   Blakiston's Fish Owl.
(During all of our previous tours 
in Hokkaido, we've seen it.)
 Also a Ferry-trip for 
Alcids & Albatrosses 
(tour: FON/JA-4'09)

October 18 - November 1, 2010


FONT has been doing Japan birding tours for a more than a decade.
This to be our 35th birding & nature tour in Japan!


Links:

  Birds during previous FONT tours in Japan (wth photos)

Rare Birds during FONT Japan Tours

Some Highlights of Our Past Tours in Japan

Tour Registration Form

A magnificent sight to be enjoyed during this tour are dancing Red-crowned, or Japanese Cranes in the snow. Only in Japan in Hokkaido, and there only locally. At one time, back in 1924, there was just a very small population of this species - less than 20. From that brink of extinction, the number has increased to over 900 birds in Hokkaido, during the 2004/05 winter. A flock of these cranes, or "tanchos" as they are known in Japanese, is one of the nicest wintertime spectacles, not just in Japan, but anywhere.


 

Itinerary:

Mon Oct 18:  Arrival at Narita-Tokyo Int'l. Airport (about 2 hours north of Tokyo). Transfer to overnight in the area of Narita (at a western-style hotel). 

Tue Oct 19: Birding during the day in an area not far from Narita, a river valley, with open country, good birding. In the evening board an overnight ferry (a large vessel) to go from Honshu to Hokkaido.

Wed Oct 20: From the ferry, excellent pelagic birding, for albatrosses, shearwaters, alcids, and other oceanic birds. Arrival in the evening at Tomakomai, Hokkaido. Overnight there.

Thu Oct 21: Birding in the area of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, with a visit to the nature center by the Lake Utonai-ko. Ovenight at a hotel in the Shikotsu National Park.

Fri Oct 22: Travel to central Hokkaido to the Daisetsuzan National Park, with high mountains, called the "roof of Hokkaido". (When I've been here before I've gone up in the cable car. Very good.) Overnight at Daisetsuzan.

Sat Oct 23: A full-day in the highlands. Overnight again at Daisetsuzan.



The Pine Grosbeak is one of the birds
in the highlands of Hokkaido.

Sun Oct 24: Travel north to the areas of Sarobetsu & Kucharo-ko, near the north tip of Hokkaido. One of the best regions in the fall for migrants, with a variety of habitats. With 2-3 days, we'll have ample time for finding many birds & enjoying the area. Overnight in Toyotomi.

Mon Oct 25: A full-day in the areas of Sarobetshu & Kucharo-ko. Overnight in further north in Wakkanai.

Tue Oct 26: From Wakkanai, a ferry-ride to the offshore Island of Rishiri. That island with good birds (notably migrants), and the boat rides with seabirds such as the Spectacled Guillemot. Overnight again in Wakkanai.

Wed Oct 27: Travel south along the northeast coast of Hokkaido, to Abashiri. Birding along the way. Overnight in Abashiri.

Thu Oct 28: This day, birding on the wild Shiretoko Peninsula (where there's a national park with the same name). Overnight in small fishing town of Rausu.

Fri Oct 29: More birding in eastern Hokkaido, including the Akan National Park. Overnight in the town of Kawayu in the national park. (In the town, there are shops with some wonderful wood-carvings of birds, such as the Blakiston's Fish Owl by the Ainu people).

Sat Oct 30: In the pm this day, after seeing numerous other birds, including Japanese Cranes, we should see the real Blakiston's Fish Owl (at a "secret place"). Overnight again in Kawayu, a town also known for its hot springs & baths.

Sun Oct 31: More cranes, and other birds (with another venture, if needed, for the rare & big Blakiston's Owl - in case, for example, weather prevented us from seeing it the previous day).
Note: We've never missed the owl during over 20 tours in almost that many years, but it's good to have a second evening as a back-up just in case.

Mon Nov 1: After our last Hokkaido birding, a flight back to Tokyo, to connect with our departure from Japan, from the Narita International Airport.

Note:
  1. To arrive in Japan on Mon. Oct 18, departure from the U.S. would be on Sun, Oct. 17, 2010.  
  2. Departing from Japan on either Mon, Nov 1 would mean arrival in the U.S. the same day  (by the clock, even possibly earlier that day).

Prices:  

US$ 2,995 - per person (from Narita-Tokyo airport), based upon double-occupancy 
 
Single-supplement: $365. 
(Single occupancy may not be available for the one night onboard the ferry from Honshu to Hokkaido.) 

Includes:  
All overnight accommodations. (Most to be in "western-style" hotels.)
Meals (except those on Oct. 18 & Nov. 1). 
 (Most meals can be "western" or "Japanese" as participants desire.) 
All ground transportation in Japan. 
Services of FONT birding leader and local guides.

Does not include:  
Drinks and other items of a personal nature.
Air transportation (to/from & within Japan).

"Focus on Nature Tours" can arrange economical fares for the flights to/from Japan. 
Please contact us regarding the best fares possible.


 The leader for this tour will be Armas Hill, who has birded in Japan
numerous times since 1984. 

A deposit of US $500 is required to register for this tour.