Focus On Nature Tour in Japan

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

A Focus On Nature Tour
in
Japan

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-3' 12)

October 12-26, 2012

FONT has been doing Japan birding tours for two decades.
This to be our 37th 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:

Fri Oct 12: 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).

Sat Oct 13: 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.

Sun Oct 14: From the ferry, excellent pelagic birding, for albatrosses, shearwaters, alcids, and other oceanic birds. Arrival in the evening at Tomakomai, Hokkaido. Overnight there.

Mon Oct 15: 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.

Tue Oct 16: Travel to central Hokkaido to the Daisetsuzan National Park, with high mountains, called the "roof of Hokkaido". (When we've been here before we've gone up in the cable car. Very good.) Overnight at Daisetsuzan.

Wed Oct 17: A full-day in the highlands. Overnight again at Daisetsuzan.

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

Thu Oct 18: 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.

Fri Oct 19: A full-day in the areas of Sarobetshu & Kucharo-ko. Overnight in further north in Wakkanai.

Sat Oct 20: 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.

Sun Oct 21: Travel south along the northeast coast of Hokkaido, to Abashiri. Birding along the way. Overnight in Abashiri.

Mon Oct 22: 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.

Tue Oct 23: 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).

Wed Oct 24: 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.

Thu Oct 25: 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.

Fri Oct 26: After our last Hokkaido birding, a flight back to Tokyo, to connect with our departure from Japan, from the Narita International Airport.

Note:

To arrive in Japan on Fri. Oct 12, departure from the U.S. would be on Thu, Oct. 11, 2012.
Departing from Japan on Fri, Oct 26 would mean arrival in the U.S. the same day (by the clock, even possibly earlier that day).

Prices:

US$ 3,495 - per person (from Narita-Tokyo airport), based upon double-occupancy

Single-supplement: $395.
(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. 12 & 26).
(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.