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Japan Winter Heartfelt Birding Tour

 

Tour Code: GTQ2997546

Japan Winter Heartfelt Birding Tour

71 Reviews
14 days 13 nights

fromUSD $13998.00

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Venture on a journey of constant wonder and discovery as you explore the innumerable birds that winter on the coast, forests, and fields of Japan with a knowledgeable birding specialist.

Whether you are an avid birding pro or a bird-watching enthusiast, our Japan Winter Heartfelt Birding Tour takes you to witness native wild birds undiscoverable anywhere else in the world! With a local English-speaking bird specialist as your guide, travel across Japan to experience the best places for bird-watching in winter.

Your journey takes you from the northern island of Hokkaido where coastal sea birds soar over icy waters, to the southern prefecture of Kagoshima where the birds gain the first glimpse of spring. Starting in Hokkaido prefecture, travel to the Kushiro Wetlands, where one of Japan's most iconic birds awaits your discovery. In Tsurui Village, you can explore the winter home of the tancho, or Red-crowned crane. Take in the stunning beauty of the Shiretoko Peninsula's mountainous coast - UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the Steller's Sea Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, and Blackiston's Fish Owl. The endangered populations of Red-crowned Cranes, Steller's Sea Eagles, and Blackiston's Fish Owls are carefully protected by the people of Japan, and are counted among Hokkaido's natural treasures. Along the tour route, you'll be taken to Japan's major wild bird sanctuaries by your expert bird guide. In Kagoshima Prefecture, explore the Izumi Crane migration grounds, where roughly 10,000 cranes of at least four varieties come to roost during the winter. Then, at Lake Miike, take the birdwatching path through the Miike Wild Bird Forest, home to over 150 species of birds, including many local waterfowl and forest birds. On the shores of Lake Biwa, the Kohoku Wild Bird center invites visitors to gaze out over the water and find swans, geese, ducks and grebes, such as the little grebe and Baikal teal, swimming Japan's largest freshwater lake. The Katano Waterfowl Sanctuary is the proud home of the bean goose, with two distinct kinds floating atop the flooded farmland. Finally, you'll stop at the Yacho-no-mori Wild Bird Sanctuary, where around 40 species of wintering birds are observable in the snowy forest, including Pallas' Rose finch and the Japanese Accentor.

These birding opportunities are blended with once-in- a- lifetime winter experiences that you can only find in Japan. Sapporo holds the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, well- known for its enormous, polished, highly-detailed snow sculptures. A stop in Kyoto comes with the rare pleasure of a stroll through the old Imperial Palace Garden. And in Nagano, you'll visit the Jigokudani Hot Springs, where you can see the Japanese macaques, also called snow monkeys, relax in steamy, natural jacuzzis as they groom their fluffy hair. Countless unique birds, unobservable outside this corner of the world, await your observation! From the icy coast of the north to the southern lakes and forests, discover a one-of-a-kind birding adventure while on our Japan Winter Heartfelt Birding Tour!

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Tour Information

Please Note:

● The price is per person with minimum 2 people, based on twin/double or triple room occupancy.
● The itinerary can be customized based on your interests and budget, please contact us to plan your perfect vacation to Japan.

Deposit

We require US$200 deposit per person to hold the space at time of booking and the final payment is due 2 month prior to departure.

What's included

  • • 8 nights Western style and 5 nights Japanese style accommodation
  • • Meet and greet upon arrival at Sapporo New Chitose Airport
  • • Domestic flight from Sapporo to Kushiro, Kushiro to Tokyo, Tokyo to Kagoshima, then Miyazaki to Osaka
  • • Bullet train from Kanazawa to Nagano, Nagano to Karuizawa, then Karuizawa to Tokyo
  • • Airport transfers on arrival and departure
  • • Private coach transfers between destinations in Japan
  • • Luggage forwarding from Kyoto to Tokyo
  • • Comprehensive escorted with AJT professional English speaking birding guide
  • • Gratuities

  •   Meals
  • • Breakfast everyday
  • • 5 dinners

  • Admission fees and activities
  • • All entry fees to sites, activities listed in the itinerary

What's NOT included

  • • International Airfares
  • • Meals that are not included in the itinerary
  • • Travel Insurance
  • • Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
  • • Personal expenses such as telephone and laundry bills

Additional Information

  • Transport

    Travel by private van between destinations, hassle free baggage handling.

  • Arrival Departure Airports

    For arrivals at Chitose Airport (CTS), this tour starts in Sapporo and ends in Tokyo, with departures at Narita Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND).

  • Meal Requests

    Vegetarian or special meals can be arranged.

  • Meet and Greet

    Meet and greet and private airport transfers on arrival and departure included.

Itinerary In Brief

  • Day1   Arrive in Sapporo
  • Day2   Sapporo
  • Day3   Flight to Kushiro
  • Day4   Tsurui Village - Lake Kussharo
  • Day5   Shibetsu - Rausu
  • Day6   Shiretoko - Notsuke Peninsula - Lake Furen
  • Day7   Cape Kiritappu - Kushiro - Flight to Tokyo
  • Day8   Flight to Kagoshima - Izumi
  • Day9   Izumi
  • Day10   Takaharu - Flight to Osaka - Kyoto
  • Day11   Lake Biwa - Kaga - Bullet Train to Nagano
  • Day12   Nagano - Bullet Train to Karuizawa
  • Day13   Karuizawa - Bullet Train to Tokyo
  • Day14   Tour ends

Click here for detailed itinerary

Tour schedule and prices subject to change without notice



Sapporo / Tsurui Village / Lake Kussharo / Shibetsu / Rausu / Shiretoko / Notsuke Peninsula / Lake Furen / Nemuro / Cape Kiritappu / Kushiro / Izumi / Takaharu / Kyoto / Lake Biwa / Kaga / Nagano / Karuizawa / Tokyo


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Call one of our specialists at 1-909-988-8885 Toll Free: 1-855-325-2726 (US/CANADA) Whatsapp: 1-909-818-5901 |

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Hand-picked Accommodations

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Fully Guided

Guide is available to you 24/7 and sleeps in the same hotel

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Learn to create your own Sushi, meet a geisha or maiko, and more

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Meet locals and visit rural areas of Japan you might miss on other tours