Let us help you. Please tell us more about your interests. We will send some suggestions based on your needs.
Single Room
Single room types are rooms for
single room occupants.
One person will be occupying the
hotel room throughout the tour.
Twin Room
Twin room types are rooms set for two people who will occupy one room, but will have two separate beds.
Double Room
A double room is a room that has one bed for two people to share.
Triple Room
A triple room is one room where three people may share the same room. It has three separate beds.
Japanese Style Room
A Japanese-style room traditionally does not have a western-style bed, it is a tatami floor room with futon bedding. However, if you prefer a western-style bed, you may request one though we cannot guarantee it.
Please note: If you would like to request neighboring rooms next to your traveling companions, you and your traveling companions must have the same room types in order to be next to each other. For example, if you have requested a double room, but your traveling companions have requested a twin, or triple room, then neighboring rooms cannot be accommodated. However, if both you and your traveling companions match in room type, then neighboring rooms will likely be arranged for your convenience.
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!
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.
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.
Travel by private van between destinations, hassle free baggage handling.
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).
Vegetarian or special meals can be arranged.
Meet and greet and private airport transfers on arrival and departure included.
Click here for detailed itinerary
Tour schedule and prices subject to change without notice
Welcome to Sapporo! You will be met at the arrival gate by an AJT representative holding an "All Japan Tours" sign.
ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Chitose or similar class
After breakfast, travel with your guide - a birding expert -
to Maruyama Park, where your first winter birding
opportunity awaits. Maruyama Park is one of Sapporo's
prime parks for cherry blossom viewing in spring, but late
winter offers visitors a pleasant retreat under branches
draped in winter's finest. This park offers just a small taste
of Hokkaido's wide variety of winter birds, such as
woodpeckers (Pygmy, White-backed, Great Spotted,
Grey-faced), Eurasian Jay (Brandt's), crows (Carrion,
Large-billed), tits (Japanese, Coal, Varied, Marsh), Brown-
eared Bulbul, Goldcrest (japonensis), Asian Wood
Nuthatch, Eurasian Tree-Creeper (daurica), Dusky Thrush,
Brambling, Long-tailed Rosefinch, and Hawfinch
(japonicus). Other rarer birds may be also be observed in
Sapporo's quiet contemplation spot.
Later that morning, move on to the central thoroughfare of
the city for a wintry Hokkaido must-see: the Sapporo Snow
Festival. Browse through Odori Park to see the enormous,
finely-detailed snow constructions of full-sized buildings
and larger-than-life displays. Head from there to your
hotel.
ANA Hotel Sapporo or similar class
Enjoy another day appreciating more of the wondrously
imaginative creations at the Sapporo Snow Festival.
These glassy, smooth snow sculptures change every year,
but past show artworks have included anime scenes,
Disney characters, and famous buildings like Himeji Castle
and the Taj Mahal.
In the afternoon, transfer to Okadama Airport for your
domestic flight to Kushiro.
Upon arrival at the airport in Kushiro, transfer to your
hotel.
ANA Crowne Plaza Kushiro or similar class
Enjoy a take-out breakfast on your way to Tsurui Village
for a chance to observe one of Japan's rarest birds - the
tancho, or Red-Crowned Crane, staying in a river
surrounded by a fantastic mist illuminated by the dawning
sun. In the quiet morning, you can witness pairs of cranes
in courtship dancing on the snow. These highly social and
dainty birds are easily recognizable from their depiction in
Japanese culture. As a symbol of luck and longevity, this
native Japanese crane appears in everything from kimono
patterns to native folklore. The Tsurui Village is an
important center of crane conservation, having increased
the local crane population to over a thousand of these
iconic birds roosting for winter in Kushiro. After, venture to
Lake Kussharo, largest of the three volcanic caldera lakes
at Akan Mashu National Park, and a winter home of the
downy white Whooper Swan. In winter, as the lake freezes
over, you'll find these pearly white birds waddling atop the
icy surface or floating amidst the crystal floes. But keep a
careful eye on the surface of the lake, and you might catch
a glimpse of "Kusshi" - the mythical Kussharo lake
monster!
After observing the birds near the lake, enjoy dinner at
your ryokan.
Yunokaku Ikedaya or similar class
After breakfast, travel to the Shiretoko Coast, the kingdom
of Japan's wondrous collection of water fowl. The name
Shiretoko comes from the Ainu words meaning "the end of
the Earth", and juts up into the Sea of Okhotsk. From
Shibetsu Port near the peninsula's base up to Washi-no-
Yado near the port of Rausu, you'll have the opportunity to
observe many of the local sea birds and forest birds, such
as; ducks (Falcated, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail,
Common Pochard, Tufted, Greater Scaup, Harlequin
(Pacific), White-winged Scoter (Siberian), Black Scoter,
Long-tailed, Common Goldeneye), mergansers (Smew,
Common, Red-breasted), loons (Red-throated, Arctic
(Green-throated), Pacific), Red-necked Grebe (Holboll's),
cormorants (Japanese, Pelagic), White-tailed Eagle,
Steller's Sea-Eagle, gulls (Black-tailed, Mew (Kamchatka),
Glaucous-winged, Glaucous (pallidissimus), Vega, Slaty-
backed, Black-headed (Siberian)), murres (Thick-billed
(arra), Common (North Pacific)), Spectacled Guillemot,
Ancient Murrelet, auklets (Least, Crested), crows (Carrion
(South Asian), Large-billed (Japanese), Common Raven
(kamtschaticus)), Brown Dipper, Eurasian Siskin, Common
Redpoll (flammea), Asian Rosy-Finch (brunneonucha),
Eurasian Bullfinch (Grey-bellied), Eurasian Bullfinch
(rosacea).
Yet the undisputed reigning kings of Eastern Hokkaido's
avian kingdom are undoubtedly the sea eagles (White-
tailed Eagle, Steller's Sea Eagle), who can be observed
hunting and fishing their prey along the shore. Among the
largest eagles in the world, these majestic birds of prey
soar up and down the Shiretoko Peninsula. You may also
see the rare Blackiston's Fish Owl at Washi-no-yado. This
owl is the largest in the world, and is known for it's deep
and resonant call. It was also once revered as a village
deity by the indigenous Ainu people.
Rausu Daiichi Hotel or similar class
Enjoy a second day exploring the UNESCO World
Heritage Shiretoko Coast, this time on a delightful nature
cruise! Your cruise boat will take you Your cruise boat will
take you near the drift ice, where you can enjoy the sight
of seabirds flying or standing on the drift ice.
Head from there to the Notsuke Peninsula, part of the
Notsuke-Furen National Park. The Notsuke peninsula is a
thin, curling strip of land that used to be a forest, but is
now in decline. Yet a number of birds can still be observed
wintering in the grasslands, including Asian Rosy-finch,
Dusky Thrush, and Snow Bunting. Once finished, it's off to
Lake Furen, a brackish lake region that is connected to
Nemuro Bay. This lake features many sea-eagles and
Whooper Swans, but with patience and a careful eye one
might see a bounty of woodland birds, such as Japanese
and Bohemian Waxwings, Japanese Tit, Goldcrest, and
Brown-eared Bulbul.
Hotel Nemuro Kaiyo-tei or similar class
After breakfast, take a morning cruise from Ochiishi out of
Ochiishi Bay, sailing up around Yururi Island. This ocean
region is a popular wintering locale for a number of native
birds. Watch for local seafowl including the Spectacled
Guillemot, Pigeon Guillemot, Ancient Murrelet, Crested
and Least Auklets, Red-faced Cormorant, Glaucous Gulls,
and Harlequin and Long-tailed Ducks.
After your return to the port, your tour will venture further
south to explore Cape Kiritappu. Kiritappu is a rugged
earthen finger pointing out to the sea with a European-
style red and white lighthouse at the tip. The cape
presents one last opportunity for sighting Hokkaido's sea-
birds, but while there, you may also glimpse an Asian
Rosy-finch, Eurasian Siskin, or even sight a Goldcrest
(japonensis).
From Kushiro Port, transfer to Kushiro Airport for your
domestic flight to Tokyo. Once in Tokyo, check into your
hotel.
Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu or similar class
Today, transfer to Haneda Airport for a domestic flight to
Kagoshima - Japan's southernmost prefecture on the
Kyushu island.
On Kagoshima's northern edge is the city of Izumi,
containing the Arasaki Crane Conservation Area. The
paddy fields of this region offer a sheltered ground for a
grand assembly of cranes come to roost during the winter
season, with thousands of White-naped Cranes and
Hooded Cranes. A closer examination will likely note a few
pockets of Sandhill Cranes and Common Cranes hidden
among the flocks. This exquisite crane collection shares
their habitat with a great abundance of other birds,
including cormorants, herons, woodpeckers, tits,
sandpipers, plovers, and buntings.
Wing International Izumi Hotel or similar class
After breakfast, you'll have a second opportunity to explore the Arasaki area. If you get tired of looking at cranes, a more careful examination will may offer some smaller East Asian birds for your viewing pleasure, including the Japanese Bush Warbler, Black-faced Spoonbill, Ryukyus Minivet, Oriental Turtledove, and Asian House-martin, among others. Next, take a drive to Kogawa Dam - a forested drainage basin to the southeast of Izumi. Here you have the chance to spot the Crested Kingfisher and Japanese Green Woodpecker, flitting to and fro near a few kinds of local waterfowl, including Mandarin Ducks.
Meguminoyu Kannogo Onsen or similar class
This morning, you'll enjoy a drive into Miyazaki prefecture,
making a stop at Lake Miike, outside the town of
Takaharu. Spend some time browsing around Lake Miike
and the Miike Wild Bird Forest, housing over a hundred
bird species per year. Many kinds of waterfowls and forest
birds can be seen wintering around the lakeside area. The
area around the lake is densely overgrown with trees,
where many native birds peep out from the branches mid-
February, including the Japanese bush warbler, Dusky
Thrush, Pale Thrush, Japanese Wagtail, Olive-backed
Pipit, and Japanese Grosbeak.
After you finish enjoying the Wild Bird Forest, transfer to
Miyazaki Airport for your domestic flight to Osaka. Then
you can take the bus into Kyoto for a tour of Kyoto
Imperial Palace Park. This beautiful garden was once the
private retreat of the Imperial family. When it opened to the
public, it became the Central Park of Kyoto. When the
weather is still crisp and cool, you may see Japanese
Grosbeaks, Daurian Redstart, Japanese Wagtail, and
Hawfinches in the Japanese Garden.
Kyoto Brighton Hotel or similar class
This morning the tour takes you to the shores of Lake
Biwa, to the northeast of Kyoto. Lake Biwa is the largest
freshwater lake in Japan, and fills almost the whole of
Shiga Prefecture. At the Kohoku Wild-Bird Center, you can
see why Lake Biwa has also been called Little Grebe
Lake. With a little luck and a discerning eye, myriad wild
water-birds, including ducks, geese, swans, and a few
kinds of grebe (such as Little, Horned, Eared, and Great
Crested) may be seen floating, nearly hidden, above beds
of leaves.
Next, the tour heads to Kaga, to the Katano Waterfowl
Sanctuary. Also known as the Katano Kamoike or "Wild
Duck Pond", the flooded wetland region is the proud home
of the Taiga Bean Goose and Tundra Bean Goose,
floating together with other swimming birds. Keep a sharp
eye out for the Baikal Teal, the symbol of the Waterfowl
Sanctuary. At the right time of year one may witness the
regional hunting technique called Saka-ami, where the
hunters throw up large V-shaped nets into the air to catch
the abundant wild Mallard. It is considered more
environmentally safe than hunting with shotgun or rifle,
and blends physical prowess and dexterity into a form that
is also a kind of art. The hunting period and catch quotas
are strictly regulated to preserve an ecological balance.
Head from there to Kanazawa station, where you'll take
the bullet train to the city of Nagano, capital of Nagano
prefecture, and check in to your hotel.
Hotel Metropolitan Nagano or similar class
After breakfast, drive out from Nagano to the popular
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Jigokudani is also known
as "Hell's Valley", taking it's name from the hot springs and
volcanic pools bubbling in small pockets out of the frozen
ground. You can observe entire troops of Japanese
macaques bathing in the steamy pools, relaxing in families
and larger social groups - almost like clubs. Contrary to
most people's image of monkeys at play, these snow
monkeys are some of the most hygienic animals around.
They spend hours bathing in the hot spring bath, then they
comb through each others' fur until each snow monkey is
fluffy and clean!
Later that day, return to Nagano and take the bullet train
from Nagano Station to the resort town of Karuizawa. On
arrival, check in to your hotel.
Shiotsubo Onsen Hotel or similar class
Karuizawa is a resort town in Nagano Prefecture. Just
outside the town is about 100 hectares of forest containing
the Karuizawa Wild Bird Sanctuary. With a choice of
walking paths branching out from the visitor's center, you
can wander through the peaceful forest and try to spot all
species of birds that call the sanctuary home. These
include the Japanese Woodpecker, Copper Pheasant, and
Japanese Accentor, among others.
After, take a short drive to the city of Saku, and the Saku
Reservoir Pond. Gadwall, Falcated Duck, Eurasian
Wigeon, Spot-billed Duck, Mallard, and Smew may be
swimming around inside, with Eastern Buzzard, Black
Kite, Bull-headed Shrike, and others perched in the trees
along the shore.
After appreciating the local bird-life, return to Karuizawa
and take the bullet train into Tokyo, where you can relax
during your last evening in Japan.
Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi or similar class
After breakfast, your tour officially ends. Checkout time is 11:00 AM, free for leisure until transfer to Narita Airport or Haneda Airport by airport shared shuttle.
PLEASE NOTE: These are the hotels All Japan Tours generally uses on the touring styles and regions shown. There is no guarantee that you will stay in the lodgings listed on the website. We encourage you to check your travel documentation for confirmation of the exact accommodation you will be staying in.
Destinations
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
Other Japan Tours You May Interested
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Planned by experts, based on seasonal favorites and must-see sites.
Choose your style and split cost with other passengers
Chosen by our experienced staff
Guide is available to you 24/7 and sleeps in the same hotel
Learn to create your own Sushi, meet a geisha or maiko, and more
Meet locals and visit rural areas of Japan you might miss on other tours
Group Tour Style | Budget | Deluxe | Deluxe-Plus | Signature | Active |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
< View Tours | < View Tours | < View Tours | < View Tours | < View Tours | |
Feature | Our Budget Tours are designed for our guests who are on a limited budget. Explore the must-see sights and enjoy a hassle-free trip to Japan at an affordable price. | Sample all Japan has to offer, from unique locales to must see tourist attractions. Our Deluxe Tours are fully guided, and use our luxury coaches for your convenience and comfort. | Experience Japanese culture at a slower pace, and with a smaller group size than our deluxe tours. Stay in each city longer so you can soak in the culture and fully appreciate the destinations. | Enjoy upgraded hotels, a slower pace, and a smaller group size for a more intimate experience. Access to a wide range of unique activities that immerse you in authentic Japanese culture. | Explore Japan off the beaten path via Japanese public transportation, walking, hiking, cycling and more. Take more time to enjoy local experiences and picturesque landscape. |
Advantage | Our most cost-effective way to see the highlights of Japan while staying in budget-friendly accommodations. If you would like to have a set of quick stops to sample the must-see sights of Japan, or if you plan to explore Japan on your own but would like to take a short trip to learn about Japan before your self-guided journeys, these are the tours for you. | Our most popular tours for everyone. Fully-escorted - the most hassle-free way to visit Japan for the best value. From Hokkaido to Kyushu, the duration of our Deluxe Tours range from 5 to 27 days. Whether you want to see the best of Japan in a shorter time, or take your time in each city, you will find a tour package that suits your preferences. | Smaller group sizes enable our guests to access more of Japanese culture and traditions. Our Deluxe-Plus Tours are carefully balanced for you to discover the unique Japanese culture, history, arts, food and spectacular scenery Japan has. If you love Japan and want to appreciate the best of everything Japan can offer, these are the tours for you. | Dive into the cultural aspects of Japan at a more leisurely pace. Enjoy more than just sightseeing. All of our Signature Small Group Tours feature a wide range of cultural experiences through interaction with the people and places that represent all that is authentic about the destination. Get an alternative, more in-depth understanding of Japanese culture and art. | Our Active Small Group Tours combine the best cultural locations with off-the-beaten-path destinations via Japanese public transportation. Discover the country of Japan the way the locals do and see Japan from a different angle. A focus on getting away from the crowds and into the real Japan, see the diversity of Japan’s countryside unfold before your eyes. |
Group Size | 20 to 45 people | 10 to 35 people | 6 to 24 people | 4 to 16 people | 4 to 13 people |
Fully-escorted | Comprehensively escorted by AJT's professional English speaking tour guide | Your guides are local experts and residents of the city you are visiting, they do not always escort the group when traveling between cities | |||
Pace | Fast pace to see as much as possible while in Japan | Perfect pace to see as much as possible while in Japan | More leisurely pace to soak in and fully appreciate the destinations, plus free time to explore on your own | ||
Airport Transfers | Airport transfers are NOT included unless otherwise specified | Airport transfers are included* (If no options are taken: hotels are not requested to be changed and passengers use the correct airports) | Airport transfers are included if arriving on the first day of the tour and returning on the last day of the tour | Private airport transfers are included if arriving on the first day of the tour and returning on the last day of the tour | Airport transfers are NOT included unless otherwise specified |
Transfer between cities | Transfer between cities via private coach and Shinkansen (bullet train), depending on the itinerary | Transfer between cities via private coach and first class Shinkansen (bullet train), depending on the itinerary | Transfer between cities via Shinkansen (bullet train) or express train. Private minivans are also used occasionally where public transport is not available or practical | ||
Sightseeing | Sightseeing by private coach with an escorted guide | Sightseeing by private coach and public transportation with an escorted guide | Sightseeing via public transportation (local train, subway & local bus) with local guides | ||
Admission fees and activities | All entry fees to sites and activities listed in the itinerary are included | ||||
Luggage Transfers | Luggage transfers by private coach from hotel to hotel, plus separate luggage transfers are included on select tours | Separate luggage transfers are included | |||
Meals | Breakfast every morning, plus meals as indicated (vegetarian or special meals can be arranged) | ||||
Accommodation | Carefully-selected budget hotels and ryokans | Carefully-selected superior/deluxe hotels and ryokans | Carefully-selected deluxe/boutique hotels and ryokans | Carefully-selected deluxe/luxury hotels and ryokans | Accommodations range from local Japanese inns (minshuku) to budget hotels, to superior/deluxe hotels depending on the tour and destination |
Ages | 4 years old and above | 6 years old and above | |||
Health & Activity | In order to enjoy our tour, you should be able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing activities can only be accomplished on foot. Wheelchairs can be arranged upon request. However, we regret that we’re unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it. | These tours are tailored to the energetic traveler; guests should feel comfortable walking from 4 to 10 miles a day depending on the tour and destination. |