Wild Japan in Winter

Very enjoyable trip to Hokkaido, Japan. Fantastic Wildlife in the form of Eagles and Owls. Excellent traditional food and accommodation throughout the stay. The holiday provided an excellent balance between photography and sight seeing. The group size was fine and not too large. Great experience using the local trains including the Bullet Train. Some early mornings but not many. A good flavour of Japanese life. The trip was well organised and everyone knew where they were supposed to be and at what time. Flight tickets were issued in advance as was advice regarding filling in the right forms online for Japanese entry requirements. Check in at hotels was quick and rooms were usually excellent. One hotel was traditional Japanese (i.e. bed and furniture low to the floor) I enjoyed this but anyone with some mobility problems would have struggled. 

M.C. West Midlands, Feb 23

It was just wonderful. Naturetrek are experienced showing birdwatchers the stunning birds and the culture of Japan. The holiday was fantastic. Excellent leaders who knew their birds, wonderful birds, amazing culture and hotels. Just terrific! [Naturetrek are] Excellent, friendly, efficient, try to make the holiday enjoyable and creating lots of memories of wonderful birds.

J.B. North Yorkshire, Jan 23

We really enjoyed this trip. The number of target species found worked well and I really enjoyed the Hokkaido leg of the trip, the cranes, Eagles and Fish owl were amazing. The Japanese people are so helpful and polite it was a pleasure to visit their country.

C.B. Norfolk, Feb 20

Very pleased with the arrangements made for us after the main tour finished which meant we had a lovely end to our stay in Japan. The last onsen on Hokkaido was lovely -a longer stay there would have been great. It was great to have local Guides who were all excellent to get more insight into Japanese culture, and to have helpful local drivers and to have a small group.

R.H. Essex, Feb 20

Excellent, the trip leader Barrie went out of his way to make sure everyone had a good time, he was always enthusiastic, knowledgeable and fantastic at being able to spot and identify birds. Barrie engaged with all members of the group, a good sense of humour and always good company. Barrie made the trip in many ways, one of the best tour leaders I have come across.

P.L. Cleveland, Feb 20

The sightings of the Red-crowned Cranes, Stellar Fish Eagles, Ural Owl and Blakiston Fish Owl were all excellent. Duncan was a very good leader and your local guide Sonoko was also first class. 

P&S. G. East Lothian, Jan 20

I take so many things away from this wonderful trip. Beautiful memories of elegant cranes in their snowy world, close encounters with magnificent stellars sea eagles, wonder at the size of the fish owl and a greater appreciation of a different country and culture. Both of the local guides and the hotel staff were very helpful and the Naturetrek guide Duncan searched constantly for different species of birds and to provide us with good views through the telescope.  As a novice birder I have been awestruck many a time by the beauty of the close up views the scope provides. Really appreciated the cultural experiences of traditional Onsen inns and Japanese food. Overall a fantastic trip.

J.W. Nottinghamshire, Jan 20

Greatly exceeded my expectations - I saw everything I wanted to (cranes, sea eagles, Blakiston’s and Ural owls, macaques) and so much more. I’m not a birder… but learned a lot and Duncan was very informative.

S.T. Bristol, Feb 19

[Duncan] uses language very expressively and informatively - his use of language would not be out of place in a Thomas Hardy novel. Cannot speak too highly of him as a tour leader.

G.S. Leicestershire, Feb 19

Duncan made the bird watching on the trip a joy… He took us to the right places at the right times, was brilliant at spotting and identifying species for us and was so efficient with the 'scope that he gave us close up views of many birds we would never have achieved for ourselves.

G.S. Leicestershire, Feb 19

I hugely enjoyed the Steller's eagles, and seeing the sky filled with so many (including the White Tailed) was remarkable. I took hundreds of photos as they wheeled around and dived down - exhausting but exhilarating!

P.D. Hertfordshire, Feb 19

Pretty much exactly what I had been hoping for… I was particularly keen to see the Red Crowned Cranes and Steller's eagles, but there was considerably more bird life to see, helped by a tour leader who was adept at spotting species, even in tricky conditions.

P.D. Hertfordshire, Feb 19

The Onsens were a delight. The Red-crowned crane viewing was sublime. The food excellent.

B.A. Australia, Feb 19

We visited several areas of Japan to see the wildlife, especially the birds, but also Sika Deer and Snow Monkeys and a Serow. Many thousands of Cranes, Sea Eagles and Fishing Owls were among the highlights. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the birds and managed to spot the small ones very quickly and get the telescope on them so all of us could get a close-up view. The hotels were good but the Onsens (Japanese Spa Hotels) we stayed in were delightful. The arrangements for the holiday were done by friendly and knowledgeable staff. The flights were good quality and we were met at the Japanese end by the tour guide and a local tour guide who was also very helpful.

T.S. Leicestershire, Jan 19

Hokkaido in winter has wonderful wildlife and scenery. It's not to be missed.

D.D.Clyde, Feb 19

Naturetrek... took me from the Mediterranean climate of Kyushu, where thousands of cranes were spending the winter, through the main island of Honshu, where we saw the snow monkeys enjoying the hot water pools, and to wintry Hokkaido, where I was stunned by the beauty of the dancing red-crowned cranes in the snow, and the huge Steller's eagles on the pack ice. I too enjoyed relaxing in the outdoor hot pools, gazing up at snowy trees; in Hokkaido we stayed in three traditional inns, which was a lovely contrast to the days we spent in bustling Tokyo, and introduced the group to traditional Japanese cuisine.

S.T. Cambridgeshire, Feb 19

Hokkaido is a magical place in February - very cold and snowy, which added to the experience. Our excellent leader Duncan and helpful Japanese guide took us to see beautiful, elegant red crowned cranes, noisily displaying, as they waited to be fed. This species nearly disappeared, but local Japanese people sustained them over winter by putting out feed. Their population is now thriving. To see one white tailed eagle or one Steller's sea eagle is a magical moment, but to see many of them swooping down to pick up fish, thrown out by the boat was magical. Before docking, the boat then came alongside a pier, which meant you were at eye level with these majestic fish eagles as the snow sprinkled around them. I could go on and on, but one more special encounter was with the Japanese Macaque - "snow monkeys" near Nagano. Although the hot springs are visited by thousands of tourists, one can still be captivated by these intelligent animals luxuriating in the warm, steaming springs or meticulously grooming each other.  Naturetrek gave an accurate description of what to expect, and it delivered.

F.T. Lancashire, Jan 19

A very enjoyable and successful trip to Japan... All flights, connections and accommodation worked well and the wildlife spectacles were superb. We also managed to take in some cultural aspects of the country and sampled local cuisine extensively. Local guides / translators were very helpful and knowledgeable. Weather also very kind to us!

V.P. Cambridgeshire