Japan - Winter Birding 2025

24 Jan 2025 - 11 Feb 2025 (19 days)

JPY1,015,000 - No Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Local Leader

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Tour Leader: Nigel Redman

Tour price (Per person): JPY1,015,000 * USD6,788 * GBP5,364 * EUR6,464 * AUD10,482

Single Supplement: JPY155,000 * USD1,037 * GBP819 * EUR987 * AUD1,601

Flight costs: JPY90,000 * USD602 * GBP476 * EUR573 * AUD929

Can be linked with: Japan - Southern Islands Extension 2025

Japan - Winter Birding 2026

23 Jan 2026 - 10 Feb 2026 (19 days)

JPY1,096,200 - No Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Gregory de Klerk

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Tour Leader: Local Leader

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*

Tour price (Per person): JPY1,096,200 * USD7,331 * GBP5,793 * EUR6,981 * AUD11,321

Can be linked with: Japan - Southern Islands Extension 2026

The island chain making up the country of Japan is undoubtedly a must-visit destination for the keen birder, and this exploration takes in the very best of what Japan has to offer.

Stretching for over 3,000 kilometres (1,860 miles), ‘The Land of the Rising Sun’ is host to a variety of habitats. On the beautiful, northerly island of Hokkaido, with its fields of snow, frozen lakes and rugged seacoasts, we hope to marvel at the impressive Blakiston’s Fish Owl, magnificent Steller’s Sea Eagles and elegant Red-crowned (Japanese) Cranes. In addition, the coasts here are home to numerous species of sea-ducks, loons and auks, and we will also keep an eye out for wintering passerines, including the beautiful Asian Rosy Finch.

The forests inland from Tokyo harbour the spectacular, endemic Copper and Japanese Green Pheasants, Japanese Accentor, Japanese Grosbeak and Japanese Green Woodpecker, while the hot springs at Nagano are famous for their ‘Snow Monkeys’. The extensive rivers and lakes on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu teem with waterfowl that include the immaculate Smew, Falcated Duck, Baikal Teal, Tundra and Taiga Bean Goose and the rare Long-billed Plover.

The island of Kyushu plays host to one of the greatest avian spectacles on earth, with thousands of Hooded and White-naped Cranes spending the winter here along with other specialties like Brown-cheeked Rail, Chinese Penduline Tit, Saunders’s Gull and the superb Mandarin Duck. On the eastern side of the island, we will attempt to locate the near-endemic Grey Bunting and the endangered Japanese Murrelet among many other exciting and memorable species. We invite you to join us on our unforgettable exploration of this Asian winter wonderland!

 

Top Birds

Blakiston's Fish Owl, Ural Owl, Steller's and White-tailed Sea Eagles, Red-crowned Crane, thousands of Hooded & White-naped Cranes, Baikal Teal, Falcated and Mandarin Ducks, Smew, Copper and Japanese Green Pheasants, Red-faced Cormorant, Brown-cheeked Rail, Long-billed Plover, Solitary Snipe, Saunders's Gull, up to 9 species of auk including Least Auklet, Japanese Murrelet and Spectacled Guillemot, White-bellied Green and Japanese Wood Pigeons, Japanese Green, Japanese Pygmy and White-backed Woodpeckers, Chinese Penduline Tit, Brown-headed & White's Thrushes, Japanese Accentor, Japanese Grosbeak, Grey & Yellow-throated Buntings, Asian Rosy Finch, Siberian Long-tailed Rosefinch, Brown-eared Bulbul, Brown Dipper, Crested Kingfisher, Taiga & Tundra Bean Geese, Daurian Redstart, Bull-headed Shrike, Daurian Jackdaw, Black-faced Spoonbill, Japanese Bush Warbler & chances of Pallas's Rosefinch, Japanese & Bohemian Waxwings, Red-billed Starling, Scaly-sided Merganser, Hazel Grouse, Japanese Quail, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Baer's Pochard & Black Woodpecker

Top Mammals

Japanese Macaque (Snow Monkeys), Japanese Serow, Sika Deer, Spotted Seal, Steller's Sea Lion, Red Fox, Japanese Squirrel, Japanese Marten, Japanese Weasel

Habitats Covered

temperate broad-leaved and coniferous forest, frozen and open lakes, coastline, wetlands and grasslands

Expected Climate

mild to very cold

Max Group Size

12 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader

Tour Pace & Walking

moderate pace

Accommodation

comfortable minshukus (guest houses) & hotels

Ease of Birding

easy

Number of Species Expected

170 to 190

Other Attractions

Spectacular scenery, unique, interesting and varied cuisine, regular hot baths/onsens at various accommodations, occasional temples

Photographic Opportunities

excellent

What our clients say about us

David Hoddinott
DD - Japan 2024

Outstanding trip with excellent leadership. Could not have asked for a better experience.

Glen Valentine
DB & PB, Japan

Glen, as usual, was the best. This is our third trip with him and would not hesitate to do many more.

Erik Forsyth
PS, Japan 2018

The birding and bird vocalisation skills of Erik Forsyth and local guide Bryan Shirley are simply outstanding. So far, I've probably met only 2 guides who were only just about as good as these two!

Erik Forsyth
BS, Japan 2023

Wonderful experience with Erik Forsyth and Bryan despite challenging weather conditions. The lodging was very comfortable. The birds were fantastic.

Erik Forsyth
MW, Japan 2018

This trip was quite an experience: Earthquakes, an erupting volcano, a major blizzard, raw fish and squid for breakfast, some incredible dining experiences, great scenery, and a wicked lot of fantastic birds! Erik Forsyth did a very good job with the tour. He was a bit more laid back than I am used to, but we really had good luck with the birds. A lot of that also had to do with Bryan Shirley, who is also an excellent guide. Erik and Bryan made a great team and appeared to really enjoy the trip, which was infectious for the rest of the group.

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