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Japan Photo Tour

Experience great photo opportunities in Japan with two Top Notch Photography Leaders.

  • Photo Tour | February 9-23, 2025 & February 8-22, 2026
  • Maximum 5 Photographers
  • Photo Tour | November 6-20, 2024 & November 6-20, 2025
  • Amboseli and Tsavo Extension | November 20-25, 2024 & November 20-25, 2025
  • Maximum 6 Photographers
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Japan Photo Tour

Experience great photo opportunities in Japan with two Top Notch Photography Leaders.

  • Photo Tour | February 9-23, 2025 & February 8-22, 2026
  • Maximum 5 Photographers
SIGN UP NOW

ABOUT JAPAN PHOTO TOUR

This tour focuses on photographing the birds and mammals of Japan.  As far as birds the biggest focus will be Cranes, Eagles and Waterfowl, although we will photograph many other species as well.   In addition to spending time photographing the Red-crowned Cranes, Eagles, Foxes and Deer in Hokkaido and the Snow Monkeys on Honshu like most Japan wildlife photography tours, we will visit Kyushu in the South to photograph thousands of White-naped and Hooded Cranes.  We will visit the largest wintering ground of Mandarin Ducks in Japan and the best location to photograph the beautiful Baikal Teal.  We will have two trips to photograph Steller’s Sea Eagles and White-tailed Eagles off the Northeast Coast of Japan, the ice floats should make for beautiful settings for these shots. 

  • Photograph thousands of White-naped and Hooded Cranes and a lot of other species on Kyushu.
  • Take two trips to photograph the Steller’s Sea Eagles and White-tailed Eagles on the flow ice in Hokkaido.
  • Photograph the Red-crowned Cranes, Whooper Swans, Red Foxes and Axis Deer of Hokkaido.
  • Photograph the famous Snow Monkeys as well as Mandarin Ducks, Baikal Teal and other Waterfowl on Honshu.

Cost & Logistics

$9,950
Photographer

$9,450
Non-Photographer

$2,500
Desposit

Cost includes all meals, lodging, drinking water, ground transportation within Japan, guiding, instruction, park fees.  It does not include airfare to get to Japan, domestic airfare (estimate of $750), drinks other than water, tips and items of a personal nature such as phone calls or laundry.

2026 costs: Photographers $10,950, single supplement $1,200, nonphotographer $10,450.

Number of Participants: 5 photographers plus any nonphotographer spouses or companions. 

Itinerary

Arrive to Tokyo International Airport.  Transfer to a nice hotel.
We will have a morning flight to Kagoshima on Kyushu.  Then we will have a transfer to Izumi.  In the afternoon we will have our first session with the wintering White-naped and Hooded Cranes in the fields nearby.  Hotel: Izumi.
We have a full day with the cranes and many other birds in the Izumi area today.  Thousands of cranes winter here (usually more than 10,000), the vast majority being Hooded and White-naped but some years they also get a couple Siberian, Demoiselle, Common and/or Sandhill Cranes.  We will be out before dawn to photograph the lift off when many of them leave their evening roosting spot to head out into the fields to feed.  There are lots of other birds around including Black Kites, Waterfowl, often hundreds of Rooks, and small birds such as Meadow Buntings and Grey-headed Bulbuls.  In the late afternoon we will be back at the crane roosting location to see them fly back in.  Hotel: Izumi.
We will have another morning with the Cranes and then we will check out and return to Kagoshima for a flight to Osaka on Honshu.  We will then have a transfer up to Tottori on the east coast.  Hotel: Tottori.
Today will be mostly dedicated to photographing the large wintering concentration of Mandarin Ducks on the river in Tottori.  This is the largest flock of Mandarin Ducks in Japan with about 800 usually present in the winter.  Many people consider this species the most beautiful duck in the world.  The Tottori area is good for waterfowl in general with good numbers of Tufted Duck generally wintering here also.  Hotel: Tottori.
We will have a morning flight to Kushiro on Hokkaido.  After checking into of our hotel we will head to the wintering grounds of the beautiful, Red-crowned Crane.   The cranes in the snow create dramatic images.  Hotel Kushiro.
We will be Otowa Bridge for sunrise to photograph the lift off the Red-crowned Cranes from their roost.  We will then have morning and afternoon photography sessions with them at their feeding grounds.    These endangered Cranes are fed by locals and the feeding stations attract other species including Red Fox and raptors such as White-tailed Eagles and Black Kites.  This can make for some amazing interaction shots.  We will have lunch at a café which has a small bird feeding station which attracts Eurasian Jays, Tits and Woodpeckers.  In the evening, we return to our hotel in Kushiro.
We spend the morning photographing the Red-crowned Cranes and other wildlife near Kushiro, then we head up to the middle of Hokkaido and Lake Kussharo to photograph the large number of Whooper Swans that winter there.  These birds are habituated and fed, allowing photographers to take both beautiful close-up shots as well as amazing wide angle shots with snowy mountains in the background.  Hotel: Kawayu.
We spend another morning with the Whooper Swans getting there early to make sure we maximize the combo of bird and landscape photography, other waterfowl such Eurasian Wigeon and Mergansers are often in the area.  Then we head on to the Shiretoro Peninsuala photographing Axis Deer and whatever else we encounter on the way.  We will check in to our hotel in Rausu.  Then there is an optional activity of photographing Blackiston’s Fish Owl from 6pm to 12.  Whoever goes must stay until 12 even if the Owl shows up early and if there’s no owl, we still have to leave at 12.  Hotel: Rausu.
This will be one of our most exciting mornings.  We will take a boat trip to photograph the amazing Steller’s Sea Eagle along with White-tailed Eagles, Slaty-backed and Glaucous Gulls.  There are usually over 100 Steller’s Sea Eagles, they are huge, dwarfing the White-tailed Eagles which are about Bald Eagle size.  We will get flight shots, shots of them sitting on the flow ice and shots of them fighting for the fish that they are fed.  In the afternoon we will photograph waterbirds in the harbor, it’s a good spot for Harlequin Ducks as well as look for good opportunities with Axis Deer along the coastline.  Hotel: Rausu.
We will have another boat trip for the eagles this morning, then we will check out and work our way back to Kushiro, looking for photo opportunities on the way.  Then we will take the afternoon flight back to Haneda airport in Tokyo.  Hotel: Haneda, Tokyo.
This morning will be focused on photographing some different waterfowl species, one stop will be one of the best locations known for photographing the stunning Baikal Teal, we will also stop at locations which have been good in the past for the beautiful Smew.  In the afternoon we will arrive at our Snow Monkey Lodge.  If we have time we will have a session with the Snow Monkeys.  Hotel: We are staying at Kambayashi Onsen, this is a beautiful hotel which is at the entrance to the Snow Monkey park.
We have a full day at the Snow Monkey Park, we will have morning and afternoon sessions.  It’s about a 30-minute walk from the hotel to the thermal pools which the Snow Monkeys enjoy.   Along the way we may photograph flocks of Tits, Goldcrest and Siskin.  The monkeys are adorable, we will photograph them hot-tubbing, mothers with babies and feeding.  Occasionally the rare Japanese Serow, a wild goat species is seen here.  Hotel: Kambayashi Onsen, they have hot springs here, so we can take part in the same activities as the Snow Monkeys. 
We will have a morning session with the Snow Monkeys, then we will check out and return to Tokyo, likely with a stop or two on the way for waterfowl.  Hotel: A nice hotel near the airport. 
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.  This tour combines well with our Thailand tour for anyone who wants to spend more time in Japan. 
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Nate

Nate Chappell | Nature Photographer

Nate Chappell is one of the top bird and wildlife photographers leading photography tours and workshops.  He is an expert at most aspects of avian photography including flight photography, using flash and multi-flash for hummingbirds.  Nate enjoys teaching bird and wildlife photography and he is known for being able to simplify complicated topics.  His photography is currently represented by several top stock agencies including Minden Pictures, VIREO and Birdimagency. 2025 guide.

Jure Novak

Jure Novak | Wildlife Photographer

Jure Novak is a full time nature photographer, tour leader and filmmaker from Slovenia.  His work is widely published in Slovenia and he is one of the filmmakers of “Wild Slovenia”, a motion picture.  Jure is an excellent birder and bird guide in addition to being a very talented photographer.  He uses Sony gear. 2026 guide.

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