Japan - Tour Destination | Rockjumper Birding Tours

Often referred to as “The Land of the Rising Sun,” Japan stretches from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea in the south and comprises some 3,000 mostly mountainous and volcanic islands. Our Japan in Winter tour explores the main islands of Honshu, Hokkaido and Kyushu where some of the world’s most spectacular and sought-after birds can be found, whilst enjoying wonderfully diverse scenery and fine local cuisine. The accommodation on this tour varies from comfortable minshukus (bed and breakfasts) which are rather quaint and very homely to good hotels.

Our winter tour begins on the central island of Honshu where a fine array of specialties will be searched for and include Japanese Accentor, the stunning and endemic Copper and Green Pheasants, Japanese Green and Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers, the dainty Japanese Waxwing and secretive White’s Thrush. We will also spend some time with the endearing families of Japanese Macaques at their hotspring hangout.

The island of Kyushu, home to over 10,000 individual cranes during the winter months when these wonderful birds congregate to escape the blizzards of the Siberian wasteland, is our next destination. The majority of the gathering consists of White-naped and Hooded Cranes but a remarkable seven crane species have been recorded! Large stands of temperate broad-leaved forests harbour Japanese Grosbeak, the secretive and endemic Grey Bunting and Japanese Wood and Whistling Green Pigeons, whilst Baikal Teal is regular on small waterbodies. The real specialty on Kyushu, though, is the near-endemic and highly desirable Japanese Murrelet.

Hokkaido in the far north of Japan’s long chain of islands will open the curtain to a wonderland of snow, frozen lakes and pine forests. This is the land of the legendary Red-crowned (Japanese) Crane, which prances around the snowfields with grace and elegance. Awesome Steller’s and White-tailed Eagles cavort on the icy coastline whilst huge numbers of sea-dwelling ducks, gulls and smaller numbers of loons and alcids forage in the frigid Pacific Ocean. One of the island’s prize birds is the magnificent Blakiston’s Fish-Owl, the heaviest owl in the world, and we should obtain unbeatable views of this grand raptor. Garden feeders attract fruit-eaters and seed-eaters in the frigid winter, most notable of which are the small flocks of Asian Rosy Finch. Dense pine forests support Hazel Grouse, Black Woodpecker and the rare Ural Owl.

Join us on this winter wonderland tour of fabled Japan. Extension options to southern Amami and Okinawa are also available.

Please note that we are not offering a standard set departure tour to Japan during 2010. We are however still arranging customized private tours to this country and we will gladly assist you in arranging the perfect guided birding or wildlife adventure to Japan for you.

Please contact the Rockjumper Office should you have any queries about this tour.

tour name	Japan in Winter
max group size	12 & 2 Rockjumper leaders
tour leaders	Jan Pienaar & Glen Valentine
habitats covered	temperate broad-leaved and coniferous forest, wetlands and grasslands
climate	mild to very cold
tour pace & walking	moderate pace, undemanding walks
accommodation	comfortable minshukus and hotels
ease of birding	easy
no. of species expected	150 - 180
top birds	Blakiston's Fish & Ural Owl, Steller's Eagle, Japanese Murrelet
top mammals	Japanese Macaque, Japanese Serow, Sea Otter
photographic opportunities	excellent