JAPAN: BREATHTAKING WINTER PHOTOGRAPHY
昇 る 太陽 の 土地 で 歓 迎 Or: Welcome to the land of the rising sun! Experience the most beautiful places in wintry Japan. Far away from the traditional tourist hotspots, we move from photogenic mountain landscapes to icy coasts. This trip offers the best Japan has to offer for nature photography. From cute Japanese macaques to giant Steller’s sea eagles, Japan in winter is an absolute must.
TOUR DATES
03 – 19 February 2020
Group Size
10 – 12 people (max)
Conditions
Easy, comfortable, cold!
Book Before
1st January 2020
Schedule
03-04/02: Departure day: flight from Brussels/Amsterdam to Tokyo (flights not included)
05/02: Drive to Joshinetsu Kogen National Park
06-07/02: Bathing macaques in Jigokudani Monkey park
08/02: Trip from Tokyo to Kushiro
09-10/02: Majestic elegance: red-crowned cranes in display
11-12/02: Lake Kusharo: the haze of the swan lake
13/02: On to Rausu
14/02 – 16/02: Photography at sea
17-18/02: Back to Tokyo: exploring an amazing city
19/02: Return trip Tokyo-Brussels/Amsterdam (flights not included)
Exquisite program for photography
Expect daily photo opportunities in the very best light conditions. We cross the country, but rarely have to walk long distances.
Starting with a visit to the Japanese macaques that bathe in the hot springs, we move on to the island of Hokkaido for the whooper swans. While their name suggests the opposite, they are very tame here. And the setting? Absolutely breathtaking.
Wildlife photography from a private boat
This tour highlights several days of photography on a privately chartered boat. We photograph the mighty Steller’s sea eagles from a very short distance! Close-ups are no exception. The graceful red-crowned cranes, which almost disappeared at some point but recovered after new protection lows, also charm the camera. We cross our fingers for imaginative species such as Blakiston’s fish owl, Ural owl, sika deer and white-tailed eagles.
Accommodation and transport
We stay in traditional inns (ryokans) and B&Bs. Here we are served the tastiest food: authentic Japanese cuisine!
Sleeping is done on a tatami and bathing in a sento (separate for men and women), traditional all the way. Don’t forget the kimono and slippers in your room!
Please note: single rooms are not only available to a limited extent. The locations where we say are the best in Japan for nature photography, but the number of available rooms is sometimes limited.
We have our own bus and driver. There are more seats then needed, so everybody gets plenty of space. Two domestic flights are included. The international flights are not included in the price.
Conditions
Expect a lot of snow and low temperatures this time of year, up to -20°C. Prepare well for the cold. We will brief you in great detail about the clothes you should bring and how to protect your photographic equipment.
Experienced travel guides
I accompany this trip, together with Jeffrey Van Daele. We are both very experienced photography guides who attach great importance to personal advice. Our local guide commits to finding the best photography conditions every day. As a team, we make sure that everything runs smoothly.
SPOT LOCATION
INCLUDED
Domestic flights and domestic airport taxes, local transport, hotels and guest houses, meals, drinking water, excursions, entrance to parks, insurance guarantee fund.
NOT INCLUDED
International flight(s) and international airport taxes,
alcoholic beverages, additional orders during meals,
telephone charges, cancellation insurance, travel insurance,
personal expenses, gratuities, extra boat trip during back-up day (on top of the 2 boat trips planned in the itinerary).
TESTIMONIALS
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