- Feb 15th, 2027
Hokkaido Winter Wildlife Photography Tour & Workshop with Marco Ronconi - Hokkaido , Japan
- Small group photography tour & workshop
- Price
- from JPY 600,000
- Duration
- 7nights 8days
- Dates
- Feb 15th, 2027
Tour Concept
The winter landscapes of Eastern Hokkaido are now renowned around the world. This special program is designed to encounter and photograph the wildlife of East Hokkaido. Led by professional photographer Marco Ronconi, who is highly experienced in Hokkaido, this is an intimate workshop limited to 4–6 participants.
You will have opportunities to photograph a wide variety of iconic wildlife: Red-crowned Cranes, the symbol of Hokkaido; the endangered Blakiston’s Fish Owl in Shiretoko; Whooper Swans on Lake Kussharo; and Ezo Sika Deer and Red Foxes on the Notsuke Peninsula.
In Shiretoko, you will also have two chances to join an early-morning drift-ice cruise on the Nemuro Strait—an exceptional opportunity to photograph White-tailed Eagles and Steller’s Sea Eagles set against the dramatic backdrop of drift ice glowing in the beautiful morning light.
Photography Guide: Marco Ronconi
Marco Ronconi is an Italian professional nature photographer and publisher, passionate about wildlife and landscapes of the northern hemisphere. His fine art prints have been exhibited in galleries and his images have been featured in various magazines. His photographic vision focuses on capturing suggestions and emotions using light and elements such as snow, ice, and mist. He tries to celebrate the pristine beauty of a landscape or the fleeting encounter with wildlife, with simplicity, giving as much importance to the unseen and is left to the imagination. His approach to nature photography is more artistic and philosophical, than scientific. He created his own publishing house, Kamui publishing. Instagram page: @marcoronconi_
Red-Crowned Cranes
Steller's Sea Eagle
Red-Crowned Cranes
Red fox
Ezo Sika Deer
An Eagle emerging in silhouette
An eagle with the morning sun
Red-Crowned Cranes
Whooper Swan
Steller's Sea Eagle
Red fox
Highlights
Incredible Encounters with Wild Animals
Blakiston's Fish Owl
With a wingspan of about 180cm (5.9ft), it is the largest owl species. With only about 140 birds inhabiting Hokkaido, it is also one of the most endangered birds. In Rausu, fish are put in a rocky area in the river, and attracted by the fish, the Blakiston's fish owl can be seen from the observation area. The lighting is set exclusively for photography, so you can shoot even at night without a flash.Red-Crowned Cranes
From November to mid-March, when the snow begins to accumulate, cranes will gather from all over Eastern Hokkaido in Tsurui Village's Kushiro Marsh. We will guide you to the Otowa Bridge where you can observe the Japanese cranes sleeping in the river, and the places where you can observe the Japanese cranes flying to the roost in the evening with the sunset.Steller's Sea Eagle
The largest eagle in Japan and arguably the world, with a wingspan of well over 2m, the Steller’s Sea Eagle is so magnificent in the snowy environments it prefers to live, it will without a doubt take your breath away. in the indigenous Ainu language the Eagles and known as, "kapatcir kamuy" or (God of Eagles). Migrating to eastern Hokkaido , from coastal areas of the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Kamchatka Peninsula in Siberia, the eagles begin to arrive around the start of the new year, and return around mid March, a must see that will surely be a highlight in your wildlife viewing career.
Itinerary
01
Kushiro / Tsurui village
Welcome to Hokkaido Japan, gather at Kushiro Airport at 13:30 pm. Then, be transported by private car to nearby Tsurui Village. Where we have a chance to observe and photograph endangered Japanese Red-Crowned Cranes on the very first day. Check in, followed by a short meet and greet to discuss Day 2.
Recommended flight:
ANA-741 Dep Tokyo(Haneda) 11:35am / Arr Kushiro 13:10pm
02
Tsurui village
Early in the morning, head to Otowa Bridge, where we will photograph Red-Crowned Cranes sleeping in steamy warm thermal river waters, and weather permitting, bathed spectacularly in golden morning light. After that, we will visit various locations around Tsurui Village to photograph wildlife especially of the elegant Red-Crowned Cranes.
03
Tsurui village / Lake Kussharo
Enjoy photographing more Red-Crowned Cranes in Tsurui village. After which, we will be heading to the undeniably beautiful and scenic Lake Kussharo, where we will spend time photographing graceful Whooper Swans swimming in the days last light, spectacularly back-dropped by distant mountains boarding the lake.
04
Lake Kussharo
We will spend full day around Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu. Photographing the swans on Lake Kussharo as they rest and bathe in natural steaming, thermal pools on the edges of the lake. Also you will enjoy land scape photography at Lake Mashu, one of the most beautiful caldera lake in Japan and Mt Iou, an active volcano where hot steam escapes from the earth through 1,500 “fumaroles” (small vents) of various sizes.
05
Lake Kussharo / Notsuke / Nemuro
After breakfast, we’ll journey to Nemuro, stopping by at the unforgettable Notsuke Peninsula. Here you will be thrilled by large herds of wild Ezo Sika deer, perching birds of prey and hopefully Red foxes as we drive by frozen oceans and smooth undisturbed snow fields.
06
Nemuro / Lake Furen / Rausu
In the morning, we will be photographing around Nemuro and Lake Furen area. Then we will head towards north to Rausu, Shiretoko peninsula and be stopping for any wildlife opportunities along the way such as Steller's Sea Eagles, White-tailed eagles and Red fox.
07
Rausu
In the early morning, take a Drift Ice Cruise to See the sunrise over Kunashiri Island, and be amazed as we observe and photograph Steller's Sea Eagles & White-Tailed Eagles in flight, at very close proximity to our boat. Then back to our accommodation for breakfast. And some time to empty memory cards and re-charge our batteries. After a well-earned rest, we’ll have a relaxing afternoon exploring the local area while looking for perching eagles and red foxes.Then dinner in Rausu, after which, we will observe and photograph endangered Blakiston's fish owls, (the largest and rarest owl on earth) from an observation hut.
08
Rausu / Kushiro
We take one more Drift Ice Cruise for another change to capture some more images of the truly incredible Steller's Sea Eagles & White-Tailed Eagles in flight. After breakfast at hotel, will head to Kushiro airport. Tour will end on arrival at Kushiro airport around 13:30pm.
Recommended flight:
JAL-542 Dep Kushiro 15:05pm / Tokyo (Haneda) 16:55pm
Price
| Price per person | |
|---|---|
| From Feb 15th to Feb 22nd 2027 7nights 8days |
JPY 600,000 |
| Single room supplement | JPY 50,000 |
Group size
4-6 participants**This tour requires a minimum number of 4 participants (maximum 6 participants). Please do NOT purchase your flights until you receive confirmation that the minimum number of tour participants has been reached.
Payment:
We require booking fee of JPY50,000 per person and the final payment is due 45days prior to departure.Form of payment :
Bank transfer or credit card (Visa or Master)Inclusions:
7nights accommodationsPhotography guide Marco Ronconi throughout the tour
10 seater private van thorough out the tour
07 Breakfasts and 07 dinners
All entry fees to sites, activities listed in the itinerary
Exclusive of:
International and Domestic AirfaresMeals that are not included in the itinerary
Travel Insurance
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
Personal expenses such as laundry bills, luggage delivery service etc
Climate
In this season, the warmest temperatures you can expect are around -1°C (30°F), and it can drop as low as -15°C (5°F) to -25°C (-13°F). It may feel even colder in the early morning hours when you are out photographing wildlife or taking a drift-ice cruise. Make sure you have multiple layers of warm clothing for both your upper and lower body. Waterproof winter gear such as ski wear, snow boots, warm gloves, thermal underwear, warm hats, and ear warmers will all come in handy.Luggage
As we use a private van and luggage space is limited, we allow each person to bring one suitcase. If there is not enough space in the trunk for your backpack with photo equipment, you may need to keep it on your lap during the drive.Dietary Restriction
Please inform us at the time of booking. Hotels and restaurants in remote area such as Eastern Hokkaido may not be able to fulfill all requests.Note:
• Some hotels are Japanese-style inns and only offer futon-style bedding, where guests sleep on a mattress laid out on the floor with a comforter, and they have public shared hot spring baths (with no private showers in the rooms).• Lunch during the tour is not included. You will have the opportunity to buy food at local convenience stores or eateries. Each person should be prepared to pay for these individually.
• The purpose of this tour is to photograph landscape and wildlife. According to weather reports and local information, we will adjust the schedule as needed based on recent sightings. However, these are wild animals, and there is no guarantee that you will see everything listed in the itinerary.
• Drift ice may not reach the seashores as expected. If the drift ice remains in Russian waters or too far from Rausu Port, the cruise boat cannot reach it. Even in those cases, we will still enjoy photographing eagles and seabirds from the boat. In the event of inclement weather that makes sea cruises impossible, we will reimburse the cost of the drift-ice cruise.
• The detailed itinerary will be sent to all participants at the same time, two weeks before the tour begins.
Contact us about this tour
3rd floor, Kyodo Bldg. Jimbocho, 2-2, Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051, Japan ｜Travel Agency Registration No. 607
