- Feb 10th, 2027
Winter Hokkaido Photography Tour with Rujipart - Hokkaido , Japan
- Price
- from JPY 700,000
- Duration
- 9nights 10days
- Dates
- Feb 10th, 2027
Tour Concept
This winter photography tour is guided by Hokkaido‑based photographer Rujipart. It is an ideal tour for those who wish to focus deeply on both winter landscapes and wildlife photography.
The first part of the journey is dedicated to landscape photography in Biei, located in central Hokkaido and known for its beautiful rolling hills and the Daisetsuzan National Park. You will stay three nights in Biei, allowing ample time to capture its stunning winter scenery.
Afterward, the tour moves to Eastern Hokkaido, where you will photograph iconic wildlife such as Red‑crowned cranes, Steller’s sea eagles,Ezo sika deer, and Red foxes etc. In addition to wildlife, you will also enjoy photographing the magnificent landscapes of Akan‑Mashu National Park and the Shiretoko mountain range. This tour offers a luxurious blend of both wildlife and winter scenery.
Photography Guide: Rujipart
Rujipart is a professional photographer and videographer based in Hokkaido, Japan. After falling deeply in love with this remarkable island, he decided to make it his home in 2019. He continues to devote himself to photographing Hokkaido’s breathtaking landscapes and the wildlife that inhabits them, capturing moments that reflect the island’s quiet power and raw beauty. He enjoys sharing the beauty of Hokkaido and the places he visits with others, including his devoted collectors of fine art prints—because keeping such beauty to himself feels impossible. Instagram page: @rujipart_
Winter Landscape around Biei
Winter Landscape around Biei
Ezo Shika Deer
Red Fox
Red-Crowned Crane
Red-Crowned Crane
Otowa Bridge
Red Fox
Steller's Sea Eagle
Long-tailed Tit
Winter Landscape around Biei
Winter Landscape around Biei
Winter Landscape around Biei
Highlights
Winter Landscapes of Biei
In winter, Biei is a landscape shaped by silence itself. The snow blankets even the slightest undulations, and the gentle curves of the hills emerge like abstract lines on a white canvas. Iconic sights such as the solitary trees and the rolling hills that symbolize Biei stand out even more clearly in the winter light, their quiet presence telling the story of the land. As the sun rises higher, the snow begins to shimmer, and the scenery shifts moment by moment, allowing completely different photographs to be captured from the same spot. At dusk, the sky softens into shades of pink and violet as the silhouettes of the hills quietly fade. In the harsh cold lies the true beauty of Biei in winter—a place where each press of the shutter reveals a deeper layer of its quiet allure.
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 to Tsurui Village's Kushiro Marsh. We will guide you to the Otowa Bridge where you can observe the Japanese cranes sleeping in the river, we will be visiting all the best observation locations, from where you will experience the Japanese cranes flying, dancing and posing to you absolute delight. A truly magical and memorable experience.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
Asahikawa / Biei
Welcome to Hokkaido Japan, gather at Asahikawa Airport at 13:30 pm. Then, be transported by private car to nearby Biei, where we will be photographing the scenic hills of the area. We will visit iconic winter landscapes such as the snow-covered Patchwork Hills and solitary trees that symbolize Biei’s serene beauty. Take your time capturing the gentle afternoon light as it falls across the rolling, white-blanketed terrain.
Recommended flight from Tokyo:
JAL-553 Dep Tokyo, Haneda 11:10am Arr Asahikawa 12:50pm
02-03
Biei
Two full days of landscape photography in and around the Biei area. After breakfast, depart for a full day of photography in the Biei area. Throughout the day, we will explore several of Biei’s signature winter landscapes, each offering its own unique atmosphere and photographic opportunities. Your route includes the famous Blue Pond in Shirogane, whose icy surface and surrounding trees create striking winter compositions; and Shirahige Falls, known for its delicate streams of water flowing between snow-covered rocks. Take your time capturing the shifting light and the quiet beauty of Biei’s winter scenery as you move from one location to the next.
04
Biei / Tsurui village
After breakfast, travel by private vehicle to Tsurui Village, known as a gathering place for red-crowned cranes during the winter season. In the afternoon, enjoy photographing these elegant cranes in their serene winter habitat.
05
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 observe wildlife, mainly the elegant Red‑crowned Cranes.
06
Tsurui village / Lake Kussharo
In the morning, 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 backdropped by distant mountains boarding the lake.
07
Lake Kussharo
The full day is spent around Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu. You will photograph the swans on Lake Kussharo as they rest and bathe in the naturally steaming thermal pools along the lakeshore. You will also enjoy winter landscape photography in the national park, including Lake Mashu—one of the most beautiful caldera lakes in Japan—and Mt. Iou, an active volcano where hot steam escapes from more than 1,500 fumaroles of various sizes.
08
Lake Kussharo / Notsuke / Rausu
After breakfast, we’ll journey to Rausu, Shiretoko, 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.
09
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.
10
Rausu / Kushiro
We take an another Drift Ice Cruise 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 10th to Feb 19th 2027 9nights 10days |
JPY 700,000 |
| Single room supplement | JPY 58,000 |
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:
9nights accommodationsRujipart as your photography guide throughout the tour
10 seater private van thorough out the tour
09 Breakfasts and 09 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
