Destination: Japan
Duration: 16 Nights / 17 Days
Start: Tokyo, Japan
End: Tokyo, Japan
Best Time to Visit: May–June
Guide: Jun Matsui
A comprehensive birding journey across Japan, exploring the remarkable diversity of habitats found throughout this fascinating island nation. From the montane forests of the Japanese Alps and the volcanic landscapes of Miyake-jima to the subtropical forests of the Ryukyu Islands and the wild wetlands and coastlines of Hokkaido, this tour offers an outstanding introduction to Japan's birds, mammals and natural history.
Spring is one of the finest times to visit Japan. Breeding birds are in full song, migrants are still moving through the archipelago, and many species are at their most active and colourful. The tour targets a wide range of Japan's endemic and speciality birds, including Japanese Robin, Japanese Thrush, Narcissus Flycatcher, Lidth's Jay, Amami Woodcock, Okinawa Rail, Okinawa Woodpecker, Blakiston's Fish Owl, Red-crowned Crane, and numerous seabirds including Tufted Puffin, Rhinoceros Auklet, and Spectacled Guillemot.
The subtropical islands of Amami and Okinawa provide opportunities to see several species found nowhere else on Earth, while Hokkaido's forests, wetlands and productive coastal waters support a wealth of northern breeding birds, seabirds and mammals. The tour also includes a visit to Miyake-jima, one of Japan's premier island birding destinations, renowned for its endemic and range-restricted species.
In addition to exceptional birding, participants will experience Japan's unique blend of modern and traditional culture, excellent cuisine, efficient transport system and renowned hospitality. Mammal highlights may include Amami Rabbit, Ryukyu Long-furred Rat, Brown Bear, Sea Otter, Red Fox, Japanese Macaque, and Sika Deer.
This tour starts and ends in Tokyo, Japan.