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Natural Wonders Photography
Tylwyth Teg
Llanigon
Hay on Wye
Hereford
HR3 5QA
United Kingdom
Natural Wonders Photography
Tylwyth Teg
Llanigon
Hay on Wye
Hereford
HR3 5QA
United Kingdom
On this tour we will take you to the best Japanese locations to capture images of Snow Monkeys (Japanese Macaques) in Nagano for the first three days. After this we return to Tokyo before flying to Hokkaido for the next part of our tour. We will spend 9 days in Hokkaido and during this time we will visit Japanese Red Crowned Cranes, Whooper Swans, Stellers Sea Eagles, White Tailed Sea Eagles in addition to the Northern Red Fox and Ezo Sika Deer.
Throughout the tour we will be guided by Martin Bailey who has lived in Japan for many years, speaks and writes fluent Japanese and has a wealth of knowledge and experience of photographing Japanese Wildlife. He is also an expert in Japanese Etiquette which helps us all to ensure we do our best to do things the right way! Janette will also be on the tour to offer assistance and details about what will happen next and to help with photography issues, hints and tips.
- Alot about Japanese Culture
- How to photograph wildlife in the snow
- Hints and Tips along the way
- Information about the wildlife we are photographing
After three days in Nagano we return to Tokyo to our hotel before flying to Hokkaido the next day for the next 9 days where we will photograph Red Crowned Cranes, Whooper Swans, White Tailed Sea Eagles and Stellers Sea Eagles.
During out time in Hokkaido we will move around to different locations to see the wildlife including visiting Kussharo Lake, Raussu Fishing Port, Notsuke Peninsula and the famous Otowa Bridge for a dawn shoot of the Red Crowned Cranes leaving their roost in the morning. We may also visit Shiretoko National Park. These locations will provide the opportunity to photograph Northern Red Foxes and Sika deer.
There will be plenty of time at locations to capture some stunning images. Martin and Janette will also be on hand to review images if required. It is always good to look and see so if you are not getting the images you are aiming for Martin and Janette will be able to help you.
- Accomodation on Sunday night before the tour starts
- All accommodation and meals during the tour
- Flights from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Hokkaido and return
- Chartered bus with driver for the duration of the tour
- Additional Tour Rep to assist with all of the logistics
- All entrance fees and permits
- Fees for chartered boats to photograph sea eagles
- Flights to and from Japan
- Travel Insurance
- Hotel bookings before and after the workshop
- Evening Meal at hotel before the tour starts
- Beverages or additional items ordered during meals
- Cost of optional extras like the Shinto Blessing in Rausu
Please note: Sometimes the itinerary may change but this will not interfere with game viewing and photography opportunities!
How long is the flight?
Currently it is about 14 hours due to a detour around Russian Airspace. It is effectively a day time flight but we arrive in Tokyo the next day because of the different timezones.
What is the time zone difference?
Japan is 9 hours ahead of the UK
How much money will I need?
The main currency is Japanese Yen but mosts vendors use contactless Card payments. If you intend to spend extra time in Japan a bit of cash would be useful.
What is the food like?
The food on offer differs throughout the tour. Often it is typical Japanese style which entails many smaller dishes with sticky rice and miso soup, sometimes raw fish and some cooked meat (generally cooked pork or beef). We have options for western food in some hotels and we also sometimes shop for our own meals so we will not go hungry.
Will I have to eat with chopsticks?
It is worth trying to eat with chopsticks but if you cannot master the art of eating this way cutlery will be provided.
How cold does it get?
It is warmer in Tokyo than in Hokkaido. At times it can be very cold, up to -20 so plenty of layers are needed. Hand and foot warmers are provided.
Will I need spikes on my shoes or boots?
It is advisable to have these on your shoes or boots as sometimes the snow can be slippery and if impacted more icy and solid.
Below is a collection of photos our customers have captured whilst on this photography experience
Click a thumbnail to view larger
The main purpose of the tour was wildlife photography and this element was organised for us by Martin Bailey Photography. We started with snow monkeys (macaques) in the hot springs but also covered red crested cranes, whooper swans, Steller’s sea eagles, white tailed eagles, sika deer and red foxes. An incredible opportunity to photograph these creatures in their natural environments. There was also expert advice on the technical aspects of capturing the best images.
Apart from the wildlife, we had the opportunity of seeing the incredible landscapes of Hokkaido with its snowy mountains, geysers and sea ice, and learning about traditional Japanese culture and cuisine. We were very impressed by the courtesy, efficiency and tidiness of all the local people.
We had a few days to spare in Tokyo before and after the wildlife tour and Janette organised for us three tours of this impressive and exciting city. These covered the main attractions but also two sessions on street photography (including one at night) where we learned a huge amount and came home with some really different images.
We have returned with some great images and also many unforgettable memories of a beautiful country. The bustle of Tokyo, walking in deep pristine white snow, sitting alongside vast frozen lakes and of course photographing some amazing wildlife made this tour a unique experience.
If you are unsure about any part of this form, or prefer to make a booking over the phone, please feel free to give us a call by using the telephone number below
We're here to help and are happy to answer any questions you may have, any time!
+44 (0)7913-415-701
We're here to help and are happy to answer any questions you may have, any time!