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The islands of Japan lie at the eastern edge of Eurasia and cover a diverse range of habitats, from the sub-tropical Ryukyu Islands to the almost Siberian taiga-like wilds of Hokkaido. Japan is a surprisingly mountainous and wooded land, with beautiful varied coastlines and very heavily populated lowlands, where tiny rice fields dot the landscape amidst the rural dwellings.
Winter birding here is one of the great spectacles on earth, with three areas in particular being essential. These are the Hooded and White-naped Crane sanctuaries of Kyushu in the far south, the Red-crowned Crane reserve in southern Hokkaido, and the wintering grounds of the magnificent Steller's Sea-Eagles on the ice fields around Lake Furen in the far north. Add to this the wintering wildfowl, thrushes, finches, and alcids, the challenge of the large Asian gull complex, plus a useful sprinkling of endemics including the huge, marvelous and rare Blakiston's Fish-Owl, and you have the makings of a truly memorable visit.
Japanese culture is also a feature of the trip, and one of our lodgings is in a Japanese guest-house or minshuku, with tatami rush matting and futon bedding, while a couple of the hot spring hotels, called onsen, have wonderful deep hot-spring baths. The food is also very distinct, with a fantastic selection of sauces for the elaborate fish, rice, and vegetable dishes which make up the traditional cuisine, and we will have some memorable meals in a wide variety of different places.
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Client comment
"I love Field Guides tours, and the iconic birds and snow monkeys on this tour. plus the draw of a cold climate and wonderful food and culture made this tour especially attractive. This was an outstanding tour experience. Phil Gregory and Jun Matsui were outstanding guides and kept us all from stressing when the weather was not cooperative. I loved the two short boat trips, especially the nature tour in Hokkaido to see the eagles and orcas. The snow monkeys were memorable and I enjoyed them beyond my expectations." D.P., WINTER JAPAN tour participant