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Hokkaido 2027 Photography Tour & Snow Monkeys Plus Mt. Fuji

Hokkaido Photography Tour 2027 February 14 - 25, 2027. Join Blain and his team on Japan's most popular all-inclusive Hokkaido photo tour. Highlights include Hokkaido birding at its best spot and photograph, The Steller’s sea eagle, the White-tailed eagle, Shima Enaga, Blakiston's fish owl, Red-crowned crane, Whooper swans plus dozens of other wildlife species, minimalist landscape photography in snowy winter wonderland Hokkaido. Plus photograph Mt. Fuji at golden hour, as well as having an up close and personal visit with Snow Monkeys, and a day in the World of the Samurai at an authentic Samurai Castle, plus visit Japan’s most pilgrimaged to shrine in the Valley of The Dragons, plus in Rausu Hokkaido, you will board a ship for several Shiretoko Nature Cruises which have been pre-booked to spot and photograph the Steller’s sea eagles and White-tailed eagles.

Why not celebrate February 14th, 2027, in Japan with traditional Japanese cuisine and a toast to christen your Japanese Photography wildlife expedition of a lifetime? It will be a Happy Valentines-Day!

The highlights of this Japan photo tour workshop include Mt. Fuji, Snow Monkeys, Matsumoto Castle, Zen Buddhist Gardens, Red-Crowned Cranes, Steller's Sea Eagles, Hokkaido Sika deer, Whooper swans, White-Tailed Eagles, Shima Enaga, and the minimalist landscapes of Hokkaido. This workshop is focused on photography and the journey itself, with Blain, your workshop leader, ensuring you spend as much time as possible in the field.

On the first day, instead of spending time recovering from jet lag or attending seminars like many other groups do, we'll hit the road right after our meet-and-greet. Blain recommends that participants arrive in Japan one or two days before the meet-and-greet, check into an airport hotel, and rest up for the photography adventure of a lifetime.

Japan stretches over 3,000 kilometres and comprises 6,852 islands, with over 70% of its land being unpopulated wilderness. The country's wildlife is exceptionally diverse, having thrived through not one but three ice ages. Numerous animal species flourish in Japan, including the Japanese Macaque, also known as the Snow Monkey and the world's largest herd of Sika Deer. To date, over 600 bird species have also been recorded in the region.

Winter in Japan presents a remarkable opportunity for wildlife photographers. It combines stunning landscapes with cultural and architectural photo opportunities, from samurai to Buddhist and Shinto influences. Experiencing Japan in winter is truly an exotic photography adventure of a lifetime.

All our workshops are customized for photographers. My support team is highly trained, and I have been leading photography workshops across Japan for over 27 years. We know the best spots known to locals and native Japanese photographers. When we travel, we ensure comfort using the newest SUVs equipped with business-class seating.

 

The Adventure Begins

The adventure begins the moment we meet at Tokyo Haneda Airport — we waste no time hitting the road toward Suwa Taisha Grand Shinto Shrine Complex, the oldest and most sacred shrine complex in all of Japan. With over 10,000 Suwa shrines scattered across the country, we journey to the legendary head shrine in Suwa, where we will photograph its priceless national treasures up close. With luck and timing, we will also capture Shinto miko (巫女, shrine maidens) and priests moving through ancient rituals in their striking traditional attire — a rare and unforgettable encounter.
From there, a short drive of under an hour transports us back five centuries into the world of the Samurai at the formidable Matsumoto Castle — locally feared as Crow Castle (Karasu-Jo) for its dramatic, jet-black exterior that looms against the mountain skyline. Rising from the ground since 1504, this fortress is unlike anything else in Japan, boasting a rare architectural design with a secondary donjon and turret fortified against its central keep. Standing beneath its towering walls, you can almost hear the clash of swords. 
We end day one with something truly wild: a descent into the steaming valley of Jigokudani — “Hell’s Valley” — deep within Joshinetsu-Kogen National Park, home to the legendary Snow Monkey Park. Here, in the heart of a frozen wilderness, wild Japanese macaques emerge from the snow-dusted forest to soak in natural hot springs, their breath rising in clouds against the icy air. Young monkeys leap and wrestle at the water’s edge while elders sit in serene, steam-wrapped stillness. As the northernmost nonhuman primates on Earth, these extraordinary animals have mastered survival in the brutal winter, and witnessing it firsthand is nothing short of magical. Volcanic steam vents hiss through the snow around them, and as darkness falls, the monkeys retreat into the trees, warmed by the earth itself.
There is no place on Earth I love more than the Snow Monkey Park — and after thirty years of leading photography workshops here, that feeling has never faded. Every visit is different. Every day brings new behaviour, new light, new moments that no camera has ever captured before. You will have a full day to lose yourself completely in this extraordinary world, working the scene at your own pace — lying in the snow for ground-level portraits, waiting for the perfect splash, or simply watching in awe as wild primate society unfolds around you. On our second day, before we head to Mt. Fuji, those who want more — and many do — are welcome back for the morning session. In my experience leading over thirty years of expeditions here, more than 90% of participants feel a full day is the sweet spot. But for those who simply cannot get enough of the monkeys — and trust me, I understand completely — that extra morning is yours.
Next, we visit Mt. Fuji, a must-see UNESCO World Heritage site for anyone visiting Japan. At Mt. Fuji, we will capture stunning photographs of the snow-capped peak, exceptionally breathtaking during the golden hours. We will visit the Fuji Five Lakes, making stops to film in the Sea of Trees (Jukai), located on the northwestern flank of Mount Fuji. The forest spans 30 square kilometres and consists of hardened lava from the last major eruption of Fujisan in 864. In this volcanic forest, the trees and plants grow in natural volcanic pots filled with peat moss. The forest is particularly photogenic in winter, attracting very few visitors or school trips. After photographing the sunset at Mt. Fuji, we have a treat for you: traditional Japanese, fine dining and a toast to celebrate the success of our photography expedition. The following morning, after capturing the sunrise over Mt. Fuji and after breakfast, we will transfer to Tokyo Haneda Airport and fly to Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. Get ready for an exciting experience! Look up! The red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis), also known as "snow ballerinas," are renowned for their legendary courtship dance, which is as graceful as ballerinas. These masterful dancers bow to one another, raise their heads toward the sky, and call in unison. When the pair or the entire flock leaps into the air simultaneously, they begin their captivating courtship dance. Spotting and photographing the red-crowned cranes during takeoffs and landings is genuinely exhilarating, and they are breathtaking in flight. We will spend two days searching for and photographing these magnificent birds. As a thrilling bonus, in December 2024, a rare white-naped crane (Antigone vipio) appeared without warning, mingling and roosting among the red-crowned cranes in what might be a once-in-a-lifetime encounter, but who knows? Nature is full of surprises — and this extraordinary visitor may well return.

After capturing the sunrise over Mt. Fuji and after breakfast, we will transfer to Tokyo Haneda Airport and fly to Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. Get ready for an exciting experience! Look up! The red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis), also known as "snow ballerinas," are renowned for their legendary courtship dance, which is as graceful as ballerinas. These masterful dancers bow to one another, raise their heads toward the sky, and call in unison. When the pair or the entire flock leaps into the air simultaneously, they begin their captivating courtship dance. Spotting and photographing the red-crowned cranes during takeoffs and landings is genuinely exhilarating, and they are breathtaking in flight. We will spend two days searching for and photographing these magnificent birds. As a thrilling bonus, in December 2024, a rare white-naped crane (Antigone vipio) appeared without warning, mingling and roosting among the red-crowned cranes in what might be a once-in-a-lifetime encounter, but who knows? Nature is full of surprises — and this extraordinary visitor may well return.
The sunsets in the Kushiro region are nothing short of spectacular — blazing skies that rank among the top three most breathtaking in all of Japan. After two unforgettable days in Kushiro, we push inland, climbing into the high alpine wilderness of northwest Hokkaido. Here, the ancient volcanic landscape cradles three extraordinary lakes — Lake Akanko, Lake Kushiroko, and the legendary Lake Mashuko, regarded as one of the clearest and purest lakes on the entire planet. This remote and majestic terrain is also the ancestral homeland of Japan's indigenous people, the Ainu, whose deep connection to this land stretches back thousands of years.
The Ainu are master storytellers and extraordinary wood carvers, their art alive with the spirits of the forest and the wild. We will make a deeply personal visit to my longtime Ainu friends, gaining rare access to photograph their museum-quality artworks — pieces that carry centuries of history in every carved line. As evening falls over the lake, we will experience the Ikor theatre, an immersive performance of Ainu spiritual and cultural traditions, culminating in the mesmerizing Lomante fire ceremony — a sacred ritual of fire, song, and spirit. Tickets are secured for the group, and some may choose to linger by the lakeside as fireworks light up the night sky above the water.
As the first light of dawn breaks golden over the horizon, we venture out to photograph the sacred Mt. Oakan — a peak revered by the Ainu for generations, rising in solitary majesty above the volcanic landscape.

 
After a hearty breakfast, we pack up and set out along Hokkaido's dramatic eastern alpine route — a road that winds through raw volcanic wilderness at every turn. Our destination is a hauntingly beautiful lake deep within the Akan Volcanic Complex, where giant Whooper swans gather in extraordinary numbers. In the golden hours of sunrise and sunset, with geothermal steam drifting silently across the glassy water and the volcanic peaks reflected in the surface, the scene is nothing short of otherworldly. Keep your eyes sharp — this region teems with remarkable wildlife: the tiny, wide-eyed Shima Enaga, the acrobatic Hokkaido red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris orientis), the boldly coloured Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius), the cheerful black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), the elusive Japanese weasel (Mustela itatsi), and both the great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) and the diminutive pygmy woodpecker (Dendrocopos canicapillus) hammering away in the ancient trees.

 
After two extraordinary days among the volcanic lakes and giant swans, we head to Rausu for what many consider the single greatest wildlife photography experience in all of Japan — and perhaps the world. We have two chartered morning cruises booked to take us out onto the pack ice of Japan's northern seas in search of the legendary Steller's Sea Eagle. These are the titans of the raptor world — among the largest and most ferocious birds of prey on the planet — and they descend upon the pack ice in force to hunt the rich fishing waters of the north. Boarding our vessel in the pre-dawn cold and pushing out into the drifting ice floes is an adventure in itself. The Steller's Sea Eagles will be all around us, plunging from the sky to snatch fish from the icy waters, their massive wingspans cutting through the frozen air. Adding to the drama, Japan's white-tailed eagle — itself a formidable predator — also hunts these waters, and fierce aerial battles erupt as it refuses to yield to even the much larger Steller's. You will come away with hundreds of jaw-dropping images: eagles clutching thrashing fish in mid-flight, rivals clashing over prey on the ice, and giants feasting at the water's edge. We secure two mornings on the water — and most years, we make every single cruise.  
After breakfast in Rausu, we check out and embark on a stunning coastal drive along the Pacific, spending two nights immersed in some of the most spectacular wildlife country on Earth. This wild stretch of coastline is home to the largest herd of Sika deer on the planet — a sight that must be seen to be believed. We will also stalk the flame-coloured Ezo Red Fox, watch the black kites and other raptors patrol the OceanSide, and track dozens of other subarctic species across the tundra. The sunrises and sunsets here are extraordinary — vast, burning skies reflected in the Pacific that will leave you speechless. And in a moment that perfectly captures the magic of this expedition, we will spot and photograph over a dozen bird and wildlife species without even leaving our breakfast table. 

Itinerary

We advise participants to arrive in Japan (JST standard time and date) a day or two before our meet-and-greet. Also, please plan on departing a day or two after our Hokkaido photo workshop concludes. For these days, we will advise participants on hotel recommendations on request.

Day 1-2, February 14-15: Arrival and pickup at Tokyo Haneda Airport International Terminal, 10 a.m.; the location will be announced to participants. After meeting, we drive to Suwa Taisha Shinto Shrines, then travel to Matsumoto Castle, an original Samurai Castle completed in the sixteenth century, which maintains its original wooden interiors and external stonework. It is listed as a National Treasure of Japan. It is one of the twelve remaining original tenshu (castles with keeps) in Japan. After a day experiencing ancient Japan and the world of the Samurai, Shinto priests, and power spots, we make our way to our accommodations at Shibu Onsen village, home to the snow monkeys. Here we will visit and photograph the wild Japanese macaques in their natural habitat, and photograph them bathing in hot springs and around the Shibu Onsen village and Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. There are approximately 300 monkeys in the area, divided into 3 different troops. We may also visit a local Buddhist shrine that houses national treasures dating back over 1,000 years. Hotel at Snow Monkey Village TBA (2 nights). Rooms will have a shower bath, western or Japanese style room; plus, our lodgings will have communal hot springs/male and female baths separately. Breakfast and dinner at our hotel, lunch at a local restaurant.

 

Day 3, February 16: After breakfast at our lodgings at the snow monkey park will depart for Mt. Fuji, where our main goal is to photograph Japans best know symbol at Sunset and Sunrise, and with time we will spot the mute swan (Cygnus olor), which is a species of swan and a member of the waterfowl family Anatidae, you will have an up close and personal encounter with them, due to local conservationists such as my team and I who feed these swans and other birds during winters, and they know us well. We will also visit the Dragon’s Cave and the Sea of Trees. If time permits, we will visit all the Fuji Five Lakes: Yamanakako, Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Shojiko, and Motosuko. Lake Motosuko is showcased on the back of the one thousand yen banknote with Fujisan in the backdrop. We will also visit ice caves and the sea of trees. Overnight at Mt. Fuji Hotel TBA (1 night) – Our lodgings have private and communal hot springs/male and female baths separately. Western-style Rooms with a bath and a shower. Dinner and breakfast at our hotel, lunch at a local establishment.

 

Day 4, 5, February 17 - 18:  Transfer to Tokyo, Haneda Airport (HND) and fly to Kushiro, Hokkaido Airport (KUH) in the evening. The next day, we will photograph the Red-Crowned Cranes, also known as the snowballerinas, plus there are owls in the region. Hotel Two Nights Kushiro (TBA). Our lodgings have communal hot springs/male and female baths separately. Rooms have a shower and are western-style. Breakfast will be in our hotel; lunch will be at a local establishment, dinner will be outside at one of Hokkaido's and Japan's most famous Izakaya restaurants.

 Day 6, February 19: After breakfast and check-out of our lodgings in Kushiro, we will photograph the Red-Crowned Cranes. Then, after lunch, we will make our way to Lake Akan. We will experience winter alpine Landscape photography. We will visit the Ainu, the first nation people of Japan, and experience their culture and history. One night at Tsuruga Wings, the same lodgings that expedition leaders and I have used when on assignment with National Geographic and other prestigious photographic agencies. Our lodgings are huge, and they have not one but two The North Face shops and a variety of other shops, including Ainu hand-carved wood crafts. Our hotel is known across Japan for its healing onsen. There are several communal hot springs/male and female bath separately; there are also paid private hot springs. Rooms have showers and western baths — breakfast and dinner at the hotel, Japanese, Italian, and Chinese cuisine, lunch at a local restaurant.

Day 7, February 20: After breakfast and check-out at Akanko, we will make our way to another of the lakes in the Akan Volcanic Complex and check into our hotel. Here we will spot and photograph the Whopper swans in the golden hours. During the day, we will look to spot and photograph the Shima Enaga, Hokkaido red squirrel, the Eurasian Jay, Hokkaido red fox, among other species. 
Hotel 1 Night 3-star mountain lodge. Our lodgings have communal hot springs/male and female baths separately. Rooms have a shower and are western-style. Breakfast will be in our hotel; lunch will be at a local establishment.

Day 8, 9, February 21 - 22: After breakfast, we will depart for Rausu, where we will check into our lodgings, freshen up, have an early dinner, and then, before sunset, we will check into a local bird hide sanctuary by a natural river that is stocked with fish that the blakiston’s fish owl catch and eat during dark, the river is illuminated enough for us to to spot and photograph the Blakiston's fish owl. This hide is locally run, and we must enter before sunset and depart after the owl has shown up. Some nights can be long, and if anyone wishes to forgo this experience, they are more than welcome.

OUR main goal in Rausu is Raptors, we will board a chartered vessel in the AM to spot and photograph the Steller’s sea eagle, and white-tailed eagle on pack ice. After returning from our cruise and raptor experience, we will have lunch, take a break, then either photograph seabirds or venture out to spot and photograph the Ezo red fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki). 

Hotel 2 Night 3-star mountain lodge. Our lodgings have communal hot springs/male and female baths separately. Rooms have a shower and are western-style. Breakfast will be in our hotel; lunch will be at a local establishment.

 

Day 10, 11, February 23 - 24:  After breakfast in Rausu, we will travel the Pacific coastline to our next lodgings right on the oceanfront. And for the next two days, we will spend spotting and photographing the Ezo Sika Deer, Ezo Red Fox, Shima Enaga, Blakiston’s Fish Owl, and many other bird species found in Japan. Hotel TBA. Rooms will be western or Japanese, and will have a shower bath. Our lodgings will also include hot springs, male and female baths separately, breakfast and dinner at the hotel, and lunch at a local restaurant.

Day 12, February 25: After breakfast and checkout, we will make our way to Nakashibetsu, inland from the Pacific Coastline. It's about an hour's drive, so we will have plenty of time to enjoy photographing minimalist landscapes or local wildlife along the way, and to have lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon flight to Tokyo Haneda Domestic Terminal. My team and I will remain in Hokkaido, as our next group of photographers will arrive as you depart.


Thank you, and we look forward to our next adventure together. 

Why Choose this Photography Tour/Workshop?

•This Tour/workshop is fully inclusive.
•Activity level leisurely - moderate.
•Small group size of 8 participants and four staff members equals quality time. Participants' questions are always welcome and encouraged.
•Each evening and morning, we discuss our best shooting options with the weather conditions so that you will be well prepared.
• 2027 will be Blain's 29th year of leading photography workshops, tours, and wildlife adventures in Japan.
•Photographers of all levels are welcome.
• All Camera formats are welcome, including digital, handheld cameras, iPhone scoping, large format, film, etc.
•Photograph Mt. Fuji, Samurai Architecture, Snow Monkeys, Steller's Sea Eagle, Red-Crowned Crane and Sika Deer up close and personal.
•Film the largest herd of Sika Deer on our planet.
•Transportation: Private Sports Utility Vehicles with Business Class Seating.
•Min participants one Max Participants Eight. 

Tour Cost: $10,995. Includes all lodgings based on double room occupancy, all meals, all ground transportation, domestic group flights in Japan during the workshop, all entrance fees, and professional photography guide instruction

Single Supplement: $1,250

Not Included
∙Flights to and from Japan, Travel Insurance, Health Insurance, hotel extras, Alcohol Beverages

Registering For The Photography Tour/Workshop
This is going to be another magnificent winter wonderland adventure in Japan. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Blain Harasymiw or call +81 90-6923-3427. This is an all-inclusive workshop. We will pick you up at Tokyo Haneda airport and return you to the airport. Everything, from the time we pick you up to the time we drop you off, is included, except as noted above. 

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by pro Photographer & Instructor Blain Harasymiw.

A deposit of USD$1000 per persons, will reserve a place for you on one of our tours/workshops.By Making a Deposit or Full Payment, you agree to all Terms and Conditions for Participants/clients on any Japan Photography Workshop by Blain Harasymiw Photography.

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