Discover the wonders of Hokkaido on a unique wildlife and birdwatching adventure. Marvel at Steller’s Sea Eagles, Red-crowned Cranes, and red-tailed foxes roaming the wild. Experience authentic cultural encounters with the Ainu people in Akanko and learn about their heritage. Photograph serene, snow-blanketed vistas and unwind with tranquil Shinrin Yoku (forest bathing). Reserve your place for this extraordinary journey, February 1–9, 2028.

Prepare to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure through Hokkaido’s enchanted winter wilderness! When the first snow falls, this northern island becomes a sparkling realm of wonder—a living postcard where adventure calls at every turn. For more than two decades, Blain has led intrepid explorers into Japan’s wild heart, unveiling magical moments and rare encounters that linger long after the journey ends. Now, it’s your turn to answer the call and join an expedition crafted for those who crave awe, discovery, and the thrill of the unknown.

Day 1 Your journey begins in style with a business class flight from Tokyo Haneda (HND) to the remote wilds of Kushiro, Hokkaido. The moment you touch down, adventure takes over. After a warm greeting and quick stop at our photographers' lodgings, you’ll plunge straight into the legendary Kushiro wetlands. Here, you’ll witness and photograph the Red-Crowned Crane, a living symbol of grace and endurance. These majestic birds are true performers—snow ballerinas that leap, bow, and dance in a courtship ritual as magical as the landscape itself. Dinner and breakfast at our hotel, lunch at a local establishment

Day 2: The adventure intensifies. Weather permitting, we’ll rise before dawn and cross the Otowabashi Bridge, where cranes roost in the ethereal mist. If the morning is mild, we’ll savour breakfast before setting out for another day in the wetlands, tracking cranes and other rare species. As golden sunlight filters through frost-laced trees, you’ll find yourself in a dreamscape—cranes waking, dancing, and taking flight in a river of morning fog. Every moment is a chance for that once-in-a-lifetime shot. 

Hotel TBA (2 nights) – 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. 

Days 5–6: Dawn breaks and you’re back at Lake Kushiro, camera ready for the whooper swans’ sunrise ballet. Then, the quest continues—this time to the edge of the world: Rausu, where sea and ice collide. Here, three private boat cruises await, each one venturing deep into the pack ice to bring you face-to-face with the legendary Steller’s Sea Eagles and White-tailed Eagles. These massive raptors dive, hunt, and soar just meters away, offering action and drama for your lens. Off the boats, your adventure continues in rugged SUVs, chasing golden light across a landscape alive with seabirds, foxes, and dramatic coastal vistas. As dusk falls, you’ll settle into a hidden bird hide to photograph the mysterious Blakiston’s fish owl—a rare apex predator that rules the nighttime rivers. Every hour is a pulse-quickening adventure, and every evening brings new stories to share.

Hotel TBA (2 nights) – 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.

Days 7–8: The grand adventure rolls on. After one last epic boat cruise with the Steller’s sea eagles, the journey heads north up the wild coastline to the Lake Furenko region—a paradise for naturalists and photographers. These days are a true wildlife safari: you’ll seek out Ezo Sika Deer wandering through snow, catch glimpses of Ezo Red Foxes on the prowl, and fill your memory cards with images of rare birds—black kites, marsh tits, woodpeckers, Shima Enaga, Ural owls, and so many more. Every sunrise and sunset becomes a private show, the sky ablaze above the Pacific, with front-row seats right outside your lodgings. Here, the adventure is as endless as the horizon.

Hotel TBA (2 nights) – 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.

Why Choose this Photography Tour/Workshop?

•Photographers of all levels are welcome.
• All Camera formats are welcome: digital, handheld, iPhone, large format, film, etc.
•Photograph the 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.
•Activity level: leisurely to moderate.
•Small group size equals quality time with 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.
•2028 will be Blain's 30th year leading photo adventures in Japan.
• Minimum participants: one, Maximum participants: Six. 

Tour Cost: $9,995 Includes all lodgings based on double room occupancy, domestic flights in as described in the itinerary, all breakfasts lunches and dinners, all ground transportation sports utility vehicles with business class seating, all entrance fees, all donations at Buddhist- Shinto temples and shrines, photography guide instruction, receive a more detailed itinerary after sign up with clothing and gear recommendations.

Single Supplement: $1,250

Not Included: Flight to and from Japan, travel health insurance, alcohol beverages, hotel extras and items of a personal nature.

Workshop/Tour Policies

General Enrollment Information for Adventure/Workshops
by Instructor/Teacher of Photography Blain Harasymiw.

A non-refundable deposit of USD$1000 per person 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.