Hokkaido Photography Workshop Tour Feb, 14 - 25, plus Extension to Feb, 28, 2023.

Rough Mapping of 2023 Hokkaido Photo workshop February 14 - 25, including extension to March 4, 2023.  May you require more precious mapping of certain regions, please contact Blain.  We traveled about 2000KM, and the entire route is rather large and complicated, but I have our entire route on one Garmin Map, along with points we visited. 

Day 1:  After our Meet and Greet and Tokyo Haneda Airport, we drove directly to Mt. Fuji, and visited Lake Yamankakako, where we visited with swans, then we explored Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine, which is actually the classic starting point to climb Mt. Fuji.  Our lodgings were Hotel Mt. Fuji 

Day 2:  We went for the classic morning golden hour shot of Mt. Fuji but it was mostly cloudy.  Then we returned to our lodgings for breakfast, then check out.

Our destination this day was Shibu Onsen, Snow Monkey Park.  On our way we stopped at Suwa Taisha Shinto Shrine Complex, this is the most popular pilgrimaged Shinto Shrine for Japanese peoples. Then we stopped at Matsumoto Castle, for a few snapshots, and left in rather a hurry to make it to our lodgings before sunset, as there was a possible storm moving in our direction. 

Day 2 - 3:  We stayed in the Shibu Onsen Region, where we hiked up and spent until after lunch photographing the snow monkeys.  Our lodgings, were Masuya. 

Day 4:  We departed Shibu Onsen village after breakfast, and drove to Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan.  Where we visited one of Japans Toko Ji temple's.  The Buddhist Hall is one of a kind, my favorite images scenes here are the bamboo corridor and temple guardian. 

Day 5: This morning after breakfast in Kofu, we drove to Haneda Airport, to catch out flight to Hokkaido.  After landing in Hokkaido, we drove to our lodgings Kushirolavista.  We spent two nights in Kushiro where we used as a base, to photograph the Red-crowned cranes, and owls. 

Day 7 - 8:  After checkout at our lodgings in Kushiro, we drove to Akanko in the Akan Volcanic Complex, where we spent two nights.  On Day 8, we went for a day trip to Lake Kushiro to spot and photograph Whooper Swans other birds, and landscapes. Our lodgings were Tsuruga  Wings Hotel

Day 9 - 12:  After Check out in Akanko, we drove to Teshikaga, where drove several back roads for minimalist landscapes shots, then off to Pacific Ocean and checked into our lodgings for 3 Nights, Sea Side Hotel.  On day 9, we drove most of Notsuke Peninsula where we spotted an unusually high amount of Ezo Red Foxes, plus we photographed deer, plus other birds and landscapes.  

Day 10:  Due to unstable pack ice and weather, we did not go out this day on to photograph the Steller's Sea Eagle's, and White-tailed eagles on pack ice.  Instead we went to Lake Furen, to photograph black kites and other birds.  Plus here we spotted the Hokkaido Thunder Cats Mating Ritual, sorry the video has not been edited yet. After this amazingly rare video moment, went to Nemuro, where we should have spotted raptors and other wildlife, but due to rough and cold weather, the raptors and other wildlife were waiting out the rough weather in the forests. 

Day 11:  We left our lodgings early morning, and drove into Rausu where we boarded our chartered vessel to spot and photograph The Steller's Sea Eagles, and White-tailed eagles.  After we drove to roads end Shiretoko National Park, Japan's most northern road.

Day 12:  After breakfast, as a group we chose to stay in the dining room and photograph wildlife from the windows.  Check out at 10:45, then we took the back roads to Nakashibetsu.  Dropped off Kevin and Portia at the Airport, then the rest of the group booked into our lodgings in Nakashibetsu, Toyo Grand Hotel, and had a leisurely evening.  

Day 13:  After an early breakfast, Gaku drove the group up to Lake Mashuko, which is in the top 2 clearest and cleanest lakes on our planet.  I stayed with Manami in Teshikaga, due to her not feeling well after eating a raw cream sauce for dinner the night before.  After meeting up again, we went for landscapes, but due to a fast moving wind and snow storm, I cut short our day, and we made our way to our wilderness lodgings, Yuyado Daiichi.  Due to the blizzard, staff who live in the surrounding Hamlets could not return home that evening. 

Day 14:  We departed our lodgings for Rausu, to photograph, The Steller's Sea Eagles and White-tailed eagles by boat.  We departed extra early, due to possibility of road closures from the storm, and a few times we had to back track, due to road closures.  But we made it with plenty of time and boarded our chartered boat.  Then after we returned to dock, we went for lunch, and back to Notsukehanto Peninsula, to get portraits of the Eizo Sika Deer.  Then we returned to our lodgings, met in the lodges main room with fireplace to photograph the Blakiston's fish owl at 18:00.  We did not have to wait long, as the bird arrived at 18:30.  

Day 15:  After breakfast, we photographed wildlife at our wilderness lodge, then checkout at 10:45.  Then we drove to the Kushiro wetlands to photograph the Red-crowned cranes.  We departed the region about 14:00, and headed for Kushiro Airport, Gaku, ST, Maggie and Joe departed for Tokyo Haneda Airport.  Manami and I stayed for the next several weeks, where I lead several photo workshops. 

Thank you, all for joining my 2023 Hokkaido photo workshops, I hope you will join me on another adventure sometime.  And because you were such a great bunch I will give you 20% off your next adventure with us.🙏

Also, 5 star google review would be appreciated, as I am now understanding how positive google reviews are.  Thank you, Blain Manami, and Gaku, plus support group team.