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INTRODUCTION
Join this unforgettable photographic adventure across Japan’s northern frontier with our Hokkaido Winter Wildlife Photo Tour. Blanketed in pristine snow and kissed by Arctic winds, Hokkaido transforms into a winter wonderland teeming with extraordinary wildlife and surreal landscapes. This tour is a dream come true for nature lovers and photographers alike. Witness the iconic red-crowned cranes performing their elegant courtship dances against snowy fields in Tsurui. Get up close with the mighty Steller’s sea eagles as they swoop dramatically over drift ice in the Sea of Okhotsk. Visit the serene landscapes of Shiretoko Peninsula to spot elusive Ezo red foxes, sika deer, and perhaps even the cutest long-tailed tits and the rare Blakiston’s fish owl. Guided by experienced photographers with local knowledge, you’ll have the opportunity to capture once-in-a-lifetime moments—from grand to intimate animal behavior in their natural habitats. With small group sizes, rightly-timed itineraries, and access to prime shooting locations, you’re set for an immersive experience that balances adventure, comfort, and artistic inspiration. This journey through Hokkaido’s magical winter wilderness promises powerful imagery, profound connection to wildlife, and authentic Japan experiences that will last a lifetime. |
DATE
21st - 28th February 2026 DURATION 8 days & 7 nights START Kushiro, Hokkaido END Kushiro, Hokkaido AIRPORT ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE Kushiro Airport, Hokkaido SEASON / WEATHER Winter (5 to -20 degrees Centigrade) GROUP SIZE 4 - 10 ACCOMMODATION 3-4 hotels and ryokan FITNESS LEVEL Easy LANGUAGE English TOUR LEADER / DRIVER Francis Ansing |
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ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS
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February 20: Arrival in Kushiro
All participants are requested to arrive in Kushiro on this day to have time allowance in case of flight cancellation or delay. Book your own room at Route Inn Kushiro. But arriving early afternoon on February 21 will be okay too. February 21: Kushiro (Official Start) If you arrived yesterday, no need to check out, for we are staying at the same Route Inn Kushiro. You may keep the room for one more night. We will have a briefing about the tour after breakfast. In the afternoon, we will head to Lake Kussharo to photograph whooper swans and other possible birds around the lake. February 22: Kushiro - Nemuro After breakfast, we will check out and head to Tsurui for a red-crowned crane shoot. We will first stop at Otowa Bridge to photograph the cranes along the Setsuri River. After that, we will go to the crane sanctuary to photograph them up close. Around 10:00 AM, we will head to a bird hide / cafe to photograph smaller birds, such as woodpeckers, Eurasian jays, Japanese tits, and long-tailed tits. We will continue our journey to Nemuro. There will be no shooting in the afternoon, and we might already arrive there at night. February 23: Nemuro to Yoroushi In the morning, we will be photographing Steller Sea Eagles and other raptors in the frozen Lake Furen. Fishermen feed them early in the morning. So, there is a big chance we can shoot them from a distance. After, we will head to Yoroushi and check in at our ryokan there. In the evening, will wait at our hide inside the ryokan for the endangered Blakiston’s Fish Owls to appear. |
February 24: Yoroushi
Another day and night at our ryokan. We will not head out because we can photograph other birds from the comfort of our hide. We will sit there all day, waiting for birds to come so we can photograph them freely. Then in the evening, we will spend time again waiting for the Blakiston’s Fish Owls. February 25: Yoroushi - Rausu We will check out and head north to Rausu. We will stop along the way if we encounter wildlife. It is possible to see Ezo Sika Deer and Red Foxes on the way to our hotel in Rausu. February 26: Rausu Early in the morning, we will take a Drift Ice Cruise to become closer to Steller Sea Eagles and White-Tailed Sea Eagles. In the afternoon, we will drive to the Notsuke Peninsula to photograph more wildlife, including Ezo zika deer and Ezo Red Fox. February 27: Rausu to Kushiro Another Drift Ice Cruise in the morning for more chances of photographing the sea eagles. After check out, we will head back to Kushiro and spend our last night in Hokkaido there. February 28: Kushiro to Haneda (Official End) After check out, we will head to Kushiro Airport for our flight to Haneda—end of tour. |
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TOUR COST
2450 USD or the equivalent in PHP (double / twin room rate) 2950 USD or the equivalent in PHP (single room rate) A monthly installment plan is available. Please enquire. WHAT'S INCLUDED? ✓ Twin accommodations for 7 nights (3-4 star hotels and ryokan) ✓ Transportation service for 8 days (10-seater van) ✓ Breakfasts ✓ Parking fees, petrol, toll fees ✓ 1 tour leader/driver ✓ 1 backup driver/tour assistant ✓ Drift Ice Cruise in Rausu |
NOT INCLUDED
X Accommodation outside the tour date X International and/or domestic flights X Bottled water, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and the like X Personal and incidental expenses X Meals not stated in the inclusions X Visa fees X Travel insurance X Laundry X Taxi or bus transportation to your hotel from Haneda Airport on the last day |
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PAYMENT AND RESERVATION
1. A 500 USD or the equivalent in PHP down payment or deposit is required upon registration. Down payment is non-refundable and non-transferable.
2. A monthly installment plan is available. Please message us if you want to avail of this payment scheme.
3. Down payment can be made using credit or debit cards. Click the "RESERVE NOW" link below.
4. If you are paying the down payment via wire/bank transfer, please send it to any of the bank accounts below and e-mail the proof of payment to [email protected] or [email protected]. Include your full name and the photography tour name in your email.
5. After payment, please fill out this REGISTRATION FORM.
6. We will send a receipt of payment and PDFs containing more information about the photo tour.
7. The balance is required to be fully settled 90 days before the first day of the tour. You may send the balance by wire/bank transfer, or by credit/debit card via a secure PayPal payment link.
1. A 500 USD or the equivalent in PHP down payment or deposit is required upon registration. Down payment is non-refundable and non-transferable.
2. A monthly installment plan is available. Please message us if you want to avail of this payment scheme.
3. Down payment can be made using credit or debit cards. Click the "RESERVE NOW" link below.
4. If you are paying the down payment via wire/bank transfer, please send it to any of the bank accounts below and e-mail the proof of payment to [email protected] or [email protected]. Include your full name and the photography tour name in your email.
5. After payment, please fill out this REGISTRATION FORM.
6. We will send a receipt of payment and PDFs containing more information about the photo tour.
7. The balance is required to be fully settled 90 days before the first day of the tour. You may send the balance by wire/bank transfer, or by credit/debit card via a secure PayPal payment link.
FOR BANK/WIRE TRANSFERS, PLEASE USE ANY OF THE ACCOUNTS BELOW
Bank: UnionBank of the Philippines (PESO ACCOUNT)
Account Name: Shutter Adventures Co
Account Number: 0005-8002-0812
BIC/Swift Code: UBPHPHMM
Bank Code: 010419995
Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands (US DOLLAR ACCOUNT)
Account Name: Francis Eneria Ansing
Account: 3254-0482-07
BIC/Swift Code: BOPIPHMM
Bank Code: 010040018
Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands (PESO ACCOUNT)
Account Name: Francis Eneria Ansing
Account: 9809-2077-33
BIC/Swift Code: BOPIPHMM
Bank Code: 010040018
Bank: BDO, Unibank, Inc. (PESO ACCOUNT)
Account Name: Francis Eneria Ansing
Account Number: 008180116757
BIC/Swift Code: BNORPHMM
Bank Code: 010530667
Paypal
[email protected]
Bank: UnionBank of the Philippines (PESO ACCOUNT)
Account Name: Shutter Adventures Co
Account Number: 0005-8002-0812
BIC/Swift Code: UBPHPHMM
Bank Code: 010419995
Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands (US DOLLAR ACCOUNT)
Account Name: Francis Eneria Ansing
Account: 3254-0482-07
BIC/Swift Code: BOPIPHMM
Bank Code: 010040018
Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands (PESO ACCOUNT)
Account Name: Francis Eneria Ansing
Account: 9809-2077-33
BIC/Swift Code: BOPIPHMM
Bank Code: 010040018
Bank: BDO, Unibank, Inc. (PESO ACCOUNT)
Account Name: Francis Eneria Ansing
Account Number: 008180116757
BIC/Swift Code: BNORPHMM
Bank Code: 010530667
Paypal
[email protected]
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THINGS TO BRING
- Travel document (passport) - Clothing for 5 days (laundry is conveniently available at hotels) - Winter jacket (down, waterproof, windproof) - Warm pants - Winter shoes (mid- to hi-cut) - Warm bonnet/beanie - Winter gloves - Warm socks - Balaclava - Moisturizer - Lip moisturizer - Flashlight or headlamp - Personal medicines - Pocket money - Cellular phone - Wifi - Pocket money and a credit card - Snow spikes for shoes |
CAMERA GEAR
- Camera body (mirrorless or DSLR) - Lenses (70-200mm, 100-600mm) - Sturdy tripod/monopod/gimbal - Extra batteries - Laptop or tablet for transferring and reviewing files - External hard drive - Extra memory cards |