8 Day Hokkaido Photography Tour in Japan

On day two, you'll rise early to capture the spectacular birdlife that Tsurui is well-known for. You'll spend the next couple of days exploring the area, in search of one of the world's rarest birds – the red-crowned cranes. Your photography guides will take you to strategic locations where you'll have stunning opportunities to photograph the cranes, Sika deer, Hokkaido foxes, eagles and owls in their natural habitat. Once thought to be extinct, these revered birds make for an extraordinary sight, set against the stark white landscape with their glorious plumage. It's no wonder that they're a symbol of love.

Day four sees you rising early to journey to Rausu, a fishing town on the edge of Nemuro Strait. With a population of just 5000 people, it's small but not without charm. This region is home to the Steller's sea eagle, which migrates from Russia to Japan for the winter. With any luck, you'll also spot some white-tailed sea eagles, circling in the sky. The day will be spent on an excursion at sea with a number of local bird specialists. As we sail along the coastline, we'll be perfectly placed to witness flocks of these designated protected eagles as they hunt for fish on the pack ice which has drifted down from the Okhotsk Sea. This experience will be a bird photographer's dream so be sure to have your telephoto lenses at the ready as we sail around the Shiretoko Peninsula. Once we make our way back to shore, we'll head to our sunset location at Lake Furen in the Notsukefurendoritsu National Park. The lake freezes over in winter, making for an extraordinary place to spot eagles and other birds.

As the sun rises, we focus our lenses on the captivating wildlife surrounding Lake Furen. Following this, we bid farewell to our hotel at Lake Furen and set our course for Teshikaga. Today, we transition from wildlife photography to capturing the stunning landscapes of the area. Our destination for the evening's sunset adventure is Lake Mashū, a magnificent crater lake nestled within a vast caldera. Situated in Akan National Park on Japan's Hokkaido Island, Lake Mashū has earned the reputation of being one of the clearest lakes globally.

Around Lake Mashū, we'll discover numerous minimalist scenes featuring solitary trees. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to photograph the elegant whooper swans as they gracefully bask in the warm, golden-hued waters of Kusshiro Lake during sunset. These swans spend their winter here, enjoying the soothing hot springs, creating a picturesque and serene atmosphere for our photography.

We capture the beauty of Lake Kussharo from the most picturesque vantage point, the Bihoro Pass. Following a splendid sunrise, we indulge in a hearty breakfast, complete our hotel check-out, and embark on a scenic drive to Biei, punctuated by several stops to capture the essence of Hokkaido's pristine snow-covered landscapes. Today, our photography focus centers on the minimalist charm of solitary trees amidst the deep powder of Hokkaido's snow-covered hills.

Upon reaching Biei in the evening, we make ourselves comfortable at our hotel, where we will spend the next three nights, ensuring we have a cozy and convenient base for our photography adventures in the region.

Day six sees us rising to meet the first rays of the sun back at Akan National Park, this time at Lake Kussharo. This caldera lake is simply breathtaking when viewed from the Bihoro mountain pass, situated at 493 metres above the lake itself. You'll be well-placed to capture a spectacular panoramic view of the surroundings, before we head back down to breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, we'll check out from our accommodation and make the journey to Biei, a rural town surrounded by rolling hills and steep cliffs covered in pure white snow. Along the way, we'll make numerous stops to further explore compositions for minimal photography, as we focus upon single trees standing steadfast in the enchanting snowscapes. We'll arrive in Biei in the evening, checking in to our hotel just in time for dinner. This will be our base for the next 3 nights.

Our Hokkaido exploration continues as we journey southward from Biei toward Sapporo. As the day draws to a close, we have the opportunity to photograph the striking torii gates perched atop the rocky outcrop in the water. Prepare your ND filters to capture long exposures that will transform your shots into timeless images, preserving the essence of this picturesque scene.

Revisit Ebisu Iwa at sunrise to further hone your seascape photography skills, including the use of filters for achieving captivating long exposures. Following a satisfying breakfast at the hotel, we'll proceed with packing and checking out. Our journey then takes us to Sapporo Airport Chitose, a scenic two-hour drive away.

Our aim is to arrive at the airport by noon, so I recommend scheduling your flight departure after 14:00. A great option is ANA Flight 66, departing at 14:30 bound for Tokyo.

Alternatively, if you wish to extend your stay and explore Sapporo, we'll be happy to drop you off at Sapporo's main train station. This way, you can independently reach your chosen hotel and immerse yourself in the city's unique offerings at your leisure.