Private 14-Day Japan Winter Birding Journey with All Japan Tours
A fourteen-day private winter birding journey from Hokkaido’s cranes and sea eagles to Kyushu wetlands, Lake Biwa, Karuizawa and Tokyo.
About this tour
This broad winter journey follows Japan’s birds from snowy Hokkaido to the milder south. The first week combines Sapporo park birding with Tsurui’s Red-crowned Cranes, Lake Kussharo’s swans, the Shiretoko coast, drift-ice cruises and eastern Hokkaido’s celebrated sea eagles and seabirds.
Domestic flights then connect the route to Izumi, where large winter crane gatherings feed in agricultural fields. Further stops include Lake Miike’s bird forest, Kyoto parkland, Lake Biwa and Katano’s waterfowl sanctuary before the itinerary reaches the forests and reservoirs around Karuizawa.
The USD 13,998 starting price is per person for a minimum of two sharing. It covers thirteen hotel or ryokan nights, daily breakfast, five dinners, specified domestic flights and bullet trains, private road transport, listed entries, gratuities and professional English-speaking birding guidance. Sapporo’s snow festival and Jigokudani’s macaques add cultural and wildlife variety, while all winter transport and cruise elements remain subject to current conditions.
Planning a wider trip? Read our birdwatching guide to Japan.
Birds you can spot
Sibirionetta formosa
target
Platalea minor
target
Ketupa blakistoni
target
Megaceryle lugubris
target
Grus monacha
target
Aix galericulata
target
Grus japonensis
target
Haliaeetus pelagicus
target
Antigone vipio
target
Haliaeetus albicilla
target
Cygnus cygnus
target
Guides
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival at New Chitose Airport
Meet the All Japan Tours representative after arrival and transfer to the Chitose-area hotel.
Day 2
Maruyama Park and Sapporo Snow Festival
Begin with guided woodland birding in Maruyama Park, then visit the seasonal snow and ice displays in central Sapporo.
Day 3
Sapporo and flight to Kushiro
Use the morning for the festival programme, transfer to Okadama Airport and fly to Kushiro for the eastern Hokkaido section.
Day 4
Tsurui cranes and Lake Kussharo swans
Start early at Tsurui’s crane roost and sanctuary sites, then continue to Lake Kussharo for Whooper Swans and other winter waterbirds.
Day 5
Shibetsu and Rausu coast
Work ports, shoreline and forest edge from Shibetsu toward Rausu for sea ducks, gulls, auks, eagles and a possible evening Blakiston’s Fish Owl observation.
Day 6
Shiretoko cruise, Notsuke and Lake Furen
Take the planned nature cruise near the drift ice, subject to conditions, then bird Notsuke grasslands and Lake Furen for raptors, swans and winter passerines.
Day 7
Ochiishi cruise, Cape Kiritappu and Tokyo flight
Sail from Ochiishi toward Yururi Island for winter seabirds, continue to Cape Kiritappu, then fly from Kushiro to Tokyo.
Day 8
Fly to Kagoshima and bird Izumi
Fly south to Kagoshima and continue to the Arasaki crane area at Izumi, where several crane species gather in large winter flocks.
Day 9
Arasaki and Kogawa Dam
Return to the Izumi fields for cranes and wetland birds, then explore the forest and water around Kogawa Dam for kingfishers, woodpeckers and ducks.
Day 10
Lake Miike, Osaka flight and Kyoto
Bird Lake Miike and its surrounding forest, fly from Miyazaki to Osaka and finish with a winter birding walk in Kyoto Imperial Palace Park.
Day 11
Lake Biwa, Katano and train to Nagano
Visit the Kohoku Wild Bird Center on Lake Biwa and Katano’s flooded wetland for grebes, geese and ducks, then board the bullet train from Kanazawa to Nagano.
Day 12
Jigokudani and Karuizawa transfer
Visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, return to Nagano and travel by bullet train to Karuizawa.
Day 13
Karuizawa forest and Saku reservoir
Walk the Wild Bird Sanctuary trails, continue to the Saku reservoir for ducks and raptors, then take the bullet train to Tokyo.
Day 14
Tokyo departure
Check out after breakfast and use the shared airport shuttle to Narita or Haneda Airport at the confirmed time.
Locations & map
- Sapporo and Maruyama Park - Hokkaido Japan (Urban woodland birding in winter, combined with the seasonal snow festival.)
- Tsurui and Lake Kussharo - Hokkaido Japan (Crane roosts, feeding grounds and partially open lake water in severe winter conditions.)
- Shiretoko, Rausu and Nemuro coast - Hokkaido Japan (Drift ice, exposed coast, cruises and marine birding subject to weather.)
- Izumi and Kogawa Dam - Kagoshima Prefecture Japan (Winter crane fields, wetlands and nearby forested water catchment.)
- Lake Miike and Kyoto - Miyazaki and Kyoto Prefectures Japan (Lakeside forest birding followed by winter park habitat.)
- Lake Biwa and Katano Waterfowl Sanctuary - Shiga and Ishikawa Prefectures Japan (Large freshwater lake and managed wetland used by wintering waterfowl.)
- Karuizawa Wild Bird Sanctuary and Saku - Nagano Prefecture Japan (Snowy forest trails and reservoir-edge birding before the final Tokyo transfer.)
7 stops in itinerary order. Select a marker for its name.
Availability & pricing
Availability: Available on request · Season: Private customized departures can be arranged year-round; this itinerary is designed for winter conditions and seasonal
Included
- Eight Western-style and five Japanese-style hotel or ryokan nights - Exact properties remain subject to the confirmed travel documents.
- Arrival meet-and-greet and airport transfers - Included at the airports stated for the itinerary.
- Private transfers between itinerary destinations - Baggage handling is included.
- Professional English-speaking birding guidance - Assigned by All Japan Tours.
- Daily breakfast - Included each morning.
- Entry fees and listed activities - Included for the sites and activities stated in the itinerary.
- Five dinners - Included on the nights specified by the itinerary.
- Four specified domestic flight sectors - Sapporo–Kushiro, Kushiro–Tokyo, Tokyo–Kagoshima and Miyazaki–Osaka.
- Three bullet-train sectors - Kanazawa–Nagano, Nagano–Karuizawa and Karuizawa–Tokyo.
- Kyoto-to-Tokyo luggage forwarding and gratuities - Included as stated by All Japan Tours.
Not included
- International airfare - Not included.
- Meals not specified in the itinerary - Special meal requests can be discussed before confirmation.
- Travel insurance - Guests should arrange suitable cover.
- Alcoholic and soft drinks - Not included unless confirmed otherwise.
- Personal expenses - Laundry, telephone charges and other personal purchases are excluded.
Transport & stays
- Private van, domestic flights, bullet trains, crui Multiple winter transport modes are included; cruise and flight operation remains subject to current conditions. | Meet: New Chitose Airport | Pickup: The journey ends with a shared transfer to Narita or Haneda Airport.
Accommodations
- Thirteen nights in route hotels and Japanese-style ryokan (days 1-13) Twin, double or triple sharing in the published base price Daily breakfast and five dinners; exact properties may be substituted
Policies & FAQ
Cancellation Policy
Payment Terms
Insurance & Safety
Can this private itinerary be customized?
Yes. All Japan Tours states that the itinerary can be adapted to guest interests and budget, subject to current logistics and availability.
Are bird sightings guaranteed?
No. The guide selects appropriate sites and timing, but all wildlife sightings depend on season, weather and natural conditions.
How is the starting price calculated?
The published starting price is per person for a minimum of two guests sharing a twin, double or triple room. A current written quotation is required before booking.
Send inquiry
Ask about this tour before booking. Your preferred date is optional and availability will be confirmed after your inquiry.