Japan Tours
Hokkaido & Honshu Islands
Autumn nature, wildlife and bird watching tour

 

Hokkaido & Honshu Islands Autumn Nature Tour

For people who wish to see the seldom visited parts of Japan, meet the locals and really experience nature in Hokkaido.

See the rich gold, yellow and red autumn foliage both in forests and gardens plus go birdwatching in National Parks and nature conservation areas on this in-depth nature tour.

First class accommodated , fully escorted nature expedition, off the beaten track in Japan's far northern island of Hokkaido and northern Honshu island.

Commences in Sapporo on Sunday 10 October, 2010
Land only price AUD$ 7,998

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Small group, guided nature tour in Hokkaido island and northern Honshu island, featuring bird watching, autumn leaves, wild flowers and wildlife viewing.

 

Autumn Coloured Leaves & Bird Watching

October coincides with the best time for viewing the red, yellow and golden carpet of autumn leaves, that cover the deciduous forests for which Hokkaido’s national parks can be so proud. October also happens to be the best month for viewing migrating birds as they arrive in Japan, fleeing from the harsh Siberian winter.

The coastline here is best described as wild with only a few small fishing villages with quaint little harbours scattered between the rocky peninsulas and dunes. We stay at a small Ryokan at Cape Nosappu , the most easterly point of Japan, where Harlequin Ducks and Kurile Seals have been seen on our previous tours.

Sixty-eight percent of Japan is covered by forest and almost all the remaining virgin forest is in Hokkaido, mostly subarctic coniferous and cool temperate broad-leafed deciduous.

Between Hokkaido and Honshu the Tsugaru Strait forms a zoo- geographical border called the Blakiston Line, the southern limit of northern species, notably White-tailed Eagle, Japanese Crane, Blakiston's Fish Owl, Grey-headed Woodpecker and Pine Grosbeak.

On our previous tours we have seen Brown Bear, Japanese Serow, Macaque, Pika, Japanese Tanuki and White Tailed Eagle.

We have also had excellent sightings of Japanese Red-crowned Cranes, Latham's Snipe and Great Spotted Woodpecker.



Transport & Accommodation

An overnight cruise from Tomakomae to Sendai will offer you an excellent opportunity for early morning viewing of pelagic birds. Twin share cabins with private facilities will be provided.

Our private charter coaches will take you beyond the reach of public transport. You will also tour 2500m up Mt. Fuji to above the tree line, ride a ropeway close by a volcano, a cable car and switchback railway back down again. The Shinkansen bullet train will also be included.

Hotels and Japanese Inns have been specially chosen offering, guaranteed twin share accommodation, fine dining experiences, therapeutic spa baths and excellent locations.



A Cultural Experience

Experience the atmosphere of old world Japan when you stay for several nights in true Japanese style accommodation with tatami floors, sliding paper doors (Shoji) and a banquet of local delicacies served by ladies dressed in kimonos.

Enjoy the cultural pleasure of genuine Japanese spa baths (onsen) where therapeutic waters are said to cure everything from arthritis to fatigue. On other nights you will stay in more familiar western style hotels.



Exclusive Meetings and Local Guides

Special arrangements have been made for members of this tour to meet with members of several nature protection societies and curators at the Abashiri Drift Ice Museum and Kushiro Nature Centre.

Local guides will be with you on selected walks to help identify birds, plants and animals and to answer any questions. On previous journeys our local bird experts have brought telescopes with them for our guests to use.

Slide presentations and talks will also be given by specialists on various subjects including the breeding and rehabilitation of the world’s largest owl, Blakiston's Fish Owl (1.8 metre wingspan).



Something for everyone

This tour is ideal for people who wish to discover the beauty and nature of Hokkaido Island.

Rarely visited by foreign tourists this is a vast island of wild coastal cliffs, extensive marshlands and forested mountains, a wonderful resource for birds, plants, animals and photogenic natural scenery.

Central Honshu Island will also be included with visits to Matsushima, with it's numerous pine tree covered islands set in a sheltered bay, Hakone Spa and Mt. Fuji.



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