Join Photographer Yukinori Otsuka, a Resident of Hokkaido, on a Special Photo Tour to Capture the Winter Nature and Wildlife of Eastern Hokkaido!

We will gather at Kushiro Airport, where we will also meet up with the nature photographer, Yukinori Otsuka.

In the afternoon, we will head to Teshikaga and stay at Masuya, an inn for travelers and nature photographers.

As long as time and weather permit, we will observe nature and take photos in the surrounding forest.

During dinner, the host will share stories about the local nature, birds, and wild animals.

Mr. Otsuka will also tell us about his relocation to Hokkaido, the appeal of Hokkaido’s beauty of nature, and show examples of his own photographic works.

We will get a move on early in the morning to capture the winter natural landscapes in the early light, such as the morning glow at Bihoro Pass and the scenery of Lake Kussharo below. We can easily see the contrast between the outer mountain and the huge caldera that created the lake.

After the shoot, we will move on to Lake Mashu and capture the mystical lake from the first observation deck of Lake Mashu. It may be completely frozen or show a deep azure known as ‘Mashu Blue’ due to its high transparency, depending on the season.

In the afternoon, we will head to Mt. Io, where snow does not accumulate even in winter. We will witness the ongoing volcanic activity and the experience standing in the middle of the volcano, feeling the geothermal heat and the smell of sulfur.

If we have time in the evening, we will do astrophotography at the Lake Mashu observatory, and capture the overwhelmingly beautiful starry sky.

This is a spare day for Day 2, and will be used as a backup for shooting around Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu. If we are able to hit our photographic goals on Day 2, then we will move on to Tsurui village to observe and photograph red-crowned cranes (tancho).

In the afternoon, we will visit the Kushiro Wetland Wildlife Protection Center to learn about the surrounding wildlife and ecosystem.

The photography tour involves many early morning, evening, and nighttime shoots. Since winter photography with cold temperatures can be physically demanding, rest time will be provided based on the condition of the participants.

The morning will be used as spare time for Day 2 activities.

In the afternoon, we will make a move to Rausu in the Shiretoko Peninsula.

If there is an opportunity, we will take photos of the nature and wildlife of Eastern Hokkaido that can be seen on the way.

Once we arrive, we will check into Washi no Yado, a lodging where Blakiston’s fish owls regularly hunt, allowing us to observe and photograph their hunting behavior at night.

We will depart early in the morning to catch the Shiretoko Nature Cruise to see the drift ice.　During the cruise to Shiretoko Cape, we can photograph large birds of prey such as white-tailed and steller’s sea eagles foraging on the drift ice with the sunrise as our background.

In order to provide photographic opportunities, the ship will take considerations such as cutting off the engine and moving slowly, allowing us to photograph wild birds that cannot be observed from land.

In the afternoon, a rest period is scheduled. We can also take photos of small birds and wildlife such as long-tailed tits around the inn. At night, we can also observe and photograph the hunting behavior of Blakiston’s fish owls.

The morning of Day 6 is kept as a backup for Day 5 activities, with a second chance for photography from the cruise ship.

In the afternoon, we will move to Abashiri.

If we can photograph to our satisfaction on the cruise on Day 5, we will start the day early and take photos of natural scenery such as Mt. Shari on the way to our next destination.

We will observe and photograph Ezo momonga, Eurasian flying squirrels, a species native to Hokkaido, at a park in Abashiri city.

Through this experience, we hope to appreciate the richness of Hokkaido’s nature, even in urban areas.

After taking our time photographing the squirrels, we will head to Memanbetsu Airport, where the tour will conclude.