Day 1: Participants should arrive in Tokyo no later than this evening. Night near Tokyo’s Narita Airport.

Day 2: We’ll make an early start with a morning visit to the marshes and reed beds of the Tone River, which is quite close to our hotel in Narita. This area is home to a wide variety of wetland birds and we should see Oriental and Black-browed Reed-warblers, while the localized Ochre-rumped (Japanese Reed) Bunting commonly breeds in the reed beds. If we’re lucky we’ll see our main target here, the restricted range Marsh Grassbird performing its distinctive display flight above the reeds; this is one of just a handful of locations for this rare and localized near endemic. 

After a lunch in the field, we'll move on to Shiga Kogen, a plateau in the Japanese Alps. This beautiful temperate woodland supports a rich selection of species in a relatively small area. The woods will be full of resident birds and returning summer visitors, many in full song. If we have time, we'll begin our explorations of the tracks and trails through deciduous and mixed woodland and along fast-flowing streams. Night at Shiga Kogen.

Day 3: As we bird the woodlands today, we'll be on the lookout for some special birds like Rufous Hawk-Cuckoo, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Brown Dipper, Japanese Thrush, Siberian Blue Robin, Siberian Stonechat, Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Eastern Crowned and Japanese Leaf Warblers, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Eurasian Bullfinch, and if we are lucky, the scarce and localized Grey and Japanese Yellow Buntings. If we receive reports, we may also go out at dusk in search of Ural Owl. Night at Shiga Kogen.

Day 4: After a final morning’s birding at Shiga Kogen, we’ll drive to the iconic Mount Fuji just south of Tokyo. We’ll bird along the way and if we have time, we’ll explore the forests in the vicinity of our hotel. We should have time to drive up the Subaru Line, the road that climbs the flanks of this most beautiful of mountains. We’ll bird as we go, hoping to find some of our main targets here, not least of which is Japanese Accentor, but also including Red-flanked Bluetail, Japanese Green-Pigeon, Ashy Minivet, Japanese Robin, or the diminutive Asian Stubtail, among others. Night at Gotemba.

Day 5: This morning we’ll again go birding either on the upper slopes of Mount Fuji (depending on how we did yesterday) or at a nearby reserve in Hakone, where we may find Japanese Green Pheasant and Daurian Redstart amongst others. After lunch we’ll make our way back towards Tokyo. Night in Haneda.

Day 6: We’ll fly farther south this morning to Naha, on the island of Okinawa, which lies at the southern end of the Japanese archipelago. Naha was the capital of the former kingdom of Ryukyu and was built around the king’s Shuri Castle. Sadly, large parts of the castle were lost to fire in 2019 but it is still a fascinating place to visit and reflect on this former kingdom that once held so much power, lying as it did at the crossroads with China and Japan. We may also visit the Shikinaen garden constructed in the 18th century as the second residence of the Ryukyu kings. It features beautiful, simple wooden palace buildings in the Okinawan style and a spacious Okinawan style landscape garden surrounding a central pond.

Okinawa is a large subtropical island, made infamous as the location of a major battle between American and Japanese forces in World War II. Large numbers of U.S. forces are still stationed in the southern part of the island, but the northern section, known as the Yanbaru, is covered in subtropical forest. We’ll travel northward to our lodging near the small town of Ada, our base for exploring the Yanbaru forest. Night at Kunigami.

Day 7: Okinawa holds a wide range of endemic and localized species, all of which occur in the Yanbaru area, now designated as a national park. It is here that the Okinawa Rail, discovered in 1981, and Okinawa Woodpecker occur. Rather easier to see here are Whistling Green-Pigeon, Pacific Swallow, Okinawa Robin, Ryukyu Minivet, and a distinctive endemic subspecies of Varied Tit. Okinawa Rails have become increasingly common, perhaps due to an excellent program of mongoose control that has been implemented in recent years, so we’ll spend much of our birding time on the island in search of this charismatic species and other endemics. Other targets include the wonderful Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher and the gaudy Ruddy Kingfisher. In the evening, for those with interest, we will cruise the backroads for endemic reptiles and amphibians. Night at Kunigami.

Days 8-9: After a final morning’s birding we’ll drive back to Naha and take the short flight to Amami Oshima. Sometimes known as the Galapagos of the East, Amami Oshima supports extensive areas of lush, subtropical forest as well as a distinctive community of birds, mammals, and reptiles including a host of little-known and very localized species. On arrival we'll take a very short drive to a beachside area in search of Black-faced Spoonbill and other shorebirds that might be around. 

The island is home to a handful of fabulous endemics including the beautiful Lidth’s Jay, a fairly common bird here, the secretive Amami Woodcock, and the much scarcer Amami Thrush. Other birds we may encounter include the surprisingly confiding Ryukyu Scops-Owl, the distinctive Ryukyu race of Brown Hawk-Owl, the delightful but skulking Ryukyu Robin, and the very distinctive and highly splittable race of White-backed (Owsten’s) Woodpecker. In addition to the endemic birds, we may find the remarkable nocturnal Amami Black Rabbit and Amami Spiny Rat. In the evening we will do a night drive in search of the woodcock, the owls, and the rabbit, as well as endemic frogs and snakes. Nights at Amami Oshima. 

Day 10: This morning we’ll visit the fascinating Amami Cultural Park, where we can have the rare opportunity to see the works of Tanaka Isson, one of Japan's greatest painters, as well as a cultural display that allows a deeper understanding of Japanese island life. Then we'll make our way to the airport for our mid-morning flight back to Tokyo. Night at Haneda.

Day 11: This morning we’ll travel by air to Kushiro, where we’ll pick up our vehicle and drive to the Kiritappu Marshland Observatory and Cape Kiritappu en route to Nemuro. We'll be on the lookout for Black-browed Reed Warbler and Middendorff’s Grasshopper Warbler, in particular. After lunch with Siberian Rubythroats and Japanese Cormorants at the Cape we’ll make our way eastwards to the Nemuro Peninsula hopefully with several stops for Red-crowned Cranes, maybe even with chicks. We will also visit several hides in nature reserves or forest roads for Marsh Tit, White’s Thrush, Brown-headed Thrush, Eurasian Bullfinch, or Japanese Bush Warbler. Night in Nemuro.

Day 12: This morning we’ll take a nature cruise from the small port of Ochiishi this morning hoping for a remarkable array of seabirds including Spectacled Guillemot, Pigeon Guillemot, Ancient Murrelet, Tufted Puffin, Common and Brunnich’s Guillemot, Rhinoceros Auklet, Short-tailed, Sooty, and Flesh-footed Shearwaters, Japanese, Pelagic and Red-faced Cormorants or even Black-footed or Laysan Albatross. Afterwards we’ll make our way northwards to the Shiretoko Peninsula, stopping at several marshlands and grasslands for birding en route. One detour will be to the Notsuke Peninsula which is great for Lanceolated Warbler, Long-tailed Rosefinch, and Eurasian and Oriental Cuckoos. Night in Rausu.  

Day 13: This afternoon we’ll take a short cruise for whale-watching. Our chances of seeing Orcas are high and we will probably spot some more of the special seabirds that occur here. Harlequin Duck, Black Scoter, Red-throated and Pacific Loons, Pelagic Cormorants, Black-tailed Gull, Spectacled Guillemot, Rhinoceros Auklet are all possible. Later we’ll drive inland to stay at one of the most charming lodges in all of Japan, which is really saying something! As we immerse ourselves in Japanese culture, we will be on the lookout for the Blakiston’s Fish Owl that regularly visits the stream that runs in front of the lodge. A well-stocked feeder just outside the lobby also attracts some great birds including Great Spotted and White-backed Woodpeckers, Hokkaido Jay, and Japanese, Marsh, Coal and Long-tailed Tits. Night at Yoroushi.

Day 14: This morning we’ll venture out to visit the Lake Akan area where we’ll drive and walk the quiet forest roads in search of Black and Grey-headed Woodpeckers, Spotted Nutcracker, Red Crossbill, and with a lot of luck, Hazel Grouse. In the afternoon we will venture farther north to Lake Tofutsu where we hope to find Chestnut-eared Bunting and maybe even Wryneck. If time permits, we'll also drop in to Shiretoko National Park, where we might find Brown Bear, safely from our vehicle of course! We’ll return again for another night in Yoroushi for hopefully another meeting with the Blakiston’s Fish Owl! Night at Yoroushi.

Day 15: On our last day of the tour we'll head to the airport with a stop at On'nenai in the Kushiro Marshlands National Park for some grassland and wetland birds, possibly including more encounters with Siberian Rubythroat, Middendorff's Grasshopper Warbler, Black-browed Reed Warbler, Common Reed Bunting, Long-tailed Tit, Chestnut-cheeked Starling, Black-faced Bunting or the charismatic Latham's Snipe. Then we'll make our way to Kushiro airport for our flight back to Tokyo, where the tour concludes upon arrival at Haneda airport. 

2026 Narrative

Day 1: Arrival and Welcome Dinner
The group gathered at 6:00 pm for a brief welcome meeting, providing an opportunity to get acquainted, discuss the itinerary, and answer any questions before enjoying our first dinner together.

Day 2: Wetlands, Ural Owl and Karuizawa
We met early for breakfast at 6:00 am, where we were joined by our local guide and driver, Koichi-san. Departing at 7:00 am, we drove approximately 90 minutes to Ukishima, where we enjoyed our first taste of Japanese wetland birding. The reedbeds and marshes produced excellent views of species such as Oriental Reed Warbler, Marsh Grassbird, and Zitting Cisticola. We then continued to nearby Nogi Shrine located within a beautiful forested site where our main target, the elusive Ural Owl, showed well. Afterward, we travelled to Watarase for a picnic lunch while enjoying one of Japan's largest remaining wetland systems, with a roosting pair of Long-eared Owls with their two fledglings – a scarce bird in Japan. Later we headed to the northern point of the reservoir where we found nesting Oriental Storks and close Green Pheasants, amongst others. We then continued to Karuizawa, arriving at our hotel around 5:00 pm after a rewarding first day in the field, followed by a memorable dinner at a local restaurant.                                                                  
Day 3: Forest Birding in Karuizawa
An early start saw us leave the BEB5 Hotel at 5:30 am to bird the roads and woodlands around Karuizawa. The forests here were alive with song, and we enjoyed excellent views of some of Japan's most sought-after woodland birds, including White-bellied Green-Pigeon, Japanese Woodpecker, Narcissus Flycatcher, and Blue-and-white Flycatcher. After breakfast we also visited the Wild Bird Forest, where Eurasian Wren and Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker were among the highlights. The remainder of the day was spent exploring a variety of habitats around Karuizawa, with a picnic lunch enjoyed at Nagakura Shrine. In the afternoon, the Hochi Fields produced additional specialties, including excellent looks at Chestnut-eared Bunting, and we returned to the hotel for our evening checklist and dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 4: Journey to Mount Fuji
We met once again at 5:30 am for some pre-breakfast birding close to the hotel, adding several forest species, the highlight being our sought-after Yellow Buntings, before departing Karuizawa. Our journey toward the Mount Fuji region included a few birding stops along the way. At Yanagisawa Pass we searched the subalpine forests for Japanese endemics and mountain specialists, with highlights including prolonged views Japanese Robin and Siberian Blue Robin. After lunch at a local noodle restaurant, we stopped at Lake Saiko for some afternoon birding, which was curtailed by rain, before continuing to Gotemba for our overnight stay.

Day 5: Mount Fuji Highlands and Tokyo
After breakfast at 6:30 am, we checked out and departed with luggage at 7:30 am. An hour later we arrived at Fujinomiya 5th Station on the slopes of Mount Fuji. The high-elevation forests and alpine habitats here support several of Japan's most sought-after mountain birds, including Japanese Accentor, Japanese Warbler, and Red-flanked Bluetail. We then crossed to the opposite side of the mountain and drove the Subaru Line to Okuniwa, where birding proved especially productive. The area's famous volcanic landscape provided a spectacular backdrop as we searched for species adapted to these harsh conditions. Outstanding views of Northern Nutcracker were most welcome. By mid-afternoon we began the journey back to Tokyo, arriving at Haneda Airport where we checked into our airport hotel.

Day 6: Arrival in Okinawa and the Yanbaru Forest
Our day began very early with a 5:00 am meeting to check in for our flight to Okinawa. After arriving in Naha, we enjoyed breakfast before beginning our exploration of the island. We visited Nago Castle Park, where some of Okinawa's unique avifauna quickly appeared, including Ryukyu Minivet and Whistling Green-Pigeon and fleeting views of Black (Japanese) Paradise-Flycatcher. Following a picnic lunch, we continued north to Benoki Dam and into the famed Yanbaru forests. At Benoki we found a very cooperative Okinawa Woodpecker, feeding on insects attracted to the large red flowers in a huge African Tulip Tree. Yanbaru holds many of Japan's most localized endemic species, and our first day on the island produced encounters with some excellent birds including the beautiful Ryukyu Robin. We enjoyed some introductory birding around the hotel grounds before gathering for dinner and the evening checklist. An after dinner night drive produced excellent views of the near endemic Ryukyu Scops-Owl. 

Day 7: Okinawa Endemics and Transfer to Amami
We met at 6:00 am for birding around the hotel before breakfast, focusing on several Yanbaru specialties. The forests around Ada offered further opportunities for Okinawa Rail, Ryukyu Robin, and Ryukyu Minivet. With a typhoon approaching Okinawa, we decided to change our travel plans and leave the island earlier than scheduled. We made several brief birding stops during the drive back to Naha before flying to Amami. Concerned that the typhoon might affect our remaining time there, we undertook our planned night drive immediately. This proved to be one of the tour's highlights, with opportunities to search for Amami Rabbit, Ryukyu Scops Owl, Northern Boobook, and the highly localized Amami Woodcock.

Day 8: Amami Forest Specialties and Typhoon Preparations
Following breakfast at the Sun Days Hotel, we departed for the Amami Nature Observation Centre. The island's forests are home to several species found nowhere else on Earth, and we spent the morning searching for specialties such as Amami Thrush, Lidth's Jay, and Ryukyu Robin. We later visited Akina, where the open fields and wetlands provided a contrast to the forest habitats. Lunch was taken near the airport while we adjusted our onward travel plans in anticipation of flight cancellations caused by the approaching typhoon. The remainder of the day was spent at the hotel as conditions deteriorated.

Day 9: Typhoon Interruption and Late-Afternoon Birding
The typhoon dominated much of the day, forcing us to cancel birding activities for most of the daylight hours. We all enjoyed a relaxed morning before weather conditions improved sufficiently in the late afternoon. At around 5:00 pm we visited the forests along the Asato River, taking advantage of a brief weather window to search once more for Amami's endemic birds before returning to the hotel for dinner.                    

Day 10: Final Birding on Amami and Return to Tokyo
We took advantage of improving weather conditions with an early morning birding excursion to the Modama Forest before breakfast. This final opportunity on Amami allowed us to revisit several key sites and search again for species such as Lidth's Jay and Amami Thrush. After breakfast we checked out and birded at Akina and Ōse, where Chinese Egret was a highlight, before making our way to the airport. Following lunch, we flew toward Tokyo, experiencing a lengthy layover in Kagoshima before finally reaching Haneda for an overnight stay.

Day 11: Arrival in Hokkaido and the Nemuro Peninsula
Another early airport start saw us flying north to Hokkaido. After collecting our vehicle, we drove east to Kiritappu Observatory. The dramatic coastal scenery was accompanied by our first taste of Hokkaido's seabirds and grassland specialists, not to mention Hokkaido’s colder climate! Species such as Japanese Cormorant, White-tailed Eagle, Slaty-backed Gull, Siberian Rubythroat, as well as Sea Otter, were among the highlights of the area. Despite the very cold conditions, the birding was excellent. We continued to Nemuro, making several productive stops along the way before checking into our hotel.

Day 12: Nemuro Forests, Notsuke and Rausu
We spent the morning birding in Nemuro Citizen's Forest, where highlights included Eurasian Nuthatch, March Tit, Sakhalin Warbler, Brown-headed Thrush, and other breeding forest species characteristic of eastern Hokkaido. We then returned for breakfast before travelling to Cape Nosappu and continuing along the coast to Notsuke. At Furenko, near Nemuro, we were thrilled to find Red-crowned Cranes foraging in the shallow water. Notsuke is famous for its combination of coastal, wetland, and boreal habitats, producing species such as Falcated Duck, White-tailed Eagle, Reed Bunting, Middendorf’s Grasshopper-Warbler, and numerous waterbirds. After reaching Rausu, we visited Washi-no-ya in hopes of seeing Blakiston's Fish Owl, though unfortunately the owl did not appear.

Day 13: Utoro Nature Cruise and Eastern Hokkaido
This morning we crossed Shari Pass and travelled to Utoro for our nature cruise. Despite poor weather, the excursion proved highly successful and featured excellent views of Spectacled Guillemot, one of the region's most sought-after seabirds. Other northern seabirds, especially the Rhinoceros Auklets, added to an enjoyable outing. After the cruise we continued west along the coast, stopping at an excellent birding site near Abashiri where species such as Amur Stonechat, Eurasian Skylark, and Latham’s Snipe were among the highlights. We then travelled on to Yoroushi for our overnight stay. 

Day 14: Wetlands and Grasslands of North-eastern Hokkaido
After breakfast we returned to the Abashiri area for further exploration. The wetlands, grasslands, and lakes of eastern Hokkaido provide important breeding habitat for a wide range of northern species. We spent the day revisiting productive sites, searching for species such as Red-crowned Crane, Oriental Cuckoo, Middendorff's Grasshopper Warbler, Brown Dipper, and various marsh specialists. Lunch was enjoyed in the field before we returned to Yoroushi during the mid-afternoon.

Day 15: Departure and Farewells
Our final day began with the journey back to Kushiro Airport for our flight to Haneda. During the course of the tour we had explored a remarkable cross-section of Japan's habitats, from the alpine slopes of Mount Fuji and the forests of central Honshu to the subtropical islands of Okinawa and Amami and the wild northern landscapes of Hokkaido. Along the way we enjoyed an impressive collection of endemic and regional specialties, providing a fitting conclusion to an outstanding birding adventure.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone for your excellent company, flexibility, and enthusiasm throughout the tour, all of which helped make it such an enjoyable and memorable experience. Particular thanks go to Koichi-san for his outstanding support, expert local knowledge, and safe driving over many kilometres on the road. His contribution was greatly appreciated by all and played a major role in the success of the tour.

-       Susan Myers

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