Japan in Winter
-
Jan 6-20, 2025
Susan Myers and Koji Tagi
-
Jan 2026
Susan Myers and Koji Tagi
2025
Single Room Supplement $450
2026
Tour Price to be Determined
2025
Single Room Supplement $450
2026
Tour Price to be Determined
A visit to Japan in the winter is something birders everywhere should consider. The long chain of islands that make up Japan straddle the Pacific coast of Asia, providing a wintering ground for some of the world’s most sought-after birds.
Our tour ranges from the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands, Kyushu, to the northernmost, Hokkaido. We’ll focus on the great spectacles, the crane concentrations (up to five species) in the south and the sea-eagle and seabird gatherings in the north, and on Japan’s endemic and near endemic residents, including Blakiston’s Fish-Owl, the world’s largest owl. We’ll also spend a few days in the interior of Honshu, the largest of the Japanese islands, birding some of the country’s best temperate woodland and visiting the famous “snow monkeys” near Nagano.
Japan is much more than just a birding destination—it’s a complete cultural event and one that is bound to captivate even a well-traveled birdwatcher. In some places we’ll stay in Japanese inns where we can gain insight into the traditional lifestyle, and everywhere we go the Japanese passion for order and neatness will be evident. And of course, there is also all that fascinating and delicious food.
Day 1: We’ll begin this evening at Tokyo’s Narita Airport. Night at Narita.
Day 2: We’ll start our birding this morning with a side trip to some nearby birding destinations, our precise itinerary depending on what's been recently reported. We may try for the gorgeous Mandarin Duck which is sometimes found along the edges of the small lakes, and other birds could include Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Varied, Japanese, and Long-tailed Tits, Brown-eared Bulbul, Oriental Turtle Dove, and White Wagtail. After lunch, we’ll continue our journey to Karuizawa, Japan’s playground of the rich and famous. It’s about a two hour drive and if it looks like we'll arrive before dark, we might be able to fit in some birding. Night in Karuizawa.
Day 3: Karuizawa has long been famous for its beautiful, temperate woodlands, and the area supports a rich selection of species in a relatively small space. As we explore the tracks and trails along the fast-flowing streams, we may encounter such species as Japanese Green Woodpecker, Brambling, the gorgeous but scarce Japanese Waxwing, Azure-winged Jay, Japanese Grosbeak, and, if we're really lucky, the scarce endemic Copper Pheasant. Later we’ll visit a small reservoir that often hosts a nice range of wildfowl, including the elegant Falcated Duck. Night in Karuizawa.
Day 4: We’ll depart early for the Japan Alps to see the fabled snow monkeys at Jigokudani— “Hell’s Valley” in English. Here we’ll see a troop of Japanese Macaques that have learned to use the natural hot springs during the harsh winter. After a walk of about an hour through snowy woods, we’ll be able to see the monkeys at very close range bathing in the springs or playing nearby, and the photographic opportunities will be superb. We may happen upon a few birds, perhaps a Brown Dipper or a Goldcrest, although birds aren't our focus this morning. Later we’ll continue to Matsumoto, a city renowned for its magnificent castle and excellent nearby birding opportunities. We’ll visit the Matsumoto Castle. Considered to be one of three great Japanese castles (along with Kumamoto and Himeji), Matsumoto-jo dates from the 1500s when it was built in the Sengoku Period, otherwise known as the “warring states period” a time of great conflict and social upheaval. It is fascinating to explore the various levels and the grounds, and we have another chance for Japanese Waxwing, among others, in the gardens. Night in Matsumoto.
Day 5: This morning we'll visit some local birding sites near the city, where we'll look for the scarce Pallas’s Rosefinch and other forest birds before heading to the airport. In the afternoon, we’ll fly south to Kyushu, the southernmost of the main Japanese islands and drive south from Fukuoka to Yatsushiro.
Day 6: We'll visit the nearby Yatsushiro mud flats (dependent on tide times), an area famous for its wintering Black-headed Gull and the sought-after regional endemic Saunder’s Gull. Waders, gulls, ducks, spoonbills, and herons abound here so we’ll spend ample time searching for the likes of Ruddy-breasted Crake, Common Shelduck, and Great Crested Grebe. Driving a bit further south, we'll spend the afternoon marveling at the spectacle of tens of thousands of cranes, representing up to five different species, that gather in the dormant rice fields around Izumi. The most common are White-naped and Hooded, but small numbers of Common and Sandhill can usually be found among them. There is even a slim possibility of crane rarities such as Siberian or Demoiselle! Searching nearby fields, estuaries and reed beds we may also find Black-faced Spoonbill, Long-billed Plover, Crested Kingfisher or Chinese Penduline Tit. Night in Izumi.
Day 7: We’ll leave at dawn to watch the sun rise over the Arasaki Crane Center and the spectacle of thousands of cranes flying overhead and feeding in the fields. Around the Crane Center birds such as Northern Lapwing, Bull-headed Shrike, Daurian Redstart, Dusky Thrush and Oriental Greenfinch are often present, and there are usually large flocks of Rook, Carrion, and Large-billed Crows and Eurasian Tree Sparrow, the latter often containing a few Russet Sparrow. The area around Arasaki abounds with bird life: the farmlands and reedbeds can attract Oriental and Eurasian Skylarks, Chinese Penduline Tit, and Common Reed Bunting; the estuaries may contain flocks of "Eurasian" Green-winged Teal and Common Pochard; the coastal scrub is favored by Pale Thrush, Japanese Bush Warbler, and Masked and Meadow Buntings; and every residential area is likely to harbor Eastern Buzzard and Warbling White-eye.
Day 8: We’ll drive over the coastal mountains, or via the coast (depending on weather), to Kirishima-Yaku National Park, a fascinating region of active volcanoes and hot springs.
We’ll spend some time around Lake Mi-ike, a circular lake about half a mile in diameter surrounded by lush broadleaf forest, fast-flowing streams, and mountains. Many of Japan’s more common woodland birds occur here plus scarcer specialties such as White-bellied Green-Pigeon and White-backed Woodpecker although these are all long shots. The lake may have a number of waterbirds, possibly including large numbers of Eurasian Wigeon. We’ll visit a small shrine on a hilltop overlooking the lake where we’ll explore the grounds in search of various woodland species and experience the beauty of traditional Shinto architecture. In the late afternoon, we’ll drive east to the coastal town of Hyuga, and if time permits stop en route at a seemingly insignificant lake that is a backup location for Baikal Teal and Falcated Duck, and usually the astonishingly beautiful Mandarin Duck. With luck we may also find the stunning Yellow-throated Bunting or Olive-backed Pipit in the surrounding forest. Night in Hyuga.
Day 9: We’ll drive north to the port town of Kadogawa where we’ll take a boat to look for Japanese Murrelets. They will have just regained their breeding plumage and with luck we may see several twittering pairs. We’ll also look for onshore birds such as Japanese Cormorant, Eastern Reef and Little Egrets, and Black-tailed and Slaty-backed Gulls. Later we’ll visit local woodlands and meadows in search of Japanese Wood Pigeon, Blue Rock Thrush and possibly scarce wintering species such as Brown Shrike. In the late afternoon we’ll drive south to the city of Miyazaki for our flight to Haneda in the evening. Night in Haneda.
Day 10: We’ll catch an early morning flight to Kushiro in Hokkaido. Once there we’ll drive two hours to Nemuro on the east coast of Hokkaido, stopping at Kiritappu for some en route birding. Night in Nemuro.
Day 11: Weather permitting, we'll take a boat trip off the Nemuro Peninsula looking for alcids such as Spectacled Guillemot and Ancient Murrelet. We’ll see our first White-tailed and Steller’s Sea-Eagles and there will be a few Pelagic Cormorant and hundreds of Black Scoter and Harlequin Duck in the waters. Gulls will be numerous and now include Glaucous, Glaucous-winged and Common (Kamchatka) among the many Slaty-backed and Black-tailed. If the weather is bad we can achieve almost the same results from the lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula where an enclosed viewing station gives protected views of the surrounding waters.
After a warming lunch at a restaurant overlooking eagles and kites resting on a frozen lake, we’ll visit various other birding sites scattered around the peninsula where we might find Rock Sandpiper or Asian Rosy Finch. If we can gain access, we might try the birdfeeders at a small sanctuary in town which could attract Great Spotted Woodpecker, Marsh Tit and perhaps Hawfinch. Night in Nemuro.
Day 12: After a final morning in the Nemuro area we’ll drive north to the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido’s northeast. En route we’ll detour onto the remarkable Notsuke Peninsula, a 17 mile-long narrow sandbar that has been designated a wildlife preserve and is a haven for seabirds. At nearby Odaito we’ll stop to see the congregations of Whooper Swan and other wildfowl. Many of the birds will be the same as yesterday but we may find something new, such as Stejneger’s Scoter. Night in Rausu.
Days 13-14: Steller’s Sea-Eagle is numerous on the Shiretoko Peninsula, and our time with these splendid birds will be one of the highlights of the tour. If the pack ice has descended as far south as Hokkaido, we’ll take a boat out of Rausu harbor along the length of the southern edge of the peninsula to see large concentrations of eagles close up.
Hokkaido is also renowned as the breeding area for one of Japan’s most impressive residents, Blakiston’s Fish-Owl. However, finding one is no easy proposition—there may be as few as 20 breeding pairs on the entire island—but this afternoon we’ll drive to a small village where we’ll have a chance of seeing one. We’ll stay at a traditional Japanese Inn where a pair is known to visit the stream behind the lodging. After what has in the past been the most wonderful Japanese meal of the tour we’ll retire to await the owls. There is a possibility of other great birds here, too – notably the usually elusive Solitary Snipe that has been seen foraging in the stream.
Our inn also has delightful natural hot springs with both indoor and outdoor pools, including our favorite, a little rocky pool by a stream where immersed in 104 degree water and surrounded by snow one can watch for Eurasian (Brandt’s) Jay, Marsh Tit, Northern Long-tailed Tit, Brown Dipper, and the aforementioned snipe. Night at Yoroushi.
On the morning of Day 14, we’ll drive to Tsurui, or “the Red-crowned Crane place,” and in the afternoon have our first looks at the impressive and rare species, which at more than five feet tall are the most magnificent of the world’s cranes. The same area hosts a number of other special birds—we might see Eurasian Nuthatch and just possibly Eurasian Bullfinch. We’ll return to the inn tonight for another chance at Blakiston’s Fish Owl. Night in Yoroushi.
Day 15: This morning we’ll return to Kushiro (with the chance to say goodbye to the cranes en route) for our flight back to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport where the tour concludes late this afternoon.
Note: The information presented below has been extracted from our formal General Information for this tour. It covers topics we feel potential registrants may wish to consider before booking space. The complete General Information for this tour will be sent to all tour registrants and of course supplemental information, if needed, is available from the WINGS office.
ENTERING JAPAN: A passport valid for your length of stay in Japan and with at least one blank page for an entry stamp is required of United States citizens wishing to enter Japan. U.S. citizens are not required to have a visa for stays of less than 90 days.
Citizens of other countries should check with their consulate/embassy for instructions.
COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can review the U.S. Department of State Country Specific Travel Information here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html and the CIA World Factbook here: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/. Review foreign travel advice from the UK government here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and travel advice and advisories from the Government of Canada here: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories.
PACE OF THE TOUR: Our birding normally begins relatively late, about 8 am, due to late sunrises and very cold early mornings when bird activity is also very low. We’ll then bird mostly in the warmer and brighter parts of the day, with quick, on the run lunches from convenience stores, which have a big variety of excellent products (not at all like convenience stores in other countries!). Bird activity usually drops off markedly by 3:00 pm. There are some drives of three to four hours, and five internal flights. Most of the driving is on well-surfaced roads but going can be slow in bad weather. This tour is not strenuous. The longest walk will be at Jigokudani and possibly at Karuizawa; both of about an hour on possibly snowy trails. There are some modest inclines and several sets of steps as it is a hilly area. Otherwise our walking is fairly easy, on flat terrain with plenty of stops for birding, and we’ll often bird close to the vehicle. It is however very cold and snowy in the north and often in the central Honshu area, as well, with minimum temperatures of about -10C (15F), and sometimes lower. Battling the cold can be exhausting in its own right.
HEALTH: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all travelers be up to date on routine vaccinations. These include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. No vaccinations are required unless you are coming directly (within five days of departure) from an area with cholera and/or yellow fever.
They further recommend that most travelers have protection against Hepatitis A. Please contact your doctor well in advance of your tour’s departure as some medications must be initiated weeks before the period of possible exposure.
The most current information about travelers’ health recommendations can be found on the CDC’s Travel Health website here: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list
Weather: It might be very cold, especially in Hokkaido. Be sure to have warm clothing including boots, hat and gloves. A pair of traction devices for your boots is strongly recommended as conditions can sometimes be very icy especially in parking lots and the like.
Smoking: Smoking and vaping is prohibited in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a nonsmoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, do so well away and downwind from the group. If any location where the group is gathered has a stricter policy than the WINGS policy, that stricter policy will prevail.
Miscellaneous: In this ultra modern, first world country, all water including tap water is potable and you can safely consume salads, fresh fruit and vegetables.
CLIMATE: At the time of our visit, it will be cool to very cold, especially along the coast. There will be snow and ice in Hokkaido where the average minimum temperature at this time of year is -10 C (15 F) and the average maxima -3C (25 F). Elsewhere the maxima and minima are somewhat higher, Kyushu in the south being the warmest with an average top temperature of 12C (53F).
ACCOMMODATIONS: Accommodation varies from Western-style hotels to more traditional Japanese inns. Be prepared for smaller rooms than one finds in North America. Bathrooms are generally very small. In Japan one removes one’s shoes when entering houses, traditional hotels (not Western hotels), temples and many other places. Slippers are often provided but most are too small for western feet, especially men’s feet.
Several of our accommodations have natural hot springs, although swimsuits are NOT to be worn in these.
Internet access: Wi-Fi access in our various accommodations is variable. We will find it at most of our hotels and lodges. It is now possible to purchase a pre-paid SIM card on arrival. Your phone may be incompatible with the local system, so please check with your carrier.
FOOD: The food in Japan is often memorable. It is varied, fresh, and delicious, and the presentation is often delightful. You’ll find yourself wanting to photograph many of your meals! One of the specialties of Japan, and especially in Hokkaido, is the seafood. If you don’t like fish however, there are other choices. Vegetarian options are somewhat limited but by no means out of the question, although this is a strange concept to most Japanese so please be patient and understanding. Most meals are served with a meat and a seafood dish, as well as miso soup and a salad. We’ll experience a mix of Japanese and western style meals throughout. Lunches will often be eaten on the run as daylight birding time is limited and we’ll buy tasty sandwiches or heated lunchboxes (bento) of your choice at local convenience stores. Hearty breakfasts usually consist of coffee, toast, and varied small salads but sometimes are more traditional.
Food Allergies / Requirements: We cannot guarantee that all food allergies and choices can be accommodated at every destination. Participants with significant food allergies or special dietary requirements should bring appropriate foods with them for those times when their needs cannot be met. Announced meal times are always approximate depending on how the day unfolds. Participants who need to eat according to a fixed schedule should bring supplemental food. Please contact the WINGS office if you have any questions.
TRANSPORTATION: We’ll be traveling in a 10 seat, air-conditioned mini-bus throughout, driven by your leader. Participants should be able to ride in any seat in tour vehicles and are expected to change seats with others daily.
2025 Narrative
The Japan Winter Birding Tour 2025 featured memorable visits to key birding sites, including Izumi, Tsurui, and Rausu. In Izumi, the group witnessed awe-inspiring crane gatherings at the Crane Center, with thousands of the stately birds feeding at dawn. This provided one of the tour's most unforgettable moments. The following days brought the group to Hokkaido, where we were treated to the spectacular sight of the Red-crowned Cranes in the snow, a true highlight. Our visit to Rausu offered another exceptional experience, with sightings of Steller’s and White-tailed Eagles soaring above, as well as a pod of Orcas near the Russian waters during a boat trip. These highlights, along with other birding adventures, made the tour an extraordinary experience, filled with incredible wildlife encounters and lasting memories.
Our journey began on Day 1, with a short meeting at 6:00 PM in the hotel lobby. While most participants joined on time, three arrived late due to travel delays. Dinner at Serena Restaurant at 6:30 PM set the tone for the trip with delicious buffet.
Day 2 dawned early with breakfast at 6:00 AM before departing at 7:00 AM for our first birding site, Sakata-ga-ike. The highlight was undoubtedly a pair of stunning Baikal Teal. After a quick stop at Lawson for lunch supplies, we headed to Watarase where we ate a picnic lunch in the sun. Later we spotted the hoped for Long-tailed Rosefinches feeding in the seeding trees lining the car park. We watched their delightful antics before continuing to Karuizawa, where a brief visit to Nagakura proved quiet. By 4:30 PM, we were checked into our hotel, and Koji and I swapped our vehicle for one with snow tires. The evening ended with dinner at the Wine Bar at Longing House, enjoying their happy hour.
On Day 3, we started leisurely with breakfast at 7:30 AM and departed at 8:45 AM. Birding took us back to Nagakura, followed by the Wild Bird Forest and Saku Reservoir where we found some close Smew amongst the Eastern Spot-billed Ducks and Eurasian Wigeon. A pair of Falcated Ducks were a welcome sight, with their beautiful plumage catching the sunlight. After a picnic lunch at Hotchi Fields, we explored the fields with a sneaky Green Pheasant spotted in the long grass. We then took a windy drive through the forest to Usui Lake and concluded the day with a productive visit to Kumoba Pond before indulging in a delicious dinner at a favourite restaurant in town called Kawakamian.
Day 4 took us to the famous Snow Monkey Park after breakfast. A scenic 30-minute walk brought us to the monkeys, whose antics kept us entertained. Afterward, we drove to Matsumoto, stopping for a convenience store lunch en route. We arrived just in time to visit Matsumoto Castle, a historic highlight of the trip. Another memorable dinner at Shi-zen rounded off the day.
On Day 5, we explored a nearby park for reported Japanese Grosbeaks, which can often elude us on this tour, and then to another larger park just out of town where we found some excellent forest birds including the smart Varied Tit and scarce Yellow-throated Buntings. We returned to the hotel to warm up and pack up and then headed to the airport. After a smooth flight to Fukuoka, we faced a long drive to Yatsushiro, hindered by traffic delays, but a satisfying dinner at a local restaurant made up for it.
Day 6 began with an early breakfast at 6:30 AM. By 7:30, we were on the road, leaving the hotel behind to explore the reed beds lining the Kuma River and the expansive Yatsushiro Mudflats. The morning light lent an ethereal quality to the mudflats, where we birded until around 10:00. We then turned southward, driving to Izumi. Here, our birding adventures continued until midday, capped off with a quick stop at a Lawson convenience store. Lunch was enjoyed inside the crane center, offering us a brief respite before the cold weather and great views of the cranes. The journey then took us to the picturesque Kogawa Dam, where we birded until the late afternoon light began to fade. By 4:30, we wrapped up our outing and checked into the Hotel Wing. Dinner at Yumezen, conveniently located inside the hotel, brought a warm close to a fulfilling day.
Day 7 saw an even earlier start, with breakfast at 6:00 AM and a departure at 6:45. We headed straight to the Crane Center to witness the awe-inspiring dawn feeding. The sight of thousands of cranes gathering in the morning light was unforgettable, their calls filling the crisp air. Afterward, we drove through the area, stopping briefly at the Euchi River mouth and later at Komenotsu Bridge before continuing to Akune. A hearty lunch awaited us at Joyfull in Akune North, fueling us for the remainder of the day. Back in Izumi, we dropped off some participants at the hotel, while I took the rest of the group back to Kogawa Dam for one last birding session which was greatly rewarded with a sighting of the scarce Grey Bunting. Dinner that evening was again at Yumezen, where the familiar ambiance was a welcome retreat.
On Day 8 we had breakfast at 6:00 AM and departed the hotel with our luggage at 6:45. Our first stop was the crane fields, where we caught the sunrise, bathing the scene in a golden glow as thousands of cranes flew over our heads. By 8:30, we set off for Satsuma, spending an hour birding at a local bridge, our main goal being the highly specialised Long-billed Plovers. Continuing on, we arrived at Miike, where we attempted birding but, unfortunately, had little success. Undeterred, we pressed on to the Miyazaki coast, breaking for lunch at Yama-no-kuchi Service Area before exploring Hitotsusegawa. Our day concluded around 3:30 PM, and we arrived at our hotel in Hyuga by 4:45. A delightful dinner at 6:00 PM provided a fitting end to another day of adventure.
On Day 9, we set sail with Kurogi-san from Kadogawa Harbour, hoping for a murrelet sighting. Though unsuccessful, the boat ride was enjoyable. Lunch at Tsuno Road Station and a final drive to Miyazaki Coast capped off a not so productive but enjoyable day. We caught our afternoon flight back to Tokyo where we checked into our very conveniently located hotel and enjoyed a yummy dinner in preparation for the next part of our journey.
Day 10 began in the early hours, with a 5:00 AM departure from the hotel to catch our 7:55 AM flight. After a smooth check-in and a quick breakfast at Starbucks (which opened promptly at 6:00), we boarded our flight, departing on time and landing at 9:30 AM. Vehicles ready, we set off for Kiritappu, stopping to grab lunch at Seicomart in Hamanaka. The journey then took us to Ochiishi for some brief exploration before continuing to Nemuro. By dusk at 4:00 PM, we checked into our hotel. The day concluded with bird-listing in the cozy hotel atmosphere, followed by a delightful dinner at Nemuro Seafood Dining (根室お魚食堂), where the local cuisine added a perfect touch to the day.
Day 11 brought challenges as strong winds led to the cancellation of our planned boat trip. After breakfast at 7:00 AM, we left the hotel at 7:45 to adapt our plans. We started at Bettoga’s feeder, which had only sparse bird activity, and proceeded to Ochiishi, Nosappu, Lake Furen, and finally Nemuro Harbour. Despite the conditions, we made the most of the day’s birding opportunities. As the sun set, we returned to the hotel, where we warmed up before setting out for another fun dinner at a nearby izakaya.
Day 12 began with breakfast at 7:00 AM and a departure at 8:50. Our first stop was Odaito Harbour, reached via convenience stores for supplies. From there, we explored the expansive Notsuke Peninsula, birding its very chilly and windswept landscapes until midday. The afternoon drive to Rausu was leisurely, with stops at ports along the way. By 2:45 PM, we arrived in Rausu, stopping at the michi-no-eki (road station) and birding the harbour until late afternoon. After checking into the hotel, the day concluded with listing and an unusually western style dinner at 6:00 PM.
Day 13 again began with breakfast at 7:00 AM, followed by the disappointing news at 8:00 that the boat trip was again cancelled – strong winds again. But by 8:30 with adjusted plans in mind, we set off southward on a two-hour drive to Tsurui, where the Red-crowned Cranes provided a spectacular highlight. Lunch at Tsuru-midai was satisfying, though our attempt to spot a Ural Owl proved unsuccessful. Undeterred, we made our way to Yoroushi, arriving at Dai-ichi Lodge around 3:30 PM. The evening was spent enjoying dinner, listing, and marveling at the incomparable Blakiston’s Fish-Owl from the comfort of our wonderful hotel—a magical end to a memorable day.
Day 14 and another 7:00 AM breakfast was followed by an 8:00 AM departure from the hotel. The day’s highlight was the rescheduled boat trip to Rausu. We arrived at the harbor by 9:30 AM, with the boat setting off at 10:00 AM. The outing proved spectacular, and we were treated to a magnificent display of wildlife, including several Steller's and White-tailed Eagles soaring above and a pod of Orcas swimming gracefully near Russian waters! After a quick lunch from the convenience store, we headed back to the hotel, arriving around 2:30 PM. The rest of the afternoon was spent observing the birds at the feeder, where we enjoyed the confiding forest birds at the feeders. Another amazing dinner at the hotel concluded the day, marking a fitting end to another extraordinary day of birding.
By Day 15, we made one last stop at Tsurui for the cranes and Ural Owl before heading to the airport. A smooth flight back to Tokyo marked the end of our adventure, leaving us with so many wonderful memories of Japan’s winter wildlife, delicious food and warm hospitality.
- Susan Myers
I thoroughly enjoyed touring with Susan. The mix of birds, wildlife and culture was perfect. I benefited greatly from Susan's knowledge of Japan, its people, wildlife, culture, and history.
- Keith K. on Japan in Winter
Susan knows the country and the people. Her language fluency helped us to experience Japan in more intimate detail and made it personal.
- Sandra J. on Japan in Winter
This is a tour I have wanted to do ever since I read about it many years ago. It was even better than I expected. The hotels, the food, the birds, all were exceptional. And I ate things I never in my life thought I’d be willing to try, and liked them. Susan knows the country and the people. Her language fluency helped us to experience Japan in more intimate detail and made it personal. Who knew a 7-11 in Japan could be such fun?!
- Sandra J. on Japan in Winter
Maximum group size six participants with one leader; 10 participants with two leaders.
More Tours with these Leaders
