THIS TOUR IS AN EXTENSION TO THE TOUR – WHITE CRANES, OWLS AND STELLER´S SEA EAGLES, JAPAN 16th – 24th FEBRUARY 2025.
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Some highlights
- Japanese Macaques bathing in hot springs
- Dramatic winter scenery
- Traditional Japanese lodging, with hot-spring baths
- Fantastic Japanese food
- The tour guide will show you all the best spots, and give photographic advice, in a small group
Visiting Japan during the winter is an unparalleled nature experience. Japan offers us a snow-covered mountain landscape that not only gives us fantastic opportunities for landscape photography but also gives us a very beautiful background when we photograph animals and birds. On this extension trip, we will experience unique encounters with the Japanese macaques. From Tokyo, we travel to the Japanese Alps to photograph the famous Japanese macaques bathing in hot springs.
JAPANESE MACAQUES AT JIGOKUDANI YAEN-KOEN
In the mountains north of Nagano lies Jigokudani, or ”The valley of Hell”. The Yokoyo River runs through the valley, originating from hot springs. We will be there to photograph the famous Japanese Macaques, also known as Snow Monkeys. With a little luck we will also be witness to snow-ball fights between younger monkeys. There are often good opportunities to photograph young ones sitting with their mothers. The monkeys are quite unafraid and we will be able to get all sorts of images.
PHOTOGRAPHIC LEARNING
During the tour, our photographic leader will constantly give you photographic advise based on your prior knowledge and level. The guidance in the field is completely adapted to you and your needs. In addition to this, we will also have theoretical sessions where we talk about different photo techniques that we will use during the tour.
The photographic education is adapted to the knowledge of the group and the individual, but we will also see to what photographic opportunities may arise during the trip. During our days with the Japanese macaques will we learn about and try out “high-key” techniques among others.
Itinerary
Day 1 (13/2) (Dinner)
Arrival at Tokyo Haneda International Airport in the morning. We travel by Shinkansen (bullet train) and local train to Yudanaka. Free afternoon. Photo workshop in the evening.
Day 2 – 3 (14 – 15/2) (Breakfast – Dinner)
After breakfast we go to Jigokundani Yaen-koen in order to photograph the Japanese Macaques bathing in hot-springs, playing in the snow etc. We spend both days with the Macaques. In order to get to Jigokundani Yaen-koen we need to walk about 1.5 km along a forest trail.
Day 4 (16/2) (Breakfast)
After breakfast we return to Tokyo and Haneda Airport. In the evening we fly back home or if you’re joining the main tour to Hokkaido.
Photographic leader
Henrik Karlsson, born in 1968, is a photographer, writer and conservation biologist.
Henrik is a trained biologist and used to work with water and conservation issues.
He is an ambassador for OM SYSTEM and has been appointed as a National Geographic Explorer and is a member of the Swedish Nature Photographers Association (Naturfotograferna/N) as well as PhotoNatura. In 2003 he was awarded Naturfotografernas/N and Kodak’s scholarship. Henrik has also won awards in several European photo competitions.
Henrik has a wide selection when it comes to subjects to take images of and tell stories about. He will be more than happy to photograph everything from insects to the orchids in the forest or the great wild animals around the world. He has the whole world as his photographic field but is more and more drawn to Africas beauty and wildness.
Previously, Henrik worked as a guide in several Swedish Nature Reserves and National Parks. He is a frequent lecturer and an appreciated guide on photo courses and workshops. He also leads photo tours all over the world.
In 2011 Henrik self-published the book ”Mångfaldens ö – bilder och tankar från Ölands natur”, and the book ”Vilda Norden” was published in 2017. 2020 he published the book Ölands orkidéer and in 2021 Orkidéer på Gotland.
