THIS TOUR IS AN EXTENSION TO THE TOUR – WHITE CRANES, OWLS AND STELLER´S SEA EAGLES, JAPAN
20th – 28th FEBRUARY 2023. READ MORE HERE…
20th – 28th FEBRUARY 2023. READ MORE HERE…
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
- We promote conservation by economically supporting The Wild Bird Society of Japan
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.
Itinerary
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 (18 – 19/2) (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 0 (20/2) (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.
Mer information
Johan Siggesson, born in 1977, is a freelancing nature photographer from Älvängen, north of Gothenburg, but lives on Malta.
Johan has degree in informatics, leads nature photography courses on Malta and is frequently engaged by local nature organisations for image shows and lectures. Johan also leads private workshops on Malta, mainly focusing on local chameleons and endemic freshwater crabs.
The fairly limited wildlife of Malta has inspired him to look for other destinations. Scotland has a special place in Johan’s heart, and he regularly photographs on the Shetlands and in the Scottish Highlands.
Johan has won awards in many of the major nature photography competitions in Europe and USA. His subtle imagery focuses on close subjects. In 2014 he became Nature Photographer of the Year in Scotland.
As we will have opportunities for many different types of motifs, everything from close-ups to landscape photos with the monkeys in it, it is appropriate to bring everything from wide-angle lenses to telephoto lenses. We will be able to get very close to the Japanese macaques. This means that a wide-angle zoom lens with e.g. focal lengths of 24-70 mm are excellent.
Telezoom lens, e.g. 70-200 mm or 80-400mm, provides very good conditions for taking varying pictures of the monkeys.
Telephoto lenses with fixed focal lengths, e.g. 300 mm or 500 mm, they are also very useful. To increase the focal length if you have a shorter telephoto or a zoom, you can use a teleconverter.
As there may be heavy snowfall, it is important to have good protection for the camera equipment. The best is a rainproof camera cover. Also remember to have a cover for the camera bag or backpack.
If you have access to two camera housings, it is good to have these. Tripods will be useful on many occasions. The alternative is a stable one-legged stand. A stand of one form or another is a must.
The temperature in northern Japan in February can vary between a few plus degrees to about – 20 degrees. Proper winter clothes and winter boots are a must!
The accommodation has restrictions regarding accessibility as there is no lift. The path leading up to the monkeys is not wheelchair accessible.
We will stay in traditional Japanese guesthouses, so-called Ryokans, of simple – medium standard and in hotels of medium standard. Hotels in the Japanese countryside are often older. Elevators are not available in all hotels. At Rykoans, not all rooms have their own toilet. There is usually no shower in the rooms, but all accommodation has a so-called Onsen bath.
Share in double room, meals according to the itinerary, all entrances, photo lessons, local transport (train and taxi), transfer to and from Haneda airport.
Round-trip flights Tokyo Haneda international airport Japan, tips, insurance, cancellation protection, drinks, lunch, things of a personal nature.
Haneda International Airport, Tokyo. The tour begins and ends here.
The tour guide meets and leaves the group at the airports.
The registration fee is paid via invoice in connection with registration. The remaining amount is paid no later than 60 days before the tour.
Swedish citizens do not need a visa to Japan if the stay is less than 90 days. Your passport must be valid for the entire period of time you are in Japan. Passports are required at check-in for flights.
If you are a citizen of any other country than Sweden please check with your nearest Japaness Embassy.
We strongly recommend that you carefully review your travel insurance before the tour. Read the terms and conditions about what may and may not be included. It is important to check that compensation is included for travel home / ambulance transport in the event of an accident or serious illness. Often, for example, the travel cover in a regular home insurance needs to be supplemented.
Contact your doctor for advice.
Our tours are open to all nationalities, which means that the group can be international.
The tour guides on our trips speak Swedish and English.
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