Hokkaido Photo Tours must include Red-Crowned Cranes. Our most veteran Japan Dreamscapes (JDS) photo workshop leader feels that Red-Crowned Cranes, also known as snow ballerinas, are on the short list of Japanese photographic subjects that visitors to Japan must see. The Red-crowned cranes’ courtship dance is as graceful as a ballerinas. They bow to one another, then raise their heads towards the sky and call in unison. Immediately following, the pair, or the entire flock, will leap into the air at the same time initiating the first furtive moments of the courtship dance.
Along with the Red-Crowned cranes our JDS photography tour leaders recommend spending time in Kushiro region because of the abundance of other wildlife plus a sunrise that is rated top 3 on our planet. As part of your Hokkaido Photography Workshop, we will make our way inland to the high alpine lakes of Hokkaido’s northwest which are comprised of Akanko, Kushiroko, and Mashuko Lakes, which are among the clearest and cleanest on our planet, and lake Mashuko is the 2nd cleanest on our planet, the mountainous landscape is breathtaking, and home to the first nations people of Japan the Ainu. The Ainu are world-class wood carvers and storytellers; we will visit with them photographing their museum-quality arts and crafts. We will experience the Ikor theatre, the Ainu performance of spiritual, cultural awakening, during the evening’s lomante fire performance where we will have press box seats, followed by fireworks by the lakeside. In the am, we will make ice bubbles don't forget your lens.
We will also drive through Hokkaido's eastern alpine route to the Pacific Coast for birding and other wildlife encounters plus winter wonderland landscapes, and you will have a chance to meet locals that is reminiscent to Alaska's yesteryears during your Japan Winter Photo Tour.
Birding: The Steller’s Sea Eagles are huge and beautiful and one of the most fierce birds of prey on our planet natively they feed on pack-ice in the rich fishing waters of Japan's north. We will board our chartered vessel to photograph the Steller’s Sea-eagle in their natural feeding ground on pack ice. The white-tailed eagle which is smaller and native to Japan also feeds on pack ice next to the Steller's sea eagle; tensions are high when fishing and the white-tailed eagle hold there own with the much larger and legendary sea eagles. You will have hundreds of spectacular images of eagles clutching fish in their talons in flight and while feasting, and film some eagles in strife.
The area is also home to the largest herds of Sika deer on our planet, and we will also photograph the red-tailed fox, white-tailed eagle, black kite, golden eagle, and many other subarctic species. Sunrises and sunsets are extraordinarily beautiful on this stretch of coastline.