Having led Hokkaido Photography Tours for over 25 years, our workshop leaders understand the huge responsibility associated with leading visiting photographers of different levels and readinesses for the annual JDS Hokkaido photography expedition.  Safety is paramount, and our team takes every precaution, such as knowing our route like the back of our hands; it usually takes 3 to 5 years for us to scout out a route.  Our workshop leaders are floored when they hear some photographers boasting that they just went on a week long scouting trip and feel ready to lead a group in the field. WOW!

Everyone thinks they’re prepared for whatever weather or environments that a Japan photo tour in Hokkaido may bring, but our team can tell you from experience to expect the unexpected.  Bomb cyclones, whiteouts, squalls, blizzards, and flurries are also common occurrences during Winter Photo Tours, and our Japan photo workshop leaders make a point of checking weather charts before going out in the blue hour, and at least once an hour during the day.  Smart phone apps are 90% useless in Hokkaido.  Why are weather apps useless in Hokkaido?  Hokkaido is over 70% unpopulated mountain wilderness, and Japan's most northern island is surrounded by ocean and has several micro climates, so the weather can change on a dime.

Our workshop leaders know when to call off a day, or whether to hunker down and endure a 30 minute whiteout then head back out to chase the light in search of once in a lifetime photos.  Once during a Hokkaido photo tour, our Hokkaido workshop specialist held back the participants and informed them that it wasn’t safe to go out from morning, but all they could see were clear blue skies, so they complained rather loudly about why they were trapped in their 4/5 star accommodations.  Our team could think of worse places to spend the day, but our team understood their frustration.  The workshop leader told participants: “It is what it is sorry,” and lo and behold, less than an hour later, it was whiteout conditions and absolutely unsafe to be outdoors, not even the hotel staff that live in the region could get into work that day.  When everyone convened at lunchtime, suddenly they were singing a different tune and all smiles.

The second half of the responsibility is being respectful of the natural environment and trying to reduce the impact that humans bring to Hokkaido’s winter wonderland of photography.  Several of the species that make up a Hokkaido Birding Photography Workshop are on the IUCN Endangered List to varying degrees.  At present, The Steller’s Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) is fighting against changes in climate and impact on its preferred prey, which is referred to as ‘habitat alteration’, but seeing as how the Steller’s Sea Eagle has survived not one but three ice ages, I am pretty sure they will adapt.  The Japan Dreamscapes Hokkaido Photo workshop leaders make sure to minimize the group’s impact on the environment while also taking clients to the best locations to capture photo treasures.  The Blakiston’s Owl (Bubo blakistoni) is another endangered species fighting a battle of preservation against persistent deforestation and human development.  Our leaders have witnessed other groups make careless mistakes while guiding clients and creating unacceptable risk for clients and wildlife.  While with JDS during any of our Japan photo workshops, your safety and the conservation of the natural world around you is the primary concern for our team.  You will seamlessly mesh with nature, take once in a lifetime photos, and return home extremely relaxed after experiencing authentic Japan and Shinrin-Yoku.