The Ainu are an essential part of Japan, and they were pushed north from mainland Japan to Hokkaido, a nearly forgotten part of history dating before and after the Heian Period (794 - 1185); now I share their stories and visit with the Ainu on my annual Hokkaido Photo Tour.  They once struggled to preserve their national identity as First Nations people of Japan, and the government finally recognized the Ainu as the indigenous population.  This is an important step in protecting their cultural identity and preserving their First Nations Japan history.  Every year, I make a point to take participants on my annual Hokkaido Photo Tour to the Akanko Ainu Kotan villages to visit and learn about the Ainu people's handicrafts, folklore, and traditions.  

The woods surrounding Lake Akanko are a birder’s paradise.  The First Nations People of Japan, the Ainu, believe that spirit and energy reside in everything.   And the Ainu believe that the Blakiston’s Fish Owl protects villages and keeps away malevolent spirits.   The  Blakiston's Fish Owl is an elusive and endangered species, and during a Hokkaido photo tour, unless you know where to spot the fish owl, you will have extreme difficulty spotting them since they are predominantly nocturnal hunters.   To successfully spot and photograph one on your visit to Japan’s north island, you will need either a local or someone who has spent many years in Hokkaido scouting and leading Hokkaido birding workshops and knows the wildlife and landscapes.  You’re in luck; I have both qualifications, and I am happy to help you find and photograph Blakiston’s Fish Owls among other birding photo ops while in Hokkaido.  The Blakiston’s Fish Owl is the largest owl species on our planet.  Males weigh from 2.95 to 3.6 kg (6.5 to 8 lb), while the female weighs up to 2.95 to 4.6 kg (6.5 to 10.1 lb) and is about 25% larger. The Blakiston's Fish Owl measures 60 to 72 cm (24 to 28 in) in total length. The Eurasian eagle-owl is sometimes thought to be the largest owl species and is a close match in size to the Blakiston’s fish owl, but to date, all recorded measurements of the two put the Blakiston's Fish Owl as the overall largest owl species.  The photo attached to this newsletter is a Blakiston’s Fish Owl I captured while leading my annual Hokkaido Photography Tour in 2019.

Joining one of my photo tours, you know you are going to have the very best opportunities to photograph all wildlife such as The steller's sea eagle, Ezo Red Foxes, The Ezo Risu (Hokkaido squirrel), which is a subspecies of red squirrels, and the largest herd of Ezo Sika Deer on the planet, and perhaps even the whales and sea otters will even make an appearance.  While visiting the Akanko region, I recommend staying at the Akan Tsuruga Bessou Hinanoza.  The hotel is breathtaking in every way and a must for those wishing to indulge in a Japanese splendor of accommodations experience.  For any traveler or visitor to the region, it is my first choice, and I often use it during private Hokkaido Photo Tours.