Japan: Summer Hokkaido - May 2025

Dates: May 28 - June 13, 2025

Leaders: Mark Brazil, Mayumi Brazil & Raymond VanBuskirk

E-bird

Total Species: 137 birds

Overall Summary

This morning, All Nippon Airways 741 carried us north from Japan’s capital of Tōkyō to the northern island of Hokkaidō, and particularly to Kushiro. There, Mark and Mayumi were waiting for us just outside the baggage carousel area. After a brief introduction to the trip and the afternoon ahead—to the life-sized crane mobile, the Red-crowned Crane diorama, and the Ainu costume, all displayed in the nearby airport lobby—we met our drivers, Fujisaki-san and Nakagaki-san, for the first portion of the journey, boarded our vehicles, and began our road trip around eastern Hokkaidō.

Our very first stop was to watch a family of the iconic Red-crowned Crane, a symbol of long life and happiness for the Japanese, and the deity of the marshes, Sarurun Kamuy, for the Ainu. This pair, with their two one-year-old youngsters still accompanying them, even engaged in a courtship dance for us! What an auspicious start to our multicultural wildlife and birding excursion around Hokkaidō. We then made several stops at bridges over the Akan River as we began to become accustomed to the open and wooded landscapes of eastern Hokkaidō, and saw our first views of the Akan volcanoes to the north.

Slowly, we became accustomed to the common waterside and riparian woodland birds of Hokkaidō, with telescope views of many of them. Oriental Turtle Dove, Black-eared Kite, Gray Heron, Bull-headed Shrike, Asian Tit, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Japanese Bush Warbler, Amur Stonechat, White Wagtail, Oriental Greenfinch, and Masked Bunting were all soon familiar to us and were set to become common features on many of our day lists.

After arrival and check-in at our lovely, peaceful hotel situated beside the rushing Akan River, we enjoyed a deeper introduction to Japan’s culture through its omotenashi (welcoming hospitality), its UNESCO-registered cuisine, with our first kaiseki dinner, and hot spring bathing in the mineral waters of this famous onsen. Onsen is more than just a way of taking a bath; it is Japan’s ancient healing therapy, also known to and used by the Ainu people.

During dinner, Mayumi explained the many dishes and culinary temptations before us, and toward the end of dinner, Mark gave a briefing about the day ahead, in a pattern repeated each evening. In a sense, the wildlife of the trip was self-explanatory, whereas the culture required far more explanation involving the history of the country, especially its several centuries of isolation, in order to understand its conservative attitudes, devotion to ritual, and familiar social norms, especially in the rural areas in which we were traveling. From convenience stores to futon and from vending machines to onsen, there was so much for us to explore together each day.

Day-by-Day Summary

May 28 - Arrival via All Nippon Airways 741 from Tōkyō to Kushiro. Meet local guides Mark and Mayumi, introduction to the tour, and transfer into eastern Hokkaidō. First roadside birding stops along the Akan River and initial cultural orientation.

May 29 - First full day exploring bridges and wetlands around the Akan River. Introduction to common Hokkaidō species and landscapes, with views of the Akan volcanoes and surrounding riparian forest.

May 30 - Focused birding in Red-crowned Crane habitat. Early encounters with cranes and other wetland specialists in the Kushiro marshlands.

May 31 - Continued exploration of wetlands, forest edges, and agricultural areas. Consolidation of common woodland and waterside species.

June 1 - Transfer toward Lake Akan area with birding stops en route. Increasing exposure to mixed forest and volcanic landscapes.

June 2 - Full day birding around Lake Akan and surrounding woodland habitats, with expanding familiarity with regional birdlife.

June 3 - Further exploration of marshes and river systems, with continued observation of cranes and riparian species.

June 4 - A day focused on forest birding and riverside habitats in eastern Hokkaidō, deepening understanding of regional avifauna.

June 5 - Travel between key eastern Hokkaidō sites with multiple roadside birding stops and scenic viewpoints.

June 6 - Return to prime wetland areas for additional crane viewing and wetland birding opportunities.

June 7 - Exploration of the Akan River system and surrounding forest edges, with continued daily birding routines.

June 8 - A full day covering a mix of woodland, farmland, and wetland habitats across eastern Hokkaidō.

June 9 - Extended field day focusing on consolidating sightings of common and specialty species across multiple habitats.

June 10 - Final full birding day in the Kushiro region, revisiting productive crane and wetland sites.

June 11 - A more relaxed day combining light birding with cultural experiences and local exploration.

June 12 - Final dedicated birding day in eastern Hokkaidō, wrapping up key target species and regional specialties.