Photography Tour in Japan’s Far North

SUMMARY ITINERARY

SPARK PHOTOGRAPHY
スパークフォトグラフィー
〒064-0913 北海道札幌市中央区南 13 条西1丁目3−25−708 Phone: 090-3811-0038
0640913 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo-ku, Minami 13, Nishi 1, 3-25-708 Phone:+81-90-3811-0038
E-Mail: spark.com.dai@gmail.com

East Hokkaido Photographic Tour (8 days)

Itinerary

Day 1: Meet at Memanbetsu airport, then transfer to Abashiri

Our guide and a van will meet you at Memanbetsu airport. We will transfer to Abashiri.
Depending on the time, after checking in to the hotel, we go to Notoro Misaki to check all the equipment are ready for the next day.

We are going for a local Okonomiyaki restaurant, some photo opportunities of chef cooking Okonomiyaki on the
grill in front of you.

Our Leader: Dai
Traveling Distance: 20km
Meals Included: Dinner
Overnight at: 2-3 Star hotel in Abashiri
Toilet and Shower

Day 2: Abashiri to Kawayu

Early start. We will drive along the sea of Okhotsk and hope to see the drift ice. Then we will go towards Lake
Kussharo. Leaving Abashiri we will have opportunities to shoot some minimalist photography on the hilly farm
land covered with snow. Then we will drive over the Bihoro pass (525m) to see and capture different vegetation
on the mountain.

In the afternoon we will be shooting swans at lake Kussharo.

Our Leader: Dai
Traveling Distance: 100km
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner
Overnight at: 2-3 Star hotel in Kawayu
Toilet and Shower

Day 3: Lake Kussharo

Full day photographing the Whooper swans. Early start to shoot swans in the mist, flying swans. If conditions
permitting we shall visit several locations which have truly breathing taking landscape back drops. Then active

2
volcano called Iozan. Another minimalist photography opportunities in Teshikaga farm lands. Hope to capture
swans at sun set to finish our day.

Our Leader: Dai
Traveling Distance: 50km
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner
Overnight at: 2-3 Star hotel in Kawayu
Toilet and Shower

Day 4: Lake Kussharo to Kushiro

We will drive to the marshes north of Kushiro city, designated a national park in 1987 to protect a resident
population of endangered red-crowned cranes, also known as Japanese cranes. Photograph the splendid
courtship rituals of these magnificent birds as they dance and leap in the snow.

Our Leader: Dai
Traveling Distance: 140km
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner
Overnight at: 2-3 Star hotel in Kushiro or closer to the crane locations

Toilet and Shower

Day 5: Kushiro

All day shooting the cranes and landscapes.

Our Leader: Dai
Traveling Distance: 40km
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner
Overnight at: 2-3 Star hotel in Kushiro or closer to the crane locations

Toilet and Shower

Day 6: Kushiro to Rausu

We make our way to the Shiretoko Peninsula and the quaint fishing town of Rausu. Time and weather permitting
we may have a short walk around the local fishing port. After dinner we will visit Fish-Owl observatory, where
endangered Blackston’s Fish-Owls are observable in every night. Setting a feeding pond and the special lighting
system in a natural stream, we can observe and shoot pictures of a wild family of Fish-Owl.

Our Leader: Dai
Traveling Distance: 150km
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner
Overnight at: 2-3 Star hotel in Rausu
Toilet and Shower

Day 7: Rausu to Utoro

We will drive to the other side of Shiretoko peninsula where we have chance to go a little deeper into the national
park. It is the most remote area of Japan. On the way we will drive through farm lands where there are lot of
opportunities for minimalist winter photography opportunities. We will end our day by a shooting beautiful sunset in Utoro

Our Leader: Dai
Traveling Distance: 120km
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner
Overnight at: 2-3 Star hotel in Utoro
Toilet and Shower

Day 7: Utoro to Abashiri

We will drive back to Abashiri. More opportunities for drift ice, single tree on the hills,, nicely lined up trees on the snow top hills and etc.

Our Leader: Dai
Traveling Distance: 80km
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner
Overnight at: 2-3 Star hotel in Abashiri
Toilet and Shower

Day 8: Transfer to Memanbetsu Airport

Transfer to Memanbestu Airport.
Our Leader: Dai
Traveling Distance: 10km
Meals Included: Breakfast
Important Note

The weather from Siberia is pretty severe, particularly the north-western coast where we will be spending the most of our time. Therefore there is a very good chance that we find ourselves snowed-in at the hotel on occasion. We will handle this as much as possible, however we need to remain flexible. Those same weather fronts keep this land unique. We need a spirit of adventure and a good sense of humour for participants of this tour.

Additional Information
Accommodation & Meals

We stay in a mix of Japanese and western style hotels, with great food, and onsens as much. We’ll note if you have an food preferences (allergies, vegetarian etc.) and make changes as possible to suit your needs.

Everyone is automatically booked into a single room, unless you participate as a couple or are traveling with a room mate. No single supplement required, but there is a discount for a shared room. Note though that we will not pair you with another traveler, so if you are traveling alone, please book a single room.

What is included in the Package?

• All accommodation and meals during your tour
• A chartered van/bus with driver (and lots of luggage space) to transport us safely and comfortably
around Hokkaido for the entire trip
• A tour guide travels with you throughout to ensure all the logistics run smoothly
What is NOT included in the Package? • Any international flights or travel costs to the meeting point.
• Hotels while traveling prior to or following the tour
• Beverages or additional items ordered during meals

Cost & Reservation
The total cost for this tour is;
No. of people Price (yen)
2 1 guide, 1 van JPY457,000
3 1 guide, 1 van JPY362,300
4 1 guide, 1 van JPY314,900
5 1 guide, 1 van JPY286,500
6 1 guide, 1 driver, 1 bus JPY350,000
7 1 guide, 1 driver, 1 bus JPY324,700
8 1 guide, 1 driver, 1 bus JPY305,700
9 1 guide, 1 driver, 1 bus JPY290,900
10 1 guide, 1 driver, 1 bus JPY279,100
11 1 guide, 1 driver, 1 bus JPY269,500
12 1 guide, 1 driver, 1 bus JPY261,400
To book your place, please pay a reservation fee of 10% of the tour price by credit card, Paypal or bank
transfer.

Cancellation Policy/Fees
If you wish to cancel your tour, please notify Spark Photography in writing. Once Spark Cycling receives your notice, cancellation will take effect with following cancellation charge.

Days prior to departure / Cancellation Charge
42 days + / Full amount of your deposit
21-41 days / 25% of tour price
8-20 days / 50% of tour price
2-7 days / 75% of tour price
1 day / 100% of tour price
Departure day / 100% of tour price

A Word on Insurance

You are strongly advised to arrange the following insurance:

Travel Insurance — If you fall sick or have an accident during the course of the trip, you will miss part of your
tour, and possibly incur hospital fees and other expenses that can mount up. We strongly advise you to take out
travel insurance for yourself for the entire length of the trip in advance of departure
Cancellation Insurance — This is often included in your Travel Insurance, but if for any reason you have to cancel
your tour, cancellation insurance can help you recuperate your costs
Note that travel and cancellation insurance usually has to be bought within 10 days of booking the tour or less.
Please check on this as soon as you book.
Camera Equipment Insurance — We also suggest that you insure your photography equipment and belongings if
not included in your home or travel insurance. If you already have your gear insured, double check that you are
covered for international travel too, if you are visiting Japan from another country