Birdwatching Japan

Japan Nature Guide's Recommended Short Birding Tours

At JNG we can help you plan and arrange birding tours throughout the country. Whether you wish to enjoy birding during a few spare days after a conference, or wish to set off in search of some of the country's renowned endemics, we can tailor tours to meet your dates and your needs.

We have a range of recommended itineraries:

1, 2, and 3 day tours based in Tokyo. Birds to look for depend on the season of your visit.

3-day tour of the Izu Islands for seabirds and endemic land birds: albatrosses, Streaked Shearwater, Tristram's Petrel, Black Woodpigeon, Izu Thrush, Pleske's Warbler, Ijima's Warbler depending on the season.

4-5 day winter tour (December to March) to southern Kyushu for a wide range of species including wintering cranes: White-naped Crane, Hooded Crane, Sandhill Crane, Common Crane.

4-5 day waterfowl special (October only) visiting north and east Hokkaido for: Taiga Bean Goose,Tundra Bean Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose,Brent Goose, Whooper Swan and Bewick's (Tundra) Swan. 

5-6 day winter tour of east Hokkaido.

5-6 day summer tour of east Hokkaido.

6-day tour of the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa and Amami Oshima) for the central and northern endemics: Okinawa Rail, Pryer's Woodpecker, Amami Woodcock, Ryukyu Robin.

7-day tour of the Nansei Shoto (Yaeyama, Okinawa and Amami Oshima) for the southern, central and northern endemics: Ryukyu Serpent Eagle, Malayan Night Heron, Okinawa Rail, Pryer's Woodpecker, Amami Woodcock, Ryukyu Robin.