Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth
Tour Leader: Local Leader
Tour price (Per person): JPY720,000 * USD5,058 * GBP3,851 * EUR4,561 * AUD7,583
Single Supplement: JPY80,000 * USD562 * GBP428 * EUR507 * AUD843
Flight costs: JPY85,000 * USD597 * GBP455 * EUR538 * AUD895
Can be linked with: Japan - Hokkaido Extension 2025
Tour Leader: Local Leader
Tour Leader: Paul Varney
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*
Tour price (Per person): JPY777,600 * USD5,463 * GBP4,159 * EUR4,926 * AUD8,190
Can be linked with: Japan - Hokkaido Extension 2026
Our Highlights of Japan tour during spring takes in the very best of what Japan has to offer during this fabulous time of year when all the country’s resident species and summer migrants are present and actively singing, displaying and nesting – indeed a magical time to visit ‘The Land of the Rising Sun’.
The wetlands and forests on Honshu support the extremely localized Japanese Marsh Warbler, Japanese Reed Bunting, Long-billed Plover, Latham’s Snipe, endemic Copper and Japanese Green Pheasants, Japanese Green Woodpecker, Japanese Yellow Bunting, Japanese and Brown-headed Thrushes, Japanese Grosbeak and Japanese Accentor, all of which will be targets on this trip. On the offshore island of Miyake-jima we hope to find the richly coloured and endemic Izu Thrush and Owston’s Tit, while other specialties include Japanese Wood Pigeon, Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler and Ijima’s Leaf Warbler. We conclude the main part of this Japan Spring Highlights tour in the Ryukyu Islands where we spend our time on the small islands of Okinawa and Amami in search of a host of exciting endemics and near-endemics. The endangered Okinawa (Pryer’s) Woodpecker recently discovered and highly threatened Okinawa Rail, stunning Ryukyu & Okinawa Robins, Ryukyu Minivet, Amami Woodcock, Lidth’s Jay and Amami Thrush are just some of the islands’ tantalizing species that we will be searching for during our explorations there!
Okinawa Rail; Lidth's Jay; Copper & Japanese Green Pheasants; Japanese Murrelet; Ryukyu Minivet; Amami Woodcock; Ryukyu Scops Owl; Ryukyu Flycatcher; Ryukyu & Okinawa Robins; Long-billed Plover; Latham’s Snipe; Japanese Pygmy & Okinawa Woodpeckers; Japanese Yellow Bunting; Izu, Amami, Japanese & Brown-headed Thrushes; Japanese Grosbeak; Japanese Accentor; Owston’s Tit; Japanese Wood Pigeon; Ijima’s Leaf Warbler; Japanese Marsh Warbler; Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler; Japanese Reed Bunting.
Amami Rabbit.
temperate broad-leaved and coniferous forest, lakes, pelagic, coastline, wetlands and grasslands
warm sunny days, can be a little cool in the evenings
10 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader
moderate pace, undemanding walks
comfortable minshukus (guest houses) & hotels
easy
good to very good
This trip was quite an experience: Earthquakes, an erupting volcano, a major blizzard, raw fish and squid for breakfast, some incredible dining experiences, great scenery, and a wicked lot of fantastic birds! Erik Forsyth did a very good job with the tour. He was a bit more laid back than I am used to, but we really had good luck with the birds. A lot of that also had to do with Bryan Shirley, who is also an excellent guide. Erik and Bryan made a great team and appeared to really enjoy the trip, which was infectious for the rest of the group.
The birding and bird vocalisation skills of Erik Forsyth and local guide Bryan Shirley are simply outstanding. So far, I've probably met only 2 guides who were only just about as good as these two!
Wonderful experience with Erik Forsyth and Bryan despite challenging weather conditions. The lodging was very comfortable. The birds were fantastic.
Outstanding trip with excellent leadership. Could not have asked for a better experience.
Glen, as usual, was the best. This is our third trip with him and would not hesitate to do many more.
Japan - Hokkaido Extension 2024 - May 2024
Japan - Spring Highlights 2024 - May 2024
Japan - Southern Islands Extension 2024 - February 2024
Japan - Winter Birding 2024 - January 2024
Japan - Spring Highlights: Hokkaido Extension 2023 - May 2023
Japan - Spring Highlights 2023 - May 2023
Japan - Southern Islands Extension 2023 - February 2023
Japan - Winter Birding 2023 - January 2023
Japan - Winter Birding 2020 - February 2020
Japan - Spring Highlights 2019 - May 2019
Japan - Winter Birding I 2018 - February 2018
Japan - Winter Birding I 2017 - February 2017
Japan - Southern Islands Extension I 2017 - February 2017
Japan - Winter Birding I 2016 - February 2016
Japan - Winter Birding 2014 - December 2014
Japan - Southern Islands Extension 2014 - November 2014