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Experience the Power of the White-Tailed Eagle on a Hokkaido Photography Tour

Jun 04, 2025

Joining a Hokkaido photo workshop or Hokkaido photography tour means stepping into the realm of one of nature’s most powerful raptors: the White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla). With wingspans reaching nearly 2.5 meters (over 8 feet), this magnificent bird is just one of many awe-inspiring species our groups encounter on the pack ice of eastern Hokkaido during my annual winter birding photo tours.Capturing the perfect shot of a White-tailed eagle in action—especially when ...

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Chasing Giants: Off-Road Adventure to the Hokkaido Ezo Sika Deer Herd

May 29, 2025

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime Hokkaido wildlife photography adventure as the JDS Hokkaido workshop leader and our clients go off-road in pursuit of the majestic Ezo sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis)—a unique subspecies of the sika deer found only in the wilds of Japan’s northernmost island.Our journey begins with a grueling 5-kilometer off-road drive through rugged trails that barely qualify as roads. This is not a route for the faint-hearted or the inexperienced. If you're ...

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Photograph the Iconic Shima Enaga on a Winter Wildlife Tour in Hokkaido

May 21, 2025

One of the most charming birds to photograph in Hokkaido’s snowy landscapes is the Shima Enaga (Aegithalos caudatus japonicus), affectionately known as Japan’s "Snow Fairy." This tiny, fluffy bird with its all-white face is a highlight for birders and photographers alike during the annual JDS Hokkaido Winter Wildlife Photography Tour.A Premier Destination for Wildlife and Bird PhotographyHokkaido is world-renowned for its spectacular wildlife and bird ...

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White-Tailed Eagles vs. Steller’s Sea Eagles: Epic Wildlife Photography on Japan’s Hokkaido Pack Ice

Apr 28, 2025

One of the most exhilarating highlights of the annual JDS Hokkaido Winter Wildlife Photography Tour is witnessing the breathtaking aerial duels between White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Steller’s Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus pelagicus). Both raptor species belong to the genus Haliaeetus, which dates back to the Oligocene Epoch—over 30 million years ago—making these birds not only modern-day marvels but living relics of avian evolution.The Imposing White-Tailed ...

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Exploring Hakone’s Hidden Cherry Blossom Photography Gems

Apr 24, 2025

Field Report from our Cherry Blossom Photography Workshop Leader! Join me on my annual cross-country cherry blossom photography workshop, where we uncover Japan’s most breathtaking and lesser-known sakura spots. This year, our journey took us from Aomori to Tokyo, culminating in the stunning landscapes of Hakone—a historic onsen retreat cherished since the Edo period.For nearly three decades, I have ventured along Japan’s ancient pilgrimage routes, capturing the essence ...

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Capturing Japan’s Cherry Blossoms: Mt. Fuji & Hidden Gems Photography Tour

Apr 23, 2025

I’m currently leading my annual cross-country cherry blossom photo workshop, an unforgettable journey through Japan’s most stunning spring landscapes. My participants and I traveled to Hakone before heading to Mt. Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes region.While the famous Chureito Pagoda has long been a must-visit for photographers, overtourism has made it nearly impossible to capture a unique shot. BBC recently reported on efforts to deter crowds from overwhelming these iconic spots. ...

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Ultimate Japan Cherry Blossom Photography Tour: Explore Ancient Sakura in Nagano

Apr 20, 2025

Field Report from our Cherry Blossom Photo Workshop Leader I am currently leading my annual cherry blossom photo tour, visiting Uedajo—a historic castle site built in 1583 by samurai leader Sanada Masayuki. This site, which endured two attacks by Tokugawa Ieyasu’s army, features over 1,000 cherry blossom trees, primarily Somei Yoshino. However, through decades of exploration, I have discovered unique varieties and hidden locations I share exclusively with my tour ...

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Cherry Blossoms & Samurai History: A Photography Tour at Matsumoto Castle, Japan

Apr 18, 2025

Currently, I am leading my annual cherry blossom photo tour, and we are visiting the iconic Matsumoto Castle in Nagano, Japan. Completed in the 16th century, this historic samurai castle was ruled by 23 lords of Matsumoto for nearly 300 years before undergoing a complete renovation during the Meiji Era.As you explore the castle grounds, you’ll understand why Matsumoto Castle is nicknamed ‘Karasujo’ or ‘Crow Castle’—its deep ebony walls and towering ...

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Ancient Cherry Blossoms & Wildlife: A Photographer’s Dream in Niigata

Apr 13, 2025

Field Report from the JDS Cherry Blossom Workshop Leader! I’m currently leading my annual cross-country Cherry Blossom photography workshop, and for the next few days, my participants and I will be in Niigata Prefecture—home to Japan’s finest sake and some of its most breathtaking cherry blossoms. Niigata boasts a remarkable number of distilleries, producing sake so smooth and subtly sweet that it’s almost like drinking fragrant water—until you realize ...

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Discover Kofu’s Cherry Blossoms & Samurai Legacy on an Exclusive Photo Tour

Apr 10, 2025

As I embark on my annual cross-country Cherry Blossom Photo Tour, our first stop is Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture—a destination that captivates me every year with its breathtaking sakura and deep-rooted samurai history. Kofu is synonymous with Takeda Shingen (武田 信玄), the revered daimyo whose legacy is interwoven with the region’s cultural and natural beauty.One of Kofu’s most iconic sites is the Takeda Shrine, once the residence of Shingen himself. The shrine’s grounds ...

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May Means Getting Out into Nature!

Species of Japan - Somei Yoshino Cherry Blossom 染井吉野 ソメイヨシノ (Prunus yedoensis)

May 17, 2022

Rice Terraces in Niigata Japan

December 1, 2020

Akita Photo Tours - A Vista for Every Taste

June 22, 2019

Tohoku Photo Tour - Hirosaki Blending Architecture & Nature Photography Workshop

June 7, 2019

Japan Photo Tour - Fukushima in Spring

May 24, 2019

Japan Photo Tours - Natural Beauty Everywhere!

May 21, 2019

Japan Photo Tour - Four Seasons at Fujita Memorial Garden

May 19, 2019

Japan Private Photo Tours - Akita’s Hidden Natural Treasures

May 17, 2019

Tohoku Photo Tour - Akita’s Natural Appeals

May 15, 2019

Japan Photo Tours - Natural Phenomenon

April 1, 2019

Japanese Nature Photography Workshops

March 23, 2019

Fukushima Photography - Reflections on 3.11

March 11, 2019

Japanese Snow Monkey Photography Tours - Sisterly & Motherly Behavior

March 1, 2019

Waterfall Photography Tour

November 27, 2018

Togakushi Shrine Winter Photo Tour

November 23, 2018

Shimmering Mt. Tsurumi Photography

November 18, 2018

Photographing Onuma Quasi National Park

November 17, 2018

Photographing Shinjuku Gyoen Park

November 12, 2018

Healing Properties of Nature

October 5, 2018

Nature in the Morning

October 1, 2018

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