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

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 unfamiliar with navigating frozen bogs and challenging terrain, you’re better off warming your feet back at your lodgings.

That said, on every Hokkaido photography workshop tour, our experienced team and our Hokkaido photography workshop tour leader make safety our top priority. We frequently disembark to double and triple-check the terrain, using stainless steel avalanche poles or camera monopods to test the depth of snow-covered ruts and soft bogs. These precautions help ensure we never drive into what we half-jokingly call a Hokkaido Wildlife Waterhole.

Before setting off to track the deer, our workshop leader always check in with all participants. Everyone must be fully prepared—no hesitation, no cold feet. He needs to be 100% confident in the readiness of the group so that when they begin the journey without doubt, omens, or second thoughts clouding our adventurous spirit.

At the end of this remote trail lies something truly unforgettable: the largest known herd of Ezo sika deer on Earth. This awe-inspiring encounter rewards those bold enough to step far off the beaten path and into the heart of Hokkaido’s untamed wilderness.