Japan June 2025 (1 Viewer)

[BotanyBirder]

Hi,

I'm planning to go to Japan with my partner for two weeks early June next year. Main perspective of the trip isn't birding, but I have planned to spend a few (2-4) days in Hokkaido for some birds I hope to see. Rest of the trip is more tourist stuff on Honshu, where I'm probably able to get some species too.

The main goal is to see, or at least hear the Blakiston's fish owl. Other targets include Siberian, White's, Japanese and Brown-headed thrushes, Siberian blue robin, blue-and-white flycatcher, Siberian rubythroat, pelagic, red-faced and Japanese cormorants, basically any auks, red-crowned crane and harlequin duck.

Not planning for boat cruises. Most likely renting a car and not getting a local guide (short duration of stay).

Does anyone know, if Yoroushi is any good for Blakiston's in June? Or is Washi No Yado a better choice? Or should I perhaps try both? Are there other options to these two places?

Any other suggestions? Preferably "cool looking" places, as my partner enjoys nature and hikes, but isn't into birding (probably wants to see the Blakiston's though).

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

You may find my trip report from June of last year of interest:

Birding Japanese: Japan in summer June-July 2023

Might have an attempt at another on the go trip report. I'm currently in Japan and will be here for around a month, visiting many different areas of the country. It's actually my fourth visit (fifth if you count some birding on an overnight layover), but all my previous visits were in winter...

www.birdforum.net

https://ebird.org/tripreport/289170?welcome=true

I didn't look for Blakiston's Fish Owl, as I've seen it well there in winter. Siberian and White's Thrushes can be seen but are definitely quite hard. Most of the other stuff is more easily gettable. The east will probably be best, particularly for seabirds, but there should be good birds almost everywhere.

 

[James Lowther]

I saw Blakiston’s owl at Washi no Yado in June 2017.

Of your other targets in E Hokkaido I didn’t see Siberian thrush, red-faced cormorant or harlequin, white’s thrush was heard only and i don’t remember if I saw Japanese thrush or blue and white FC on Hokkaido or only Honshu
Cheers
James

 

[BotanyBirder]

Thanks James and Andrew. I know that White's and Siberian thrush are both shy and hard to see, but even just hearing them would be great and seeing them a small dream come true.
East Hokkaido was in my mind already. Probably flight to Kushiro and then visiting Nemuro area and places on the way there and to Yoroushi and/or Rausu.

 

[kb57]

Only visited in winter, but Kushiro Shitsugen National Park (on route 53 north of Kushiro) has a visitor centre with short trails through birch woodland and a lookout over the marshes, where red-crowned crane breed. It was snow-covered and completely birdless in winter, but should give you at least scope views in summer.
A little further north in Tsurui, Heart n'Tree is a really cool place to stay, on a ridge top just north of the town. Although it's not a birder's place, Sachiko and Masato Hattori who run it could probably give you info on local sites for breeding red-crowned crane, if you haven't seen them at the national park. I believe they can also organise activities such as boat trips on the marshes.
If you are travelling with a non-birding partner, and if all things are equal regarding chances of seeing Blakiston's fish-owl, then Yoroushi Onsen is the place to stay. It's a traditional onsen but quite luxurious - the most expensive option are rooms overlooking the stream and woodland at the back with a private hot tub on the balcony - these are great, and give you a decent vantage point unhindered by glass windows.

 

[cynthetic]

I'll be in Japan April 20-May 4, and like the original redditor that posted this thread, I'll have a couple of days for birding. The last week is the week I'll be able to travel out of Tokyo for birding. Are there any recommended places for endemic species? The Ibis? Or any of the owls?

Thank you!

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I'll be in Japan April 20-May 4, and like the original redditor that posted this thread, I'll have a couple of days for birding. The last week is the week I'll be able to travel out of Tokyo for birding. Are there any recommended places for endemic species? The Ibis? Or any of the owls?

Thank you!

If you have only a couple of days, I would recommend Karuizawa for forest birds (though you may be too early for some of the migrants) or the classic 24-trip to Miyakejima on the overnight ferry. The latter should give the Izu endemics and also some good seabirds on the return journey. Karuizawa is easily reached by bullet train in an hour or so from Tokyo. It can be done on foot, although you could easily hire a car near the station. You can potentially also get to some good sites for things like Marsh Grassbird and Ochre-rumped Bunting.

 

[temmie]

Hi,

I'm planning to go to Japan with my partner for two weeks early June next year. Main perspective of the trip isn't birding, but I have planned to spend a few (2-4) days in Hokkaido for some birds I hope to see. Rest of the trip is more tourist stuff on Honshu, where I'm probably able to get some species too.

The main goal is to see, or at least hear the Blakiston's fish owl. Other targets include Siberian, White's, Japanese and Brown-headed thrushes, Siberian blue robin, blue-and-white flycatcher, Siberian rubythroat, pelagic, red-faced and Japanese cormorants, basically any auks, red-crowned crane and harlequin duck.

I wonder why the truly magnificent Japanese Robin isn't in that list? Just wandering around in the woods close to Minshuku Furen, I got some singing and eventually good views here: 43.2584, 145.4847
I had Blue-and-white (44.1018, 145.0586) and Narcissus (44.1049, 145.0738) flycatcher singing on a side road while going North from Washi-no-Yado.
I had White's Thrush just South of Akan walking quietly along a forest road: 43.4276, 144.0747
Cormorants, Auklets, plenty of Harlequin Ducks and some interesting gulls (Slaty-backed, Glaucous-winged, Black-tailed) all from the Nosappu cape.
Long-billed Plover breeds e.g. here: 44.0321, 145.1481
A pair of Red-Crowned Cranes seen from here: 43.2637, 145.4471. The SE side of Hokkaido should offer the best possibilities to connect with the species.
Sometimes there are roosting sites for ssp japonica of Ural Owl, but it's not up to me to provide those (given that I have something reliable, which I haven't, especially not for next year), just keep an eye on it.

Not planning for boat cruises. Most likely renting a car and not getting a local guide (short duration of stay).

Does anyone know, if Yoroushi is any good for Blakiston's in June? Or is Washi No Yado a better choice? Or should I perhaps try both? Are there other options to these two places?

yes. You can try to see it 'in the wild'. A good place is here: 43.2429, 145.3461
It's a wooded river valley, owls will hoot in the evening and if you're lucky, they will perch somewhere on the top of the trees before night falls and they go down to fish. The place is full of roding Latham's snipes. It's a short drive from Minshuku Furen, and easily combined with a stay there.