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We managed to return to the winter wonders of Japan earlier this year after the restrictions of the pandemic were finally removed and one of our trip guides, Richard Peters, shares some images and thoughts on what makes this such a special place to spend time as a wildlife photographer.

There is something very special about Japan. It’s not just the photographic opportunities, which are spectacular, but also the culture and experience of visiting this incredible country. It makes for a photographic holiday that is very special and memorable in so many ways.

Whilst the food and culture are almost worth experiencing themselves (western tastes are catered for should you wish to dip in and out of the traditional cuisine), it’s the wildlife and environments they can be found in that are the true stars of the show.

Our 2023 trip was no exception. Our first port of call was the Jigokudani Yaen Koen Snow Monkey park. These wonderfully photogenic animals are always a joy to spend time around. When the conditions allow, they love to bath and play around the hot springs. This produces those classic images you see with a monkey in water and steam around them, creating a ton of atmosphere. But there are also some wonderful close up portraits to be had, especially when walking all around the park and taking in the areas down by the river where the light is often brighter.

This year we were even incredibly lucky to have a Serow come down close to the path, right at the end of the day. Normally very shy, this particular subject decided to cross the path very close by before heading down and over the river. A lucky and special moment indeed.

Other highlights of our 2023 trip included a beautiful crisp and cold morning on Lake Kushiro: it’s a beautiful setting to photograph the whooper swans.

It also offers excellent opportunities to shoot slightly wider. Doing so helps show off the distant mountains and give a real sense of space to the environment. The frozen lake and it’s surroundings are as much a star of the show as the swans themselves. That can easily be lost by going in tight with a telephoto, so keeping a wide angle to hand in this location is always recommended.

The national bird of Japan is the red crowned crane and it’s always wonderful to photograph with portraits in particular always drawing my attention.

The real standout for me is always the Steller’s sea eagles. Sailing out to the drift ice off the coast of Hokkaido’s Rausu, in a small ice breaker boat, we were greeted by hundreds, if not thousands, of Steller’s and white-tailed eagles. The opportunities offered are huge, from the swirling of hundreds of birds in the air at any one time to wonderful close up portraits.

Of all the places I’ve been fortunate to visit and all the amazing animal encounters I’ve seen, the sheer sight of this many eagles, sat on drift ice, with the amazing view of Hokkaido in the distance behind, as a beautiful sunrise forms, easily sits up there in my top 5 if not top 3 memories of all time.

It also serves as a wonderful way to end what is a truly spectacular two week trip. If Japan is anywhere on your bucket list, you won’t be disappointed if you nudge it up to the sooner-rather-than-later part of that list.