- Brown Bear Photography Tour in Shiretoko National Park
- Hokkaido , Japan
- Focused on Capturing Shiretoko's Brown Bears and Wildlife
- Price
- from JPY 340,000
- Duration
- 4nights 5days
- Season
- September to Early October
Tour Concept
This tour is only available during the autumn salmon run season (September to early October), specifically designed for photographing brown bears that come to the river mouths to hunt for salmon. Take part in a five-hour small boat cruise in Rausu twice, and in Utoro set out from early morning by private vehicle to search for bears.—ideal for those seeking an in-depth, focused wildlife photography adventure centered on Shiretoko’s iconic brown bears. During your stay, one evening will be dedicated to photographing the Blakiston’s fish owl.
Highlights
Two Brown Bear Photography Opportunities Aboard a Chartered Boat
This tour offers guests the unique opportunity to focus exclusively on encounters with brown bears. Each excursion is approximately five hours long—twice the duration of a typical sightseeing cruise. Thanks to the small boat’s excellent maneuverability, we can navigate closer to the shoreline, allowing for safe and respectful observation and photography of the bears without causing them stress.
Land-Based Brown Bear Photography in Shiretoko
From the Utoro town, early-morning departures by private vehicle offer another dimension of bear photography. Alongside boat excursions, this tour also provides land-based encounters for a more comprehensive and immersive wildlife experience.
Blakiston's Fish Owl photography
Rausu is renowned as one of the best places to observe and photograph the elusive Blakiston’s fish owl. At night, you'll visit a photography hide for a rare opportunity to capture images of this endangered species as it approaches the river.
Itinerary
01
Nakashibetsu – Rausu
Meet with your guide at Nakashibetsu Airport at 14:30, then transfer by private vehicle to Rausu in Shiretoko Peninsula. After dinner in Rausu, we'll visit a photography hide to observe and photograph the endangered Blakiston’s fish owl—the largest and rarest owl in the world.
02
Rausu
We’ll board a chartered local fisherman's boat, for an intimate cruise to the Cape of Shiretoko in search of fishing brown bears along pristine & glorious coastline (maximum 5 hours).
03
Rausu – Utoro
Once again, we board our chartered local boat to look for more brown bears. (maximum 5 hours) Then we will drive to Utoro via Shiretoko pass, the other side of Shiretoko Peninsula.
04
Utoro
We will head out early in the morning, before breakfast, for bear photography. After breakfast at the hotel, we will spend the entire day exploring the wilderness and wildlife-rich World Natural Heritage site known as Shiretoko National Park, immersing ourselves in numerous opportunities to photograph brown bears, Ezo sika deer, red foxes, and the breathtakingly beautiful landscape.
05
Utoro – Memambetsu
Before breakfast, we will head out for the final brown bear photography session. After breakfast, we will transfer to Memambetsu Airport, with the tour concluding around 11:30.
Price
| Price per person | |
|---|---|
| Tour cost for 2025/2026 4nights 5days |
JPY650,000 Group of 2 people |
| JPY415,000 Group of 3 people |
|
| JPY340,000 Group of 4-5 people |
|
| Single room supplement | JPY28,000 |
**Prices are for reference only. Final costs may vary depending on actual travel dates, accommodations, and other factors. Please contact us for a customized quote.
** This itinerary serves as a general guideline for the tour. We are happy to customize the content—including activity types, tour duration, and accommodation upgrades—based on your preferences.
Payment:
We require booking fee of JPY50,000 per person to hold the space at time of booking and the final payment is due 45days prior to departure.Form of payment :
Bank transfer or credit card (Visa or Master)Inclusions:
4nights accommodationsEnglish speaking guide thorough out the tour
Private vehicle with Japanese speaking driver
-Toyota Alphard/High Ace or similar size vehicle
4 Breakfasts and 4 dinners
All entry fees to sites, activities listed in the itinerary
Exclusive of:
International AirfaresMeals that are not included in the itinerary
Travel Insurance
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
Personal expenses such as laundry bills, luggage delivery service etc.
Climate
Since it can get chilly on the boat and on days with bad weather, it's essential to bring not only sweaters and fleece layers, but also a waterproof, wind-resistant outer layer—both jacket and pants—for added protection. This is especially important for the brown bear observation boat, which is a small boat without a roof, wind shield, bathroom. The perceived temperature can drop to around 0–5°C, so proper cold-weather gear is necessary. Be sure to also bring a two-piece rain suit to guard against rain and splashing water, along with waterproof covers for your backpack and camera.Accommodations
Due to the limited number of accommodations in this region, we strongly recommend making reservations well in advance. Some properties—particularly traditional Japanese-style inns—may offer futon-style bedding, where guests sleep on a mattress laid out on tatami flooring. In addition, certain accommodations may not have private showers, with communal hot spring baths available instead.Dietary Restriction
Hotels in remote area such as Eastern Hokkaido may only accept requests for special meals to medical (such as allergy) and religious needs.Note
** According to weather conditions and local information, we may be forced to adjust or change tour schedule as needed. Please note that any supplementary costs incurred in such cases will need to be covered by the guest.** There is no guarantee of being able to see everything listed wildlife species in the itinerary.
** In the event of bad sea/weather conditions, the cruise tour may be canceled. Should this occur, the cruise fee will be refunded following the conclusion of the tour.
Contact us about this tour
3rd floor, Kyodo Bldg. Jimbocho, 2-2, Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051, Japan ｜Travel Agency Registration No. 607
