BROWN BEARS
The best time to see brown bears — which number
around 3,000 on Hokkaido — is during summer. Perhaps
surprisingly, the safest way to view them is by boat.
When hiking in areas with bears, you’ll hear the constant
jangling of bear bells coming from the rucksacks of
Japanese hikers since brown bears can be aggressive.
HOW TO DO IT: Take a bear cruise in Utoro with operator
Gojiraiwa Kanko. Alternatively, guided walks through
bear country are available at Goko Lakes Trail, Shiretoko
National Park. kamuiwakka.jp/cruising goko.go.jpEZO ANIMALS
Ezo is a term with its roots in Japan’s feudal history;
it’s used to refer to the lands north of Honshu, Japan’s
mainland. Hokkaido is home to Ezo deer and Ezo red fox.
Also look out for are Ezo momonga (fl ying squirrel) and
the Ezo crying rabbit, a type of pika that’s said to have
provided inspiration for the Pokemon character, Pikachu.
HOW TO DO IT: The conservationists at Picchio Wildlife
Research Center in Utoro off er educational wildlife tours.
shiretoko-picchio.comBLAKISTON’S FISH OWL
While the iconic Japanese cranes get a lot of attention in
winter, for any birdwatcher, Blakiston’s fi sh owl is reason
enough to journey to the wilds of Hokkaido. Not only is
this the largest species of owl in the world, it can regularly
be seen on the Shiretoko Peninsula despite the fact that
only about 150 owls currently remain in the wild.
HOW TO DO IT: Head to the small Washi no Yado (Eagle
Inn) guesthouse near Rausu, which the owls visit nightly.
fi showl-observatory.orgWHALES & DOLPHINS
Orcas, sperm whales and Baird’s beaked whales are all
attracted by the nutrient-rich waters around Hokkaido
and can regularly be seen on summertime cruises.
HOW TO DO IT: Whale-watching boats, such as those
operated by tour company Shiretoko Rausu Lincle,
depart daily from Rausu. shiretoko-rausu-lincle.com JLHokkaido’s Shiretoko
Peninsula is one of the most sparsely
populated areas in Japan — at least by
humans. The area’s woods, rivers and
mountains are home to an impressive roster
of fauna. Guide Tyler Palma, from InsideJapan
Tours, explains moreAnimal
magic
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Skiing in Niseko, Hokkaido; Blakiston’s
fi sh owl, an endangered species of which just 150 live in Hokkaido;
a mother Ezo deer and her fawn, in Kamuiwakka Falls in Shiretoko
National Park; Ezo foxes near Mount Tokachi, HokkaidoKomorebi
The way sunshine
streams through the
leaves of a treeIMAGES: GETTY
For more information about InsideJapan Tour’s wildlife tours,
visit insidejapantours.comJAPANMay/Jun 2020 59