Black Bear Holidays in Japan

Introduction

People don’t often associate Japan with bears. Historically Asiatic Black Bears occupied all of Kyushu, Shikoko and Honshu, while Brown Bears have occupied all of Hokkaido.

Their ranges have been much reduced over the centuries and the Black Bears became extinct in Kyushu in the 1950’s, and are restricted to very small pockets of Shikoku. However, probably in excess of 15,000 remain in Honshu, even in though some isolated populations are endangered.

In Hokkaido, Brown Bears are now confined to the mountainous area; though between 1000 and 2000 still remain there.

 

Images courtesy of Inside Japan Tours 

Overview

Come and join your Tour Leader, wildlife expert and Japan enthusiast Oscar Huygens, for an exciting adventure mixing the very best of Japanese culture in the vibrant cities of Tokyo and Kyoto, with 5 days amongst nature hiking in the Japanese Alps.

You will alternate visits to Tokyo and Kyoto with one to three day hikes in the beautiful mountains of Central Japan and a stay in Matsumoto, the gateway to the Japanese Alps and home to one of Japan’s best preserved Samurai Castles.

 

In the stunning Kiso Valley region you will hike the old Nakasendo Highway which functioned as a postal route during the Edo period. This path winds between the well maintained post towns of Nagiso and Tsumago through fields, rice paddies and local houses. This amazing day is topped off with a night in the quaint town of Magome with a stay in a traditional Japanese inn.

 

The tour combines mountain hikes with visits to places of cultural interest and if you are lucky you may see Monkeys, Serrows and of course Wild Bears!

 

Accommodation will be a mix of western style and traditional, with futons laid out in beautiful Japanese tatami rooms, you will also have the option of a homestay with a Japanese family in Matsumoto. Your food will be exquisite and the pace and variety of experiences will be such that you will truly feel like your Japanese experience could not have been more complete!

 

Oscar Huygens is a wildlife biologist with a specialization in the ecology and conservation of Asiatic Black Bears. He received his doctorate from the University of Shinshu, in Central Japan, and, with 8 scientific papers published on the subject, he certainly knows a lot about nature in Japan, and is quite happy to share his knowledge with his guests!

 

The group for this tour is limited to just 8 people allowing you to see Japanese nature up close and personal whilst sharing Oscar’s expertise and knowledge.

 It is also possible at certain times of the year for us to tailor an independent tour of Japan to suit your own personal preferences during which we could enlist the services of Oscar and his expertise for a 2/3 day private tour! Just ask us when making your enquiry.

 

Destination Information

Climate  

On the mainland, summer temperatures are generally between 20 and 30 degree centigrade. In the early part of summer (mid-June to mid-July) there is a rainy season lasting a few weeks, this is however broken up by days of fine weather. Rains come again in late summer thanks to typhoons, although these usually blow over in a day.    

Visa  

No visas are required for British Citizens for stays of up to 3 months. A full 10 year passport with at least 6 months remaining on the return journey will be required, along with return airline tickets.  

Language  

The official language of Japan is Japanese with some English spoken in the major cities.    

Currency  

The Japanese unit of currency is the Yen; you can change your money at the airport and at most banks and post offices. Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB, Diners) are becoming increasingly accepted in the major cities. However they are not used as much as in western countries.   It is therefore adviseable to take Travellers Cheques which can be exchanged at most major banks, larger hotels and some duty free shops.    

Health

For up-to-date health advice for Japan, please consult your GP.  

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions from the policy, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake whilst on holiday. Medway Travel can provide you with a quote for this – please contact a member of the Leisure team for further details.