Japan
Japan is a globally important pelagic birding destination, with trips departing from ports like Tomakomai, Choshi, and the Ogasawara Islands. The confluence of warm Kuroshio and cold Oyashio currents creates rich feeding grounds that attract Short-tailed Albatross, Matsudaira's Storm-Petrel, and Bryan's Shearwater. Spring and summer pelagics off Hokkaido and Honshu offer some of Asia's most exciting seabird diversity.
Sub-regions
All Trips in Japan
Ochiishi Nature Cruise
Ochiishi Nature Cruise Council
- Ochiishi, Hokkaido
- Summer season June–August; Winter season January–March; advance booking required
- JPY 8000–12000 per person
Rausu Drift Ice & Bird Watching Cruise
Shiretoko Nature Cruise
- Rausu, Shiretoko, Hokkaido
- Late January to mid-March; multiple daily departures (sunrise, 9:00 AM, 1:00 PM)
- JPY 5000–12000 per person
Teuri Island Seabird Tour
Saiyu Travel
- Sapporo, Hokkaido (tour start); ferry to Teuri Island from Haboro
- May to early July; 3-night/4-day packages
- JPY 180000–260000 per person (3–4 person group)
Torishima Short-tailed Albatross Cruise
Saiyu Travel Co., Ltd.
- Yokohama Port, Kanagawa, Japan
- April–May; 2-night, 3-day voyage; runs only a handful of times per year and sells out within days of announcement — join the Saiyu Travel mailing list at saiyu.co.jp/en well in advance to be notified of upcoming departure dates; led by or with commentary from Dr. Hiroshi Hasegawa (Toho University), world authority on Short-tailed Albatross conservation
- Contact Saiyu Travel for current pricing via saiyu.co.jp/en/contact/ (JPY 50,000 deposit per person required at time of booking; full payment due 45 days before departure)
Tokyo–Izu Islands Overnight Ferry Pelagic
Tokai Kisen
- Takeshiba Terminal, Tokyo
- Nightly departures year-round at 22:30; return trip arrives Tokyo around 20:00
- JPY 9000–25000 per person one-way (second class to cabin)
Tokyo–Ogasawara Ferry Pelagic
Ogasawara Kaiun (Ogasawara-maru)
- Takeshiba Terminal, Tokyo
- Three or four times monthly, year-round; 25-hour crossing each way
- JPY 27540–82080 per person one-way (economy to suite)
Further Reading
When to Go Pelagic Birding in Japan
A seasonal guide to Japan's pelagic birding calendar: the spring-only Torishima albatross cruise, Hokkaido's January–March drift ice window, and when the Rhinoceros Auklet colony at Teuri Island peaks.
Read article →Best Pelagic Birding Trips in Japan
A guide to Japan's top pelagic trips: Short-tailed Albatross cruises at Torishima, overnight ferries to the Izu and Ogasawara Islands, and Hokkaido's drift ice eagle cruises.
Read article →Where to See Albatrosses on Pelagic Birding Trips
A guide to where to see albatrosses on pelagic trips worldwide, including Japan — the only place to see Short-tailed Albatross near its breeding grounds — via the dedicated Torishima cruise and the Izu and Ogasawara ferry crossings.
Read article →Explore Other Regions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pelagic birding trips are there in Japan?
Japan has 6 pelagic birding trips listed in the directory, spanning 4 sub-regions.
Where do pelagic trips depart from in Japan?
Pelagic trips in Japan depart from Ochiishi, Hokkaido, Rausu, Shiretoko, Hokkaido, Sapporo, Hokkaido (tour start); ferry to Teuri Island from Haboro, Takeshiba Terminal, Tokyo, and Yokohama Port, Kanagawa, Japan.
Which operators run pelagic trips in Japan?
Ochiishi Nature Cruise Council, Ogasawara Kaiun (Ogasawara-maru), Saiyu Travel, Saiyu Travel Co., Ltd., Shiretoko Nature Cruise, and Tokai Kisen operate pelagic birding trips in Japan.
What are the main pelagic birding regions in Japan?
Japan's pelagic trips are spread across Hokkaido, Kanagawa, Tokyo (Izu Islands), and Tokyo (Ogasawara).