Torishima Short-tailed Albatross Cruise

The Torishima Short-tailed Albatross Cruise, operated by Tokyo-based Saiyu Travel Co., Ltd., is Japan's only dedicated open-ocean seabird voyage and one of the most extraordinary wildlife boat trips on earth: a 2-night, 3-day return crossing from Yokohama Port into the open Pacific, 580 kilometres south of the Japanese mainland, to circumnavigate Torishima (鳥島 — Bird Island), the principal breeding site of the Short-tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus). No landing is possible on Torishima, a steep-sided active stratovolcano in the Izu island chain that has been uninhabited since the 1965 eruption; the vessel circles the island at close range, giving passengers sustained observation of breeding albatrosses from the open sea.

The Short-tailed Albatross was hunted nearly to extinction in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century — its long white plumage feathers were so valued that entire breeding colonies on Torishima were killed; the species was officially declared extinct in 1949. A small remnant population survived undetected, and in the 1950s Dr. Yamashina Yoshimaro confirmed their continued existence. Since the early 1970s, Dr. Hiroshi Hasegawa of Toho University has led continuous fieldwork and conservation interventions on Torishima — including decoy placement, habitat restoration, and population monitoring — that have driven a remarkable recovery. From a low of fewer than 50 breeding pairs, the global Short-tailed Albatross population has recovered to approximately 7,000–8,000 birds (IUCN Vulnerable), of which roughly 80% nest on Torishima. Dr. Hasegawa provides expert commentary and interpretation during the cruise, giving passengers unique access to the conservation story behind one of the most celebrated recoveries in seabird biology.

eBird data from the April 2025 circumnavigation of Torishima (hotspot L6843646; 50 observers; multiple checklists including S224239865) documents the scale of what passengers encounter: approximately 1,000 Short-tailed Albatrosses estimated from colonies and birds in flight during a 4-hour circumnavigation, including both adults (white with yellow-washed head and pink bill, towering wingspan of 2.2–2.5 m) and chocolate-brown immatures at various stages of maturation — a sight impossible to replicate anywhere else on the planet. Black-footed Albatross accompany the vessel in large numbers (~500 recorded on the same date), their entirely dark plumage contrasting strikingly with the white Short-tailed birds. A single Laysan Albatross was also recorded. Streaked Shearwater (~100), Wedge-tailed Shearwater (~50), Brown Booby (3), and Japanese Murrelet (7) complete the confirmed species list from the island. The open Pacific crossing south through the warm Kuroshio Current zone, covering over 1,000 km round-trip, adds Bonin Petrel, and further tubenose diversity depending on the season.

Saiyu Travel Co., Ltd., established in 1973 and based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, is Japan's leading small-group wildlife travel specialist, with English-language service for all tours. The Torishima cruise has been operated for several years in partnership with Dr. Hasegawa and is the only commercially available product giving international birders guided access to the Short-tailed Albatross at its principal breeding colony. Trips are offered in April–May each year (the active breeding and fledging season) and consistently sell out within days of announcement. Prospective participants are strongly advised to join the Saiyu Travel email newsletter at saiyu.co.jp/en to receive departure announcements; follow @saiyutraveljapan on Instagram for updates. A deposit of JPY 50,000 per person is required at the time of booking, with full payment due 45 days before departure. Contact Saiyu Travel via the enquiry form at saiyu.co.jp/en/contact/ for current dates, pricing, and availability.