Wild Japan in Winter
Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan. Japanese macaques are known as “snow monkeys” because they live in areas where snow covers the ground for many months. No other non-human primate lives farther north or in a colder climate. We visited these monkeys in a private monkey reserve. Some days, there was heavy snow. The trail into the park and the surrounding slopes and trees were covered in fresh snow, silent and pristine. Each morning, park staff spread grain on the grounds; the monkeys come in from their overnight roosts in the nearby forest trees to gather the food (and dig for it, when it’s covered by fallen snow).
Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan. This area of Japan, like many others, has numerous hot springs. In this reserve, pools have been constructed to collect the warm water; the monkeys enjoy spending time in and around the pools. This parent and juvenile are enjoying a graceful moment of quiet reflection.
Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan. A young monkey emerges from the warm water into the cold air. This reserve is in the Nagano prefecture of Japan, which is west of Tokyo on the main island of Honshu. This area was the site of the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan. This family group at a thermal pool demonstrates strong connections -- both with each other and with a human observer.
Akan International Crane Center, near Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan. A red-crowned crane takes flight. This area supports the only known population in Japan of these endangered cranes (which are also known as Japanese cranes). Red-crowned cranes are among the rarest cranes in the world.
Akan International Crane Center, near Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan. A red-crowned crane soars in the clouds. Red-crowned cranes are among the largest and heaviest cranes in the world. These cranes are highly symbolic in Japanese culture. They appear on the tail of every JAL airliner and are often featured on the back of traditional Japanese wedding kimonos.
Akan International Crane Center, near Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan. A red-crowned crane comes in for a landing on a snowy day. After World War II, red-crowned cranes had almost disappeared from Japan, but a population of about 40 birds was discovered near here and a local farmer started feeding them corn during the tough winter months. The feeding program spread and succeeded; there is now a resident population in Hokkaido of about 1000 birds.
Setsuri River, Tsurui, Hokkaido, Japan. Red-crowned cranes roost overnight in the river because the water is warmer than the air and because they can more easily detect predators coming through the water. Here, photographed from the Otowa Bridge in early morning, the cranes start to stir. A rare combination of temperature and moisture leve in the air produces hoar frost on the shoreline trees.
Lake Kussharo, Hokkaido, Japan. A group of whooper swans flies along the ridges of the caldera that forms the lake. These swans summer in Siberia and about 6000 of them winter here.
Lake Kussharo, Hokkaido, Japan. On the ice or in shallow water, the swans can be raucous and rather slapdash. They have loud and sometimes violent disputes, including mutual backbiting, where each combatant is determined to hold on the longest.
Lake Kussharo, Hokkaido, Japan. Hungry whooper swans race to take advantage of food put out by a lakeside tourist business. Due to geothermal activity, the ground is so warm that the edge of the lake is largely ice-free, even when the lake is otherwise frozen. This is good for the swans, since their bodies are so heavy that they can’t stand for extended periods; floating is much more comfortable.
Shiretoko National Park, Hokkaido, Japan. An abstract image of a birch forest standing in a blanket of snow. The type of image is creating by moving the camera during a fairly long exposure period.
Shiretoko National Park, Hokkaido, Japan. A partially frozen roadside waterfall; a longer than usual exposure time renders the still-flowing water as silk.
Notsuke Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan. Much of the shoreline facing the ocean is armored with concrete tetrapods, which get draped with layers upon layers of frozen sea water from the pounding surf. This 26-mile long peninsula is the longest sand spit in Japan.
Notsuke Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan. An Ezo red fox yawns on a fishing net stored outside for the winter. The peninsula is home to thriving seasonal fishing community. In winter, the fishing boats are pulled up on the sand and their nets stacked.
Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan. A Steller’s sea eagle reaches for fish in the sea after diving from on high with awesome speed and power. Winter drives thousands of these eagles from their breeding grounds in Kamchatka, Russia to Hokkaido and the active fisheries of the Nemuro Strait. Charter boats take researchers, photographers and other tourists from Rausu out into the Nemuro Strait. The crew throws out fish to encourage the sea eagles to show off their acrobatic talents.
Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan. Sometimes, a sea eagle misjudges the swell and ends up almost submerged. It is very impressive to see the eagle essentially fly through and out of the water. On average, Steller sea eagles are the heaviest eagles in the world, so it can take some work for them to fight their way out through the water.
Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan. On a cloudy day, a Steller’s sea eagle scans for fish from high in the sky.
Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan. A Steller’s sea eagle surfs the sky along the ridges of the Shiretoko Mountains that border Rausu and its bustling harbor. Steller’s sea eagles are threatened, even though they are legally protected in Russia and in Japan, where they are officially designated a National Treasure. They have no natural predators, but human activity remains a serious threat.
Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan. Also active in the skies here are white-tailed sea eagles. In Asia, these birds breed in Siberia and winter in the south, including in Hokkaido.
Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan. A sea eagle is silhouetted against a sunrise sky outside the Rausu harbor.