MENU

Explore Authentic Japan and Unearth Untold Stories with Blain & His Team in Japan!

Thanks!

    

View Receipt View Submission
Subscribe to Newsletter
This form is protected by reCAPTCHA to prevent spam and abuse. Information collected may be processed for security purposes.

Thanks!

    

View Submission
Leave this field empty

The Super Rare Hokkaido White Squirrel

March 29, 2026

This winter, a field report stopped me in my tracks: a rare leucisticHokkaido red squirrel had been spotted in Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan. Having spent years photographing the Hokkaido red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris orientis) — known locally as the Ezo-risu, a subspecies of the Eurasian red squirrel endemic to Hokkaido island — I have encountered hundreds of these charismatic animals, but never a white one. Albino individuals are extraordinarily rare, set apart by their ghostly ...

Read More

The Red Forehead of Winter: Leading Hokkaido’s Most Unforgettable Photo Workshops

March 23, 2026

There is a particular kind of silence that exists only in Hokkaido in winter. It is not the silence of absence — it is the silence of fullness, of a world so densely packed with cold and snow and held breath that sound itself seems to freeze before it can travel. I have stood in that silence more times than I can count now, my camera raised, my fingers numb inside their gloves, my eyes fixed on a tiny brown-grey speck trembling in the high branches of a silver birch. And every single ...

Read More

A Dance That Stopped Time: Dance of the Red-crowned cranes

March 13, 2026

There are moments in a photographer’s life that go beyond just taking pictures. Sometimes, the camera feels almost intrusive — you want to lower it, hold your breath, and simply watch. My last week in Hokkaido for the winter of 2026 gave me several such moments, all in a single breathtaking morning. The Snow Ballerinas of Hokkaido. I have spent years leading photographers through the wild, frozen landscapes of Hokkaido, and this intimate knowledge of the island — its light, ...

Read More

2026 Hokkaido Wildlife Photo Workshop Discover Japan’s Winter Wilderness

February 21, 2026

I am currently leading my annual Hokkaido photography workshop, an exhilarating and truly transformational adventure led by me, Blain Harasymiw, internationally recognized master photographer and passionate educator. This is far more than just a wildlife workshop; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime journey into the beating heart of Japan’s wild beauty and vibrant culture. Imagine yourself standing before the jaw-dropping majesty of Mt. Fuji, or gazing into the playful eyes of the famous snow ...

Read More

Steller’s Sea Eagle Photography Hokkaido Photo Workshop

February 10, 2026

I’m happy to announce that I am leading my annual Hokkaido photography workshops. And the other day, we photograhed the magnificent Steller’s sea eagles on the pack ice off the coast of Hokkaido aboard a chartered vessel. This birding opportunity is the highlight of raptor photography of my year—a unique chance for photographers to capture one of the world’s most dramatic wildlife spectacles.Why We Book Three Mornings: Ensuring Your ShotOne of the secrets to our ...

Read More

Blakiston's fish owl (Bubo blakistoni) - Japan Photo Tour

February 8, 2026

I’m currently leading my second Hokkaido photography workshop of 2026—one of five Hokkaido photo tours I’m running this year. Yet, this adventure is truly special: an unrivalled, once-in-a-lifetime expedition for passionate wildlife photographers. We’ve just completed an exclusive workshop at a luxurious five-star mountain lodge, our basecamp for an electrifying quest to capture the legendary Blakiston’s Fish Owl. This isn’t just any ...

Read More

Hokkaido Photography Workshop 2026 - The Journey Begins.

February 6, 2026

I am now leading my first annual group Hokkaido photo tour, and each day has felt like stepping into a living nature documentary. Our adventure kicked off as we assembled before sunrise, our breath visible in the blue-tinged dawn as we layered up and prepared our gear. The anticipation was electric—every lens and memory card primed for what lay ahead.For two unforgettable days, we tracked the Red-crowned cranes ) Grus japonensis) across frozen wetlands, their enchanting calls echoing ...

Read More

Hokkaido Photography Workshop - Pack Ice Steller’s Sea Eagle

January 25, 2026

I'm in Hokkaido, leading a private Hokkaido Photography Workshop. This morning we photographed the Steller’s sea eagles. The pack ice on the north coast to the east coast of Hokkaido is a highlight, setting the stage for Steller’s Sea Eagles as they hunt. The weather here is wild and unpredictable—I've faced snowstorms, blizzards, thundersnow, and arctic bomb cyclones. Safety remains my top priority. There’s nothing quite like experiencing these powerful natural elements ...

Read More

Photographing Steller’s Sea Eagles among other wildlife - Hokkaido Photography Workshop

January 6, 2026

Dear Friends and Fellow Photographers,I’m thrilled to share the exhilarating experience of photographing one of nature’s most majestic raptors—the Steller’s sea eagle—amidst the breathtaking pack ice off Hokkaido’s northern coast. There is nothing like joining a Hokkaido photography tour, it's the wildlife birding, adventure of a lifetime. Imagine the scene: a frosty dawn, our ship gently navigating the drifting ice, the air crisp and filled with ...

Read More

Autumn Photography Workshops - A Journey Complete

December 23, 2025

Autumn 2025 has been my longest time spent in the field chasing autumn leaves. Autumn in Japan started in September in Hokkaido, where I began leading autumn in Japan Hokkaido photo workshops, and by mid-December, I completed my last autumn in Japan photography workshop in Southern Japan. Now I'm celebrating the holidays with family and getting ready for my annual pilgrimage to Hokkaido, where I will lead multiple Hokkaido photography workshops from January to March, focusing on the ...

Read More
CLOSE