Asiatic Black Bear Watching Tour
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Price
¥38,000
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Duration
6 hours
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Hosted in
English, Japanese
Summary
In Japan, no mammal is more interesting than the Asiatic black bear. Despite sharing a complicated relationship with humans, bears thrive in Japan's mountainous wilderness, playing an important role in the forest ecosystems. But being shy and elusive by nature, they are not easy to get to know. On this tour you have a chance to see bears as they are rarely seen: out in the open, foraging among rolling alpine meadows and 100%, completely wild. The bears visit these meadows to feed on specific fruits which are only available between July and September.
We will hike to an observation point on the mountain slopes opposite the meadows, taking in fantastic views of the surrounding landscape while we search for bears from a safe distance and without disturbing the bears themselves. The tour takes between 5 to 6 hours depending on our hiking pace which can be adjusted to suit the needs of those who join the tour. It is recommended that those joining the tour have a decent level of fitness and are comfortable hiking an elevation gain of about 400m with some steep portions. A lunch bento box is included as well as trail snacks and a bottle of water. With it being a summer tour, the weather has the potential to be very hot and sunny (up to 30°C), so we advise guests to pack accordingly and bring plenty of water, sun screen and protective clothing.
Highlights
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A new tour created by bear specialists
Picchio has been working to manage the local population of Asiatic black bears in Karuizawa since 1998. In conjunction with Karuizawa town, Picchio has successfully reduced bear related damages within the town and found effective ways to coexist with the bears without the excessive need for lethal control. The same specialists who manage the bears every day, want to introduce the public to Asiatic black bears as they exist in the wild without the interference of people. Thus this tour has been created from the perspective of bear experts and aims to contribute to the ongoing goal of coexistence between humans and bears.
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Special information, special location
This tour visits an area of the bear's summer range unknown to most and gives guests a rare glimpse of Asiatic black bears in their natural habitat. Through the knowledge of our guides, those who join the tour can get a deeper insight into this enigmatic species and learn all about our management project and conservation of bears in Karuizawa and Japan.
Details
- Period
- July 1st - September 1st 2024
※There are no set dates for this tour and it is carried out according to the availability of the bear team, please inquire with your preferred date and we will try to accommodate this - Times
- 9:00am – 3:00pm
- Price
- 38,000 yen per person
Tour price includes: guide fee, accident insurance, 500ml bottle of water, hiking shoe/other equipment rental, lunch bento box - Requirements
- Must be 13 years or older
Capable of hiking uphill - Capacity
- 1 group only (Maximum 6 people)
- Meeting place
- Picchio Visitor Center
- Booking
- Please apply for your desired date and time via the email address below or through our “Contact Us” page. We may not always be able to accept your preferred date depending on the timing of previous inquiries or national holidays. We recommend that you make your requests early to avoid disappointment.
Email: info@m.picchio.co.jp
- Tops
- Long sleeves, lightweight, breathable
A rain coat and warm layer are also recommended in case of weather changes.
Warm jacket - Bottoms
- Long pants, lightweight, breathable
A pair of over-trousers in case of rain are also recommended - Shoes
- Trekking shoes (comfortable for walking in)
- Others
- Backpack, plenty of water, extra layers, hat, trekking poles if helpful to you
- Free rental items
- Trekking shoes, rain gear, trekking poles, towel, backpack.
*These items are available on a first come, first serve basis. You can reserve items in advance if necessary.
・As the field conditions can change unexpectedly, please be aware that we cannot be responsible for or prevent any nature-related incidents. Please be aware of your own responsibility to protect yourself. Please also be responsible for your own body condition, if you do not feel well please consider cancelling the tour.
・Cancellation is free up to 2 days before the tour. If you cancel 2 days before the tour, a cancellation fee of 20% of the tour cost will be charged. If you cancel the day before the tour, a 50% cancellation fee will be charged and if you cancel on the day of the tour then the full cost of the tour will be charged.
・In case we have to cancel the tour due to unexpected reasons (weather, trail conditions, etc.), we will contact you by 5:00pm on the day before the tour. Please check your email or phone frequently on that day.
