It was a wonderful three and a half weeks in Hokkaido. From south to north and east to west I covered all the major routes of the island.
Lake Akan is a well known resort area in Hokkaido. The lake is generally frozen in winter able to do ice fishing. There is a visitor center in the east side for snow shoes rental. Can walk on the ice lake too. Very nice place for visit with few visitors during the winter season. This is an abandoned pier on the east side.
There are volcanic spots with steam and sulfur in Akan lake. The heated area will have no snow and even steams rising from the ground. This is a wide close up shot of the sulfur and snow. There are also 2 mountain peaks around Akan lake. Very pretty sight.
Lake Kussharo is close to Akan lake. But unlike Akan this lake is not quite frozen due to a hot spring. This is a picture with half ice half warm water. There is a watch spot on top of the Bihoro pass driving from Kitami. A very nice view.
There are swans staying in Kussharo lake during winter and they all live around the hot spring for the warm water temperature. I sat there for 45 minutes shooting the swans and got these 4 staring at me. My friend enjoyed the free hot spring out in the open.
This was taken at the Bihoro Pass on the way back from Kussharo lake to Kitami. It was such a beautiful day in Hokkaido. Very clean air.
There is an area east of Kitami city with lots of humid air. Therefore the trees are all covered in soft ice. Kitami is a small city between Abashiri and Sounkyo Gorge. We chose this city for our base to get to Akan and Kussharo lakes.
Virgin snow pictures can be taken best the day after snowing. In Hokkaido the temperature is not very low but the amount of snow is just amazing. This is a ski or snowboard heaven. I took this picture after stepping in 1 meter of snow. Snow was virtually in my waist line.
This is a man made ice house at Sounkyo Gorge. They make this every year around February. Amazing and fun. I went there on Feb 14 the valentine’s day.
This picture is pretty because of all the shadow lines.
The Shiretoko National Park is the most eastern part of Hokkaido with very few people and lots of wild animals. The chance to see a wild bear is 95% except in winter when they are in hibernation. So all I can do is to shoot the wild Sika Deer when snowing. I took this after shooting for 45 minutes. They are so friendly. Shiretoko is amazing.
I took this picture after standing for 3.5 hours. But I still consider myself lucky because it is very difficult to shoot the Red Crowned Cranes doing courtship dance. I shot over 100 frames with 400mm lens. Many professionals there with 600mm lens
