Monthly Archives: June 2012

22nd February: Hokkaido – Notsuke Peninsula (Day 2)

Posted on June 29, 2012 by

The weather was better than on the preceding day so we headed off again south of Rausu to the Notsuke peninsula and spent much more time there this time, mainly out of the bus. Here we are on the northern … Continue reading →

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22nd February: Hokkaido – Nemuro Strait (Day 2)

Posted on June 26, 2012 by

We arose again before dawn to go out to the ice floes on the open sea to photograph Steller’s Sea Eagles.  However, the sea ice had gone and conditions were too rough.  We still had a voyage in the boat, … Continue reading →

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21st February: Hokkaido – Notsuke Peninsula

Posted on June 24, 2012 by

After we returned from photographing Steller’s eagles, the weather closed in and we spent most of the day in the hotel.  In the late afternoon, it cleared and we took off in the bus for a brief trip to the … Continue reading →

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21st February: Hokkaido – Nemuro-kaikyo Strait near Rausu

Posted on June 22, 2012 by

Before dawn we left Rausu in a boat for a rendezvous with Steller’s Eagles at the floating ice in the Nemuro-kaikyo Strait between Hokkaido and the Kuril Islands. The Kuril Islands, just north-east of Hokkaido, have been part of Russia … Continue reading →

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20th February: Hokkaido – Rausu

Posted on June 18, 2012 by

In the late afternoon we arrived at Rausu, a small fishing port near the north-east tip of Hokkaido.  We stopped for a while to take some photographs around the fishing boats. Fishermen organising their nets after returning for the day.  … Continue reading →

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20th February: Hokkaido – Iouzan

Posted on June 17, 2012 by

Today was mainly a travel day.  After returning to the hotel from Lake Mashu and having breakfast, we piled into the bus.  Not long afterwards, we stopped for a while at Iozan (or Sulphur Mountain) which is between Lake Kussharo … Continue reading →

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20th February: Hokkaido – Lake Mashu at Dawn

Posted on June 15, 2012 by

Lake Mashu is a caldera from a volcanic eruption 7,000 years ago and is over 200 metres deep.  The cliffs surrounding the caldera are 300 to 400 metres high.  The Ainu name for the lake, Kamuy-tou, means “Lake of the … Continue reading →

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19th February: Hokkaido – Lake Kussharo (Sunayu, Day 2)

Posted on June 13, 2012 by

In the mid-afternoon we returned to Sunayu beside frozen Lake Kussharo. There was a whole line of canoes, waiting patiently beside the lake.  I didn’t notice anyone at the time trying to canoe across the ice, perhaps fortunately for them. … Continue reading →

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19th February: Hokkaido – Lake Kussharo (Kotan, Day 2)

Posted on June 11, 2012 by

After breakfast and a gap of some hours, we returned to Kotan, where we had been the previous day. The owl is on the wall of the Juyo Original House, as in the previous Kotan post. While we were there, … Continue reading →

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19th February: Hokkaido – Lake Kussharo at Dawn from Bihoro Pass

Posted on June 10, 2012 by

This is half an hour before dawn and the temperature is about -20˚C (-4˚F).  You can see the crescent moon high in the sky. Kotan and Sunayu (see previous and next posts) are on the far side of the lake.  … Continue reading →

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