Kyushu & Okinawa Adventure in Autumn
5 days 4 nights
Schedule
Open for the application
2026/09/09 - 2026/09/13
2025/09/23 - 2026/09/27
Day1
Fukuoka → Ariake Bay → Saga
Welcome to Japan! We will meet you at the Fukuoka Airport (FUK) arrival lobby in the morning before driving to the immense mudflats of Ariake Bay—Japan's largest estuary. This area is a crucial staging post along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, hosting between 4,000 and 5,000 waders during the spring and autumn migrations.
Here, we will immerse ourselves in the spectacular sight of massive shorebird flocks. Targets for the afternoon include sought-after species seldom encountered outside this region:
• Plovers & Sandpipers: Pacific Golden Plover, Siberian Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, and Red-necked Stint.
• Global Conservation Focus: Experience the exhilaration of spotting flocks of endangered species like the Far Eastern Curlew and Great Knot.
We will conclude the day by checking into our accommodation in Saga Prefecture. Saga is renowned for its fresh seafood, and we will celebrate our first successful day with a delicious local dinner—a perfect start to our culinary journey!
Day 2
Saga → Ariake Bay → Saga
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Rise early for a full day dedicated to shorebird searching on the Ariake mudflats. Today, we focus our efforts on three of the most highly prized and globally rare species in the world of waders:
• The uniquely billed Spoon-billed Sandpiper (a critically endangered species).
• The heavily-built Nordmann’s Greenshank.
• The striking Asian Dowitcher.
Imagine the incredible moment when, among thousands of birds, your eye catches one of these global rarities—a truly unforgettable birding experience!
In the afternoon, we will shift focus to observe other unique Ariake species. Keep a close watch for the elegant Black-faced Spoonbill and the distinctive Saunders’s Gull—a sighting of either is a definite highlight! We will also explore the vast surrounding rice paddies, hoping to find inland waders like the Long-toed Stint and, most notably, the majestic Oriental White Stork.
Conservation Note: The Oriental White Stork became extinct in Japan in 1971. Thanks to successful reintroduction programs, particularly in Toyooka City, their population in Japan is now estimated at around 500 birds—a remarkable conservation success story we hope to share with you!
Day 3
Saga → Fukuoka → Naha → Yambaru
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We begin our final morning in Kyushu with one last visit to the Ariake mudflats to secure any missed shorebird targets. After a rewarding morning, we drive back to Fukuoka for a flight to Naha, Okinawa Prefecture.
Upon arrival, we will transfer by car to the northern area of the main island, known as Yambaru—a subtropical haven famed for its unique endemic birdlife. After settling into our hotel amidst the lush forest, we will embark on our first nocturnal excursion:
• Night Birding: We will search the area around the hotel for the endemic Ryukyu Scops-owl and the charming Northern Boobook.
• The Ultimate Target: With a stroke of luck, we might even catch a glimpse of the critically endangered, flightless Okinawa Rail as it sleeps by the roadside—an absolute privilege for any birder.
Day 4
Yambaru → Kin Ricefield → Yambaru
An exciting day awaits! We start before sunrise, focusing intensely on the unique avian jewels found only in Okinawa:
• Okinawa's Big Three Endemics: The quirky Okinawa Rail, the elusive Okinawa Woodpecker, and the beautifully coloured Okinawa Robin. Encountering these highly specialised birds in their native habitat is guaranteed to be a truly impressive and memorable experience.
As the sun climbs and the forest birds become less active, we will travel to the Kin Ricefields and nearby wetlands to search for inland shorebirds. Here, we can expect to find waders like Long-toed Stint, Temminck’s Stint, and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.
• The Snipe Challenge: We also have a chance of encountering the secretive Swinhoe’s Snipe and the Pintail Snipe. These two species are notoriously similar and highly cautious, making a full, clear view a rare treat! The challenge of separating these cryptic waders—a process often requiring great patience and skill—adds an exciting layer to the day's birding.
In the same area, we will also look for secretive water birds such as the Cinnamon Bittern and the White-breasted Waterhen. We will take a break back at the hotel during the hottest part of the afternoon before heading out again in the evening to look for the Okinawa Rail, Ryukyu Scops-owl, and the vibrant Ryukyu Minivet near our accommodation.
Day 5
Yambaru → Kin Ricefield → Naha
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Our final morning is dedicated to finding any remaining endemic targets around the hotel, including the stunning Ryukyu Green Pigeon, the impressive Okinawa Woodpecker, and the beautiful Ryukyu Robin.
If time permits, we will make one final stop at the rice paddies en route to the airport for a last chance at waterbirds. The tour concludes with drop-off at Naha Airport (OKA), leaving you with incredible memories of rare shorebirds, unique island endemics, and the wonderful warmth of Japanese culture.
Planning and implementation : Kaze Travel Co.,Ltd. (Japan Tourism Agency Registered Travel Agency No. 1382)