Hokkaido Winter Wildlife & Zoos
Although it may be difficult to spot Hokkaido's wildlife in the summer, the winter season can nearly guarantee sightings of whooper swans, red-crowned cranes, Steller's sea eagles and ezo deer. With luck, you may see a Blakiston Fish Owl or one of the five varieties of seals that inhabit the Sea of Okhotsk region. 

There are also bear parks, zoos where you can walk with penguins, and cool aquariums where one can become familiar with the region's fauna.      

Steller's Sea Eagles

As the heaviest eagle in world, the Steller's Sea Eagle commands the attention of nature lovers who venture out to Eastern Hokkaido. Seeing one of the eagles perched on drift ice or hunting in a forest is exhilarating. The months of February and March is the optimal time for seeing the Steller's Sea Eagle, only found in Eastern Hokkaido.  
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Asahiyama Zoo

One of the big drawcards for visitors to Asahikawa during the winter season is the Asahiyama Zoo, located 20 kilometers outside the city. The most popular activity is the penguin walk, where visitors can observe penguins going on their daily walk from a very close proximity. Another interesting feature at the zoo is the bubble-domes which allow visitors to view the animals from inside their enclosures. Recommended! 

Red-Crowned Cranes

Hokkaido residents have a special place in their hearts for the tanchou-zuru, or red-crowned cranes, that live in Eastern Hokkaido's wetlands. These graceful and noble creatures can be seen at a number of sites in Kushiro, including the Kushiro Wetlands Reserve, Tsurui Village and the Akan International Crane Center. They currently number over 1,500 in Hokkaido and are seen as one of the symbols of Japan for their monogamy, longevity, and faithfulness.
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Blakiston Fish Owl

The Blakiston Fish Owl is one of the rarest birds in the world, and sighting one in the wild is an enthusiast's dream. The best place to view the owls is at Yoroushi Onsen in Eastern Hokkaido, where guests at a traditional ryokan often spot resident owls as they feed in the ryokan's fish pool.   

Whooper Swans

A large flock of whooper swans returns annually to spend the winter at Lake Kussharo in eastern Hokkaido. The hot springs infused beaches offer a respite from the frozen landscape and create a suitable, albeit unusual, home for the swans. Visitors can get to within one meter of the swans for perfect photo-ops. Other local fauna at Lake Kussharo include the white-tailed eagle, brown hawk owls, and yellow-breasted greenfinches.
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Ezo Deer

Ezo deer, native to Hokkaido, inhabit most regions on the island. Although very shy, they often venture out from their grazing areas around sunset, and road sightings are more frequent then. The best way to see ezo deer in winter is to strap on snowshoes and follow their tracks through snow-laden forests. It's deer "hunting" of the noblest kind.    
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Otaru Aquarium

The largest aquarium in Hokkaido, the Otaru Aquarium boasts 250 different species of sea creatures, along with 150 marine mammals. Nearly all of the sea life found around Hokkaido, and many creature from around Asia, can be seen up-close. Daily acrobatics shows, penguin walks, and hands-on feeding experiences make this place worthy of a visit. 

Maruyama Zoo

Located in Sapporo, Maruyama Zoo offers a nice introduction to the fauna of Hokkaido and houses more than 150 different species. Ezo deer, Hokkaido brown bear and Steller's Sea Eagles can all be observed in the spacious grounds. Chimpanzees, giraffes, polar bears and a number of big cats round-out the international inhabitants of the zoo.   

Seals

Long under a threatened status, Hokkaido's seals are making a comeback. There are five types of seals that inhabit Hokkaido's northern and eastern coastline in winter, with the spotted seal being most common. For up-close encounters, Monbetsu's Tokkari Center, which rehabilitates rescued spotted seals from the Sea of Okhotsk, is a great place to meet the seals up close.  
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