Wild Bird Sanctuary Forest Guided Tour in Nagano
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Picchio's nature watching tour takes advantage of the abundant nature surrounding Karuizawa, immersing guests in a tranquil forest environment to enjoy nature as it is. There is the opportunity to see wildlife including Japanese squirrels, montane brown frogs, and many bird species. Our expert guides share their knowledge and passion, hoping to inspire people to love and engage with Japanese nature.
*Guided in Japanese and basic English (English ability varies by guide).
■ Important Notes
・Rain: Held in rain (bring rainwear). Cancelled only in severe weather.
・Trail: Approx. 2km unpaved. No strollers or wheelchairs.
・Infants (0-3): Free, but please bring a baby carrier as they may get tired.
・Bring: Water bottle (refills available at reception) & bug spray/long clothes in summer.
・Parking: Use Hoshino Area P1 (next to Sonmin Shokudo, 5-min walk). Extra parking in peak seasons.
・Cancellation: 100% fee applies for no-shows or if you arrive too late to join.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
A naturalist guide will lead guests on a leisurely stroll through the Karuizawa National Wild Bird Sanctuary Forest in search of a variety of woodland wildlife, explaining the inner workings of the forest ecosystems as they go.
Options
2026
What‘s Included
All Fees and Taxes
Coffee and/or Tea
Binoculars can be rented for the duration of the tour for an extra 300 yen.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
17 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Perfect views, perfect tour guide, perfect experience!
jasminebE6272AL,Jul 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide おぐっちゃん was amazing! She was so knowledgeable and made the experience so fun & informative. The views were excellent and it made me feel more connected to nature. I want to try the night tour next time. Highly recommend if you’re visiting Karuizawa!! 10/10
Beautiful Forest & Engaging Tour, Though a Bit Slow
Miguel D,Jul 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Beautiful forest and a very engaging, informative tour. The guide spoke enough English to communicate the essentials—no major language issues. The group included a wide range of ages, from very young to older participants, which made the pace a bit slower than we’d prefer, but it was still a lovely and worthwhile experience.
Informative forest tour!
Rafhowstin,Jun 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very fun & informative!! Such a nice guide and learnt so much! Not many birds in this season but learnt so much about the forest, it's animals and insects. Fascinating.
Amazing experience
damianlT581CL,Jun 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00The tour guide was very nice and talkative. It was a very good trip. The visitor centre is located in a very tranquil, beautiful place where we were able to feel the nature and closely see the true beauty of scenery in karuizawa. The route was not too difficult to walk but at the same time it was very adventurous and gives a sense of adventure. All in all it was a very worthy experience and I would recommend my friends and family to visit or even join the tours
Very fun tour!
annyingy,Jun 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was super informative and I loved how they adjusted the tour cause of the heavy rain, and it was so interesting to explore parts of the forest.
A great experience for birders of all levels
katharinewc,May 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I was very excited when my husband and I found this place online and the experience was even better than expected. I have been birding for many years so had my own binoculars and online field guides but I was thrilled to see that they had quality binoculars for my husband to borrow. The grounds were beautiful and everyone was so friendly and helpful. A wonderful place for nature enthusiasts of all ages.
Bird watching is the quickest way from the pros
junkok791,May 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was my first time to participate in early morning bird watching. Even if I recorded the call, I couldn't identify it as self-help, but he explained the voice I could hear from all over and carefully taught me how to listen to it repeatedly. In addition to birds, they also explained about ecology and Karuizawa plateau from animal traces, and we had a meaningful time. It was a one-person event, but there was no problem at all. Thank you very much.
Tours full of new discoveries!
Coastal07160944875,Mar 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Oh-chan taught us a lot of things, so we had a great time touring and it was a quick time!
Well balanced Nature tour and experienced guide
Z7565UKvalentinah,Mar 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The guide (Mr. Bug) made a big effort to translate everything for us and made the whole tour interesting and worthwhile for us bird enthusiasts but also for the smallest kid. Respect for making it so engaging for everyone and thank you for your kindness!
Nice Nature Hike
geoffd405,Mar 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great guide and friendly staff. Nice to get out in the fresh air and hear the sounds of nature. We had a bit of snow so they provided some snowshoe gear.
Related Experiences
Operated by Picchio Wildlife Research Center