Wild Japanese Flying Squirrel Watching Tour in Nagano
Description
During this tour, guests will have the opportunity to observe the Japanese giant flying squirrel, an endemic species of Japan and one of the largest flying squirrel species in the world, as it opens its cloak-like body and glides into the forest at sunset. The chance of sighting this amazing creature is more than 90% as a result of our in-depth knowledge of the squirrel’s ecology and flight route. The Japanese giant flying squirrel’s dynamic flight will be sure to make you gasp in wonder. *Guided in Japanese and basic English (English ability varies by guide). ■ Important Notes ・Age: Ages 4+ ONLY. Under 4 strictly prohibited. ・Rain: Held in light rain. Cancelled 1.5h prior if severe. ・Trail: 5-20 min unpaved walk. No strollers/wheelchairs. ・Observe: Wait quietly in dark ~20 mins. Carry bags (may disband on-site). ・Bring: Flashlight, water, bug spray, long clothes. ・Park: Hoshino P1 (by Sonmin Shokudo, 5-min walk). ・Cancel: 100% fee for no-shows or late arrivals.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Introduction of this tour. A professional nature guide will talk about the ecology of Japanese giant flying squirrels (diet, size, flying distance, etc.) at the Picchio Visitor Center.
Observation. After the lecture, we will walk outside and experience the silence of flying squirrels' glide broken only by the excited gasps of the audience.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- We cannot refund you any travel costs or other costs that may arise in case we have to cancel the tour due to unexpected reasons (weather, absence of flying squirrels, etc.)
- Some of our guides do not speak English that much but you can enjoy the tour as our lecture slides have English subtitles.
Reviews(80)
Seeing squirrels is almost guaranteed which is still quite rare for an activity with wild animals. However, if you think of leaving with photos of squirrels in flight taken with your phone you can forget. They go out at nightfall, so it's dark! Moreover they are very fast! Overall it was a great experience to have the chance to see these creatures! I recommend 100%
This experience was one of the best parts of our trip to Japan. The rangers guiding the session were extremely knowledgeable, friendly and kind. Highly recommend
A lovely experience to share with each other and with the rest of the lovely group We had never seen flying squirrels, so to see them leap from the tree was amazing. The 2 guides were lovely and explained each step clearly.
The flying squirrel watching tour is one of the most memorable experiences in Karuizawa. We not only saw the flying squirrel adorable sleeping face in the nest, but observed them flying from tree to tree. Our guide explained the nature of the flying squirrel in an easily understandable way. Picchio’s effort in wildlife preservation and education is really remarkable. We’re glad we attended the tour.
we saw 10 of deer’s and 2 foxes. yamazaki san was amazing. he was very patient to explain everything to us and made tremendous effort to provide a great experience for us. two thumbs up.
I highly recommend the Picchio Musasabi (Flying Squirrel) Tour, even if you only speak English. While the guide’s English was limited, they made excellent use of props, written materials, and visuals to communicate during the first portion at the nature centre. Outside, we were lucky to see three musasabi and one glided right over the group. I appreciated the thoughtful setup, including the red light and nest box camera, which allowed us to observe without disturbing the animals. A meaningful and respectful experience that reminds us why it’s so important to protect the forests for the musasabi and all wildlife.
Thank you for your wonderful review of the Picchio Musasabi (Flying Squirrel) Tour! We are so happy you had a meaningful experience and saw three musasabi, even one gliding right over you. We are glad our guide's efforts helped you understand their fascinating world. It’s truly special that you felt the importance of protecting these forests. Our mission is to deepen connections with nature, contributing to a sustainable future. Sharing your experience helps spread this important message. We hope you will visit Karuizawa and Picchio again to discover more of nature's wonders in a different season. We look forward to seeing you! Picchio Guides
It's a great experience to see the flying 🐿️ so happy to see 3 squirrels. And thank for the guide explaining different info.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled you had a great nature experience seeing three flying squirrels with our nature guide. Visit us again in a different season! Picchio Guides
The tour is amazing and such a valuable chance to see wildlife in such close distance! 100% recommended if you're visiting Karuizawa. Also the guide Lily San is very professional and speaks good English, which makes the watching tour more than just amusement and it becomes a environment education activity. I had a really good time seeing the ムササビ gliding from the top of the tree :D !!!
Odin and Anna did a tremendous job facilitating this tour. Odin was fluent in both English and Japanese which made it easier for us, and we were able to learn a lot about the squirrels in the area. We saw not only one but two flying squirrels in action! Would be a good vibe if you are a bird watching enthusiast (or general animal lover). Would highly highly recommend!
Odin and Ana were lovely hosts explaining to us the background and history of Musasabi. We were able to see two flights. Overall pacing and experience was great!
