Booking & Inquiries
Please select your preferred date from the calendar. After your request, our staff will contact you to confirm availability and provide details.
Reservations are accepted via the calendar below, by phone, or by email.
Note: Times shown in the calendar are approximate. Your confirmed meeting time will be sent by email after booking.
TEL: 0241-27-3363 (We may be unavailable at times — please leave a message or contact us by email.)
Email: photo_ootake_shiokawa@yahoo.co.jp
Crested Kingfisher-booking-calendar
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|||
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 － |
26 － |
27 － |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
How It Works — From Booking to Shoot Day
How It Works — From Booking to Shoot Day
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Booking | Select your preferred date from the calendar below. Please indicate in the message field whether you will come to our studio or need a pickup. If you are driving to Aizu, please come directly to our studio. |
| Meeting Time | We depart one hour before sunrise. The session ends by 10:00 AM, before the Crested Kingfisher activity slows. Exact times will be confirmed in your booking email. |
| Hotel Pickup (for guests arriving by public transport) | Aizu-Wakamatsu City: Aizu-Wakamatsu Washington Hotel, Ekimae Fuji Grand Hotel, Hotel α-1, Toyoko Inn, and other hotels near the station. Kitakata City: Garden Hotel Kitakata, Green Hotel Kitakata, and other hotels near the station. |
| Guide Fee (from April 2026) | ¥22,000 per person (tax included) |
| Blind Chair Rental | The blind (photography hide) is custom-fitted to our rental chair for maximum shooting comfort. Rental: ¥500 (tax included) |
| Tripod Rental | We offer tripod + head sets for guests who prefer not to carry heavy gear. Options include: GITZO 5-series + Sachtler SFB4, GITZO 5-series + Sachtler SFB8, GITZO 3-series + GITZO Gimbal head, Leofoto 324CEX + Bv-10. Rental: ¥3,000 (tax included) |
Before You Arrive — Important Notes
Photography Agreement
For environmental and safety reasons, all guests are asked to sign our Photography Agreement on the day. We appreciate your cooperation in protecting this precious habitat.
Our staff are in the field daily and will accompany you throughout the session at the Yamasemi field we have carefully cultivated over the years.
On-site, we will guide you on shutter speed, technique, perch positions, and flight routes — so you can focus entirely on getting the shot.
We do everything we can to avoid disturbing the birds and to ensure this environment remains sustainable for years to come.
About the Crested Kingfisher
Best Seasons
The Crested Kingfisher is a year-round resident — shooting is possible in all four seasons.
- January–February: Snow scenes with the Crested Kingfisher
- March: Breeding behaviour begins
- Around May 20: Wisteria blooms along the riverbank — stunning perch backdrops
- Early July: White Dogwood flowers in bloom
- Mid-July – late August: ★ Prime season. Juveniles practice hunting repeatedly, making diving shots easier to capture.
- Late October – mid-November: Autumn foliage backdrops
- Winter: Snow-covered scenes (varies by year — please enquire)
Shooting Hours
The best window is early morning — before sunrise until around 9:00 AM. The birds are most active before the heat sets in and the sky brightens fully.
Shooting Method
Sessions take place from inside a photography blind (hide). You will be seated, so a tripod is highly recommended.
Distance to Subject
The main perch is approximately 30 metres away. From this anchor point, a variety of perching and flight scenes can be captured.
Recommended Equipment
Focal length: 400–800mm (full-frame equivalent) Any camera body and tripod can be used, but for flight and diving shots, we recommend a capable autofocus system, a telephoto lens of 500mm or more, and a sturdy tripod with a fluid or gimbal head.
Difficulty Level
The Crested Kingfisher is highly alert and territorial, making it one of the more challenging birds to photograph. At our location, years of careful management mean the birds are far less wary than elsewhere — but we ask all guests to remain as quiet as possible inside the blind.
Please do not: lean out of the blind, shine lights or laser pointers at the birds, or make sudden movements. The birds can recognise faces — if startled, they may avoid the area for several days.
Weather & Conditions
From experience, the Crested Kingfisher is often more active on overcast or lightly rainy days than on bright sunny days — likely due to reduced raptor pressure. The blind has a roof, but please bring rain covers for yourself and your equipment. If conditions make shooting impossible, we will contact you in advance.
Official LINE (Chat)
If you prefer LINE to email, please add us and send your preferred species, date, and whether you need a pickup.
(LINE button — same as Japanese page)
Footer / About
Ootake Camera | Aizu Secret Base Representative: Nobutomo Ohtake
〒969-3514 1853-4 Shinmachi, Shiokawa-machi, Kitakata City, Fukushima, Japan
Email: photo_ootake_shiokawa@yahoo.co.jp Closed: New Year's Eve & New Year's Day. Other irregular closures may apply.
Credentials:
- Established 1963
- Contributing editor, monthly magazine BIRDER
- November 2019: Published in BIRDER — "Beautiful Bird Photography in Low Light & Eliminating Camera Shake with Super-Telephoto Lenses"
- December 2019: Appeared on FM Fukushima as a bird guide and wildlife photographer
- June 2020: Provided Red-backed Kingfisher footage to Fuji Television's Tokudane!
- June 2025: 4-page feature in BIRDER — "A Guide to Encountering Japan's Kingfishers: Urban vs. Rural"
- December 2025: Cover photograph for BIRDER magazine
© Ootake Camera © Nobutomo Ohtake © Customers. Reproduction of all photographs, images, and text is strictly prohibited.