Interview with Yuto Hirasawa, Hokkaido Photographer & Photography Guide

Hokkaido has recently gained a name for itself as a prime photography destination. And for good reason - there’s abundant wildlife that is easily-accessible as well as breathtaking landscapes, subjects in themselves or backdrops for magical portraits. 

It was this variety of photo-ops that drew our own photography tour guide, Yuto Hirasawa, to Hokkaido. Born in Chiba, his passion for photography came about as a result of travels in New Zealand. His only travel companions were a bike and a compact digital camera, the latter sparking his eventual career as a professional photographer and Hokkaido photography guide. He’s even won a few awards to show for his endeavours!

Our founder Ayaka sat down with Yuto for a chat about photography in Hokkaido to discuss what makes it such a special location for shutterbugs across a variety of genres. Here’s what he had to say!

I noticed that its nature - such as plants and animals - and cultural background are completely different from Honshu. Although it's still Japan, it has a different beauty to the rest of Japan.

It was immediately after I moved there in 2017. When I learned that Biei is a place visited by many photographers, I thought that living there and taking photographs myself would be the best way to develop my own career.

My camera bodies are a full size PENTAX K-1 Mark II and an APS-C PENTAX K-3 Mark III. These two are my main cameras and I use them for just about anything.

For animals that move quickly, like Long-tailed Tits and other small birds or mammals, I use an Olympus OM System OM-1.

My lenses of choice are 35mm equivalents of 15-30mm, 70-200mm and 100-400mm.

It's East Hokkaido - the area around Kushiro and the Shiretoko Peninsula. There's so much diverse wildlife and the scenery is beautiful.

This photo was taken with a single-lens reflex camera. I wanted to take a picture of an eagle flying across the sun, so I went on a day trip to the Shiretoko Peninsula from Biei to take this picture after checking the weather forecast.

As anyone who has taken pictures with an SLR camera knows, it is very difficult for such a camera to focus on a subject in backlit conditions. It is also harmful to the eyes to photograph with the sun in frame on an SLR as its light reflects directly off of the camera's internal mirror. I took many similar pictures during this shoot, but I eventually became unable to take pictures on this day due to the weight of the camera and eye fatigue.

Hokkaido has vast, beautiful landscapes year-round. Whether it's scenery or wildlife, please do immerse yourself in the depths of Hokkaido's heart.

Hokkaido is very big and photography locations and wildlife are scattered across it. By participating in a tour with a local photography guide who knows all about the best and most beautiful locations as well as how wildlife's behaviour changes with the seasons, the light and the time of day, you'll be able to take comparatively better photos. You'll also have someone who can advise you on adhering to Japan's unique photography etiquette.

I could say seeing Hokkaido's wildlife, embodying the strength to live through Hokkaido's harsh winter amongst either minimalist landscapes or harsh, bright days. But personally, I am most looking forward to the delicious food! (Laughs)