The Ultimate In Birding Tours

Chikara Otani

Chikara Otani lives in Tokyo with his wife Mie. Birding since his early years, Otani-san spent some time at school in England before setting off on travels which have taken him throughout the world in pursuit of birds (he even rediscovered Roborovski’s Rosefinch on the Tibetan plateau!).

He currently works as a freelance environmental consultant, specializing in raptors, in particular Mountain Hawk-Eagle. Otani-san has an in-depth knowledge of the flora and fauna of the entire Japanese archipelago and is arguably Japan’s top birding guide. He has worked with Birdquest for decades.

When not working or birding overseas, Otani-san indulges a keen interest in the vocalizations and taxonomy of Japanese birds and has recently published a paper in the OBC bulletin where he suggests that several more Japanese taxa merit elevation to endemic species status.

Tours Led by Chikara