I M M E R S I V E T R AV E L BECAUSE SOMEDAY I... DREAM OF TRAVELING THE WORLD A Winter Spectacular in Japan. If you've always wanted to see the dancing cranes and magnificent sea eagles on the Japanese archipelago, make plans now to spend 19 days in Japan next February on a Zegrahm Expeditions adventure led by ornithologist Mark Brazil. Fly from Tokyo to Kyushu Island, home of the Arasaki Crane Reserve. More than 10,000 hooded and white-naped cranes gather in the fallow rice paddies around the coastal village of Arasaki in winter. Watch them leap and pirouette as they trumpet loudly in a dramatic courting ritual. An expert field naturalist, your guide can help even the most amateur photographers capture stunning photos of the dancing birds. Travel to the Japanese Alps to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site at Shirakawa-go before heading to Takayama. Sip and shop your way through sake breweries and miso stores in the historical town before heading to Jigokudani where two resident troops of snow monkeys (Japanese macaques) soak in thermal pools. Brazil can explain the nuances of the Japanese tradition of bathing in an onsen before you try it yourself. Then it's on to eastern Hokkaido for even more wildlife spectacles-huge flocks of Japanese cranes and whooper swans and the magnificent Steller's sea eagles. A leading authority on the natural history of the country, Brazil can explain why the sea eagles (known as O-washi) are especially revered in Japan. Weather permitting, visit the edge of the sea ice on the Shiretoko Peninsula by boat and lure the impressive raptors with fish scraps-truly an unforgettable experience. This trip of a lifetime is limited to 14 guests, so call your AAA Travel Specialist to book today! SAVE STAY LEARN PLAN TRAVELER SPRING 2016 3