Swimming with humpback whales in Japan

About this list

If you want to go swimming with humpback whales in Japan, the useful question is not whether the humpback whales are there but who will take you to them that way. Maptlantis lists only the 22 operators in Japan that name the humpback whale as a target species and actually run swimming. All 22 operators on this list publish prices on their own channels, so you can compare them directly. Estimated prices are not shown. Operators list different seasons, Jan–Mar, Dec–Jan and Jan–Mar, May–Sep among them. There is no single season for humpback whale trips in Japan, so check each operator's operating period before you set your dates. Operators with structured encounter data list humpback whale, sperm whale, indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, spinner dolphin and dolphin as target species. Ways to meet them: boat-based watching, snorkeling and swimming. Whether you may enter the water and what distance rules apply differ by country and operator. Check the program details and legal status on each operator page first.

Other ways to meet humpback whales in Japan

• Freediving with humpback whales in Japan7

Humpback whales in other countries

• Australia36
• Canada9
• Tonga8
• Dominican Republic7
• French Polynesia6
• Madagascar5
• Mexico5
• Mozambique5
• Norway5
• La Réunion5

Activities in Japan

• Scuba diving in Japan341
• Snorkeling in Japan291
• Island hopping and boat trips in Japan276
• Beaches and water play in Japan128
• Marine life encounters in Japan121
• Family water activities in Japan116
• Freediving in Japan48
• Swimming in Japan46
• Surfing and SUP in Japan39
• Kayaking and paddling in Japan16

Swimming by country

• Australia117
• Japan46
• Philippines42
• South Korea25
• La Réunion10
• Tonga9
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands8
• Maldives8
• Cook Islands6
• Egypt6

Frequently asked questions