Japan is home to a magnificent variety of whales and dolphins, and whale watching cruises offer a sustainable alternative to whaling.
Sadly, Japan sometimes makes the headlines for all the wrong reasons, and everyone knows that Japan has been stubborn in its defiance of the International Whaling Committee’s ban on hunting certain species. Fortunately, some coastal communities are countering this trend by taking whale watching tours; the opportunity to appreciate these magnificent creatures up close while supporting predominantly poor fishing villages and towns.
Venturing into the Pacific Ocean on a boat cruise from Kochi, you may see a wide variety of wildlife, including porpoises, striped dolphins, killer dolphins, and humpback whales.
When to go: The best time to see Kochi’s marine life is from May to September.