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Our spring Japan Photo Tour, from March the 23rd to April the 6th, 2024 (more dates for November 2023 and for 2024), is one of our most awaited trips. Japan is a top destination by photography lovers from all countries on Earth, as well as a great opportunity to capture the varied subjects and scenes we’ll find in this millenary country. The mixture of landscapes, cityscapes, social photography and even its culture, will make this Japan Photo Tour a unique experience.
Furthermore, visiting Japan by springtime will bring the best possibilities for photography. The Sakura is the most beautiful moment of the year, with the cherry blossom bringing us the most amazing photo possibilities. Therefore, visiting the top locations in the island during 2 weeks will maximize our chances to get the most incredible images.
Our team has designed the most complete trip, including the most amazing locations at the best times. All with the organization of our own travel agency, specialized in photography travels, and guided by our team of photo guides, experts in the area.
On this Japan Photo Tour, we’ll be able to visit many different locations, assuring you the greatest and most varied results from a photographic point of view. We will be capturing landscape, cityscape and cultural images, but we’ll also be able to practice social photography.
During this photo tour, we’ll capture the incredible landscapes around Japan, under the wonderful spring colors. Most of the locations we visit, will be surrounded by the magical springtime splendor. Just imagine the incredible Japanese temples, pagodas an castles, under this incomparable natural frame. At the same time, locations as lovely as Mount Fuji, will be even more beautiful than usual, adding extra photographic potential for our sessions.
We will also visit some of the most outstanding cities in Japan, such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. In them, we will have the chance to capture the contrast between the traditional and the modern Japanese sceneries. Besides this, we are going to explore the traditional and ancient part of the country, which we’ll find in places like Shirakawa-go or Koyasan.
Furthermore, we can add other extraordinary scenes and visits we’ll do during the trip, as the wonderful Nagano pond, with its famous snow monkeys, or incredible Arashiyama bamboo forest, to name just a few.
However, this Japan Photo Tour won’t be only focused on the natural and urban landscapes. This country will bring us fabulous social photography opportunities too, so we’ll try to make the most of them. During our visits, we will get to photograph the locals doing their daily routines, allowing us to get fantastic portraits of them. Specially, we will pay special attention to social photography at the small towns, and in places like markets and traditional shops. However, even the busy life in Tokyo will bring us great photo possibilities!
This is surely the best time of the year for a photo tour in Japan. The arrival of the spring, with the incredible Sakura (the cherry blossom), will maximize the beauty of the country, making it looking as precious as possible. Being able to capture the cherries at their best, will bring us the most wonderful photo opportunities that you can imagine. Of course, this will directly mean that we’ll get extraordinary pictures anywhere we go in Japan.
Joining us on this spring Japan Photo Tour, will make you enjoy an amazing experience, while you capture one of the most stunning destinations for photography on Earth, at the most beautiful time of the year. What else could a photography lover ask for?
Our spring Japan Photo Tour is suitable for all physical conditions, ages and photography levels. First of all, this is a quite easy to do trip, with no complicated hikes or physical requirements. Most of the photography spots will be close to the road or the parking locations, with not complicated or very long hikes.
In the same way, there is no age limit. Anyone can join the trip, as long as he or she is reasonably well and healthy.
Finally, this Japan photo tour is recommended for all photo levels. There is not a minimal photography level required to participate, so both beginners or experiences photographers will be welcome. No matter if you are an amateur, a medium or advanced photo lover, or a professional, our photo guides will bring you personalized attention and instruction, adjusted to your needs, in order to help you capturing the best images of Japan.
Of course, a professional full gear is also not mandatory to join us. You will find the information about an ideal Japan Photo Tour below, but this doesn’t mean at all that you need to bring all those items to the trip! You are welcome to participate whatever camera you use, and you’ll be able to join us even shooting with a smartphone or a compact camera! We sometimes have people in our photo tour shooting just with a smartphone or a tablet, and they also enjoy the trip the same.
Therefore, we are talking about a really complete Japan photo tour, a fantastic chance to enjoy the best photography possibilities of the country. The greatest spring frame will make this an unforgettable photo experience, while we admire the millenary Japanese culture. A once in a lifetime trip, that will allow you to capture amazing images around the country, while you also learn and improve your photography.
All of these, while paying special attention at the best moments of light, trying to capture the top locations under that ideal light. Our planning will bring us to the most beautiful spots by sunrise or sunset, always trying to get the best light at those iconic places. A perfectly prepared trip for any photography lover.
Do not miss this special opportunity, and join us on this Japan photo tour. A totally recommended experience, which will allow you to get fantastic images of such a wonderful country. Seats are limited to guarantee the best experience, don’t wait anymore and book your spot now!
This Japan Photo Tour will beging with the meeting of the group at Narita International Airport, Tokyo (alternatively, we might set our hotel in Tokyo as our meeting point). After this, we’ll have some rest time to recover from the long flights to Tokyo.
Afterwards, we will be ready to go out to capture the first images of this Japan photo workshop. We will head to the Shibuya District for this session, visiting the famous Scramble Kousaten. This area, pretty similar to New York’s Times Square. Once in the area, we’ll be exploring its many photo possibilities. We’ll keep photographing here until the night comes, being our sunset and blue hour location. At both times, we will be enjoying amazing urban views, plenty of potential for stunning compositions!
Finally, we will get back to our accommodation to sleep.
Today, we will wake up early for the first sunrise photography session during this Japan photo tour. For that, we will get to Sensō–ji Temple. Capturing the first rays of daylight at such a beautiful location will be fantastic. From the area, we’ll also be able to photograph the spectacular Tokyo Tower. All this, with the Sakura colors in the surrounding trees, will bring us great photo opportunities.
After this session, we will visit the traditional Asakusa neighborhood. We will be able to photograph the many Japanese photograph in the area, as well as the famous little streets in Tokyo. At the same time, we’ll enjoy great views of the gorgeous Tokyo Skytree from here. This 2,084 feet (634 meters) high tower is Tokyo’s highest building, as well as a spectacular photo location. After our Asakusa visit, we’ll get to the tower to enjoy the incredible panoramic views of the surroundings. There are two viewpoints in the tower, but we will mainly focus on the highest one, that offers uncomparable views.
After lunch, we will head to Odaiba Island, the area with the best view of the Tokyo skyline. From here, we will be able to capture extraordinary images, so we’ll spend the rest of the day in the area. We will keep here for sunset and for blue hour, enjoying the incredible views of the city.
After our session, we will go back to our hotel to rest, after a long day of photography.
We will wake up early again for sunrise, heading to Shiba Park this time, in the Minato District. We’d like to highlight here the Zojoji Temple, the oldest wooden temple in Tokyo, from 1622. With the cherry blossom, this will be a perfect location to capture the sunrise, as everything gets bathed by the golden light.
Afterwards, we will have breakfast, before heading to Roppongi Hills, a modern architecture area inside the Roppongi district, ideal to practice urban architecture photography.
We will continue with the visit to the Yoyogi Park, next to a beautiful forest in the middle of Tokyo. We will find here another of the most beautiful locations in the city, the Meiji Sanctuary. We’ll explore the area for the rest of the day, staying here for our sunset and blue hour session.
Finally, we’ll leave Tokyo to drive to our next location, by Motosuko Lake, near Mount Fuji. We’ll go directly to our accommodation to sleep and recover for the next day.
Today, we’ll wake up early to photograph some of the nicest views of the trip, having the Mount Fuji in the background. We’ll stay the whole morning taking wonderful pictures in the area, surrounded by the incredible spring colors, and with the impressive view of the Fuji as our background.
We’ll be visiting Fujigoko, the Five Lakes area around Mount Fuji. The lakes, named Yamanakako, Kawaguchiko, Saiko, Shojiko and Motosu, will bring us spectacular photo possibilities, with the amazing sceneries in the surroundings, and the incredible cherry colors.
In the afternoon, we will get to one of the best Fuji viewpoints, at Chureito Pagoda. This may be the most famous view of the Fuji, and even the most famous in Japan. From here, we will be able to get extraordinary pictures of the volcano, surrounded by the lovely Sakura colors. We’ll make sure to spend plenty of time in the area, to get as many images as possible, as we try to place in the best photo spots for sunset. Certainly, an unforgettable location, with maximum potential for photography.
After enjoying as much as possible our sunset and blue hour sessions, we’ll head to our next accommodation, in Yudanaka.
We’ll begin early in the morning, getting to Jigokudani Park, near Yamanouchi, for one of the most awaited moments of this Japan photo tour. Here, we’ll be able to photograph the famous Snow Monkeys as they bath in a natural hot spring. Undoubtedly, one of the top photo sessions of the trip. Around 200 of these wild Japanese Macaques live in the forests, getting to the hot spring during the colder months of the year. Due to the countless possibilities for photography, we’ll stay in the area for most of the morning.
Following this, we’ll continue driving South, heading to the extraordinary Shirakawa-go village. This beautiful village, surrounded by the stunning Japanese Alps, will make an ideal setting for our photographs. The area has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, which can bring you an idea of the kind of place we’ll be visiting. We will photograph the typical Japanese gassho-zukuri style houses, with triangular roofs with a great slope, to withstand all the snow that falls in winter.
But, apart from the beauty of its houses, the town is also known for the spectacular mountains that surround it. Therefore, it will be a perfect place for our sunset and blue hour photo session.
After our visit, we will head to our next destination, Kanazawa.
Today we’ll get back to Shirakawa-go again, this time for our sunrise shooting. The magical Sakura will add even more enchant to the already amazing location. Given this, great images are almost guaranteed in the area, where we’ll spend most of the morning.
After the visit, we will resume our journey to Hikone. This city, located on the shores of Lake Biwa, is famous for its impressive castle, surrounded by spectacular gardens. We are talking about an incredibly precios area, with countless photo opportunities. Therefore, we will stay here for sunset and blue hour. Simply imagine the beautiful cherry blossom colors, around the wonderful Hikone Castle! It will surely be one of the highlights of the trip.
Once the night has come, we will continue to Kyoto, where we will spend the following nights.
We’ll wake up early again to visit Nijo (or Nijo-jo) Castle for sunrise, one of the most impressive buildings in the city, from 1603. The castle was built as the residence of the first shogun of the Edo period and it is certainly a perfect example of that period so-called ‘palace castles’ architecture. Such an incredible location, surrounded by the exceptional Ninomaru gardens, will brings us fantastic photo possibilities.
Following this, we will have some time for social and portrait photography, visiting the Nishiki market, where we will be able to photograph the locals doing their routine tasks.
Afterwards, we’ll visit one of the most famous neighborhoods in Kyoto, Gion. This area, also one of the most awaited visits on the trip, is the world famous geisha district. We’ll be able to photograph here its tea houses, traditional stores, and typical Japanese wooden houses, getting endless photo opportunities. At the same time, if lucky, we might be able to photograph some of the geishas that walk around the area. However, we’ll have to respect the photography restrictions existing in some streets of the neighborhood.
Later, and close to this area, we will be able to photograph the Hokanji Temple, also known as Yasaka Pagoda, as well as the famous view of the street that leads to it, with the pagoda in the background.
Finally, we will go to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, in the Higashiyama district, for sunset. This temple, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994, is one of Kyoto’s top locations. Kiyomizu-dera is actually a great complex of temples and pagodas, built in the year 778, with plenty of possibilities for photography. Therefore, we’ll stay in the area for sunset, as well as for blue hour, before returning to our accommodation to sleep.
Today, we’ll wake up early to go to Fushimi Inari for sunrise. This Shinto Sanctuary, from the 8th century, is a great example of the traditional Japanese architecture. Once in the area, we will be focusing in our main subject, the amazing ‘torii’, or sacred doors. These torii are traditional Japanese arches of exceptional beauty, which will make it easier for us to take fantastic photographs.
After spending plenty of time in the area, we’ll visit the Buddhist To-Ji Temple. Its famous 180 feet (55 meters high) pagoda is one of the main landmarks in Kyoto, as well as the highest one in Japan. In this sense, it is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
We will spend the whole afternoon in the area, staying there to photograph the sunset as well. Once the night is come, we will get back to sleep at our hotel.
Again, we’ll get up early to head to our sunrise location for today, the enchanting Arashiyama bamboo forest. We’ll try to get early enough to the area, since it’s one of the most famous around Kyoto, and it is usually quite crowded, because of that. Anyway, there are so many photography possibilities in the location, that we’ll sure have a very fruitful visit.
Following this, we’ll move to the nearby Okochi Sanso Gardens. Once again, we are visiting the area during the Sakura, so the incredible colors of the cherry blossom will bring us extraordinary compositions. We’ll continue heading to the Nonomiya Sanctuary, where we’ll be capturing more interesting pictures, before getting to the amazing Tenryu-ji Temple. We will have enough time in all these locations, to assure the best results.
After lunch, we’ll visit a different traditional area in Kyoto, not so crowded as the most visited ones. We’ll stay some time in the area, before heading to the area where we’ll spend the rest of the day, the Golden Temple. Also known as Kinkaku-ji Temple, this is one of the most beautiful locations around Kyoto. This Zen temple receive that name because of the golden covered walls in its two upper floors. Certainly, we will be at one of the most beautiful locations of this Japan photo tour. Furthermore, there will be so much potential that we’ll stay here till the evening, including shooting sunset and blue hour here.
Once the day is over, we will check the option of doing a night visit to the Yasaka-Jinja Sanctuary, before our drive to Osaka, where we’ll get to our next hotel.
For this first sunrise session in Osaka, we will head to the Sumiyoshi Taisha Sanctuary, from the year 211. The path to get there is bordered by more than 700 stone lamps, with creates an incredible atmosphere in the area.
Afterwards, we will focus on social photography during the rest of the morning, for what we’ll visit some of the Osaka markets. Apart from the obvious portraits, this will be a great chance to take pictures of details, like the food and products in the market.
By early afternoon, we’ll get to one of the most spectacular areas in the city, the Osaka Castle and its surroundings. Here, we’ll be able to enjoy some of the best photo possibilities in Osaka, framed by the cherry trees. We’ll stay here for the rest of the day, exploring each spot, and making the most from the amazing Sakura conditions.
We’ll leave the castle at night, after photographing the sunset and blue hour in the area. Then, before getting back to our hotel, we might pay a visit to Dōtonbori, in the Namba District. This will be a great moment to capture all the colorful neons, getting totally different images from the ones taken during the rest of the day.
Today, we’ll wake up early to photograph the Shitennō-ji Buddhist Tempe by sunrise. Another fantastic location where we’ll be able to get fabulous captures.
After breakfast, we will head to Himeji. For many people, this is one of the most spectacular castles in Japan, due to its beauty. Once we arrive to our destination, we’ll certainly understand it. Apart from the lovely castle itself, we will also photograph the Koko-en Gardens. Being at the area by Sakura, will allow us getting the most incredible results, with hundreds of wonderful images as a result.
We’ll keep exploring the castle until it’s totally dark, staying there at both sunset and blue hour. Then, we’ll get back to our hotel in Osaka.
We’ll leave Osaka very early in the morning, driving East to Nara, famous for being home to hundreds of deer. Same as Kyoto, we’ll find here the essence of the ancient and the traditional Japan.
We’ll get first to Todaiji Temple, for sunrise, photographing the Nandaimon Gate, where we’ll probably get to see some of the deer in town. We will get later to the Daibutsuden Hall (also known as the Great Buddha one), the largest wooden building in the world. We’ll have the chance to photograph a 50 feet (15 meters) high Buddha statue in its interior.
Afterwards, we will visit some of the other temples around the park. Fist, we’ll photograph the Kofuku-ji Temple, from the year 669, with its fabulous 5 – floor pagoda. This temple has been moved several times, until getting to the current location. Then we’ll head to the Kasuga-taisha Temple, to capture its famous stone and bronce lanterns.
Next visit will be Horyuji Temple, the oldest wooden temple in the world. This will be a great photo opportunity, being able to capture its precious 5-floor, 108 feet (33 meters) high pagoda.
We’ll finish the day heading to Yoshino Mountain, from where we’ll be able to enjoy one of the most spectacular spring views during the trip. At this location, we’ll have wonderful views of the surroundings, under the beautiful Sakura frame.
After that session, we’ll drive to Koyasan, sleeping outside the town. In the surroundings, we might do a night photography session, depending on the conditions.
Today, we’ll wake up early and get to Koyasan, where we’ll spend the whole morning. If we had stayed in the temple, we’d begin photographing the monks during their prayers and daily tasks.
During the morning, we’ll be photographing several of the many temples and monuments in Koyasan. First of all, we’ll capture the Danjo Garan. Then, we’ll continue with the Kondo, Miedo, and Fudodo Halls. Finally, we’ll be capturing the Konpon Daito and the Toto Pagodas.
Afterwards, we’ll begin our way to Nagoya, our next destination. Depending on our schedule, we might be visiting its castle for a night session. Afterwards, we will continue our way to our hotel.
We’ll wake up early to get to Nagoya Castle for sunrise. This is other of the precious traditional castles in Japan and, one more time, it will bring us fantastic photo possibilities.
After our visit, we’ll drive to the Kiso Valley. Here, we’ll be able to visit one or several of the traditional villages around the old Nakasendo Way, and antique route which joined Edo (Tokio) and Kioto. First of all, we’ll get to Magome village, part of the trail. We’ll photograph its beautiful typical wooden houses, the shops and the streets, as well as its inhabitants.
From this village, we could consider doing the hike to the following one, Tsumago. However, we would only do this hike in case that all participants have enough energies for it, given that it’s the final part of the trip.
Both of these villages were rest stops along the way, but with the industrialization, the Nakasendo Way began to be unused. However, the villages still keep their traditional states, being a great opportunity to photograph the ancient Japan.
After this visit, we will continue our way to Tokyo, for the last night of the trip. Depending on our schedule, we might get back to Mount Fuji area again for sunset.
Today we’ll wake up early and head to Narita International Airport, where this Japan photo tour will come to its end.
Narita International Airport, Tokyo, Japan (Google Maps)
This Japan Photo Tour is recommended for any person, no matter the age or the physical level to join the trip. As long as you are able to walk for a short five minute hike with no difficulty, you are welcome to come with us. Most of the photo locations are located just a short walk from the places where we’ll park, meaning this will be an easy trip. We’ll just a longer hike, but it will be optional (however, it’s not mandatory).
At the same time, there isn’t age limits for the tour, as well as your health and conditions are reasonably good.
There is no need of a minimal photography level to join this Japan Photo Tour. You don’t need to be a professional photographer to come to this trip, nor even having a lot of experience with your camera. All our photo tours are open to all levels, even for beginners, or unexperienced photography users. Sometimes, we even have people just taking shots with their smartphones.
One of our highlights is providing customized attention, so we will help you to get the best possible images, regardless your previous level. We’ll be there to help you becoming a better photographer!
During this Japan Photo Tour, we can expect mid to cold temperatures during the day, that will be cooler during our sunrise, sunset and night photo sessions.
Therefore, we should be properly prepared for the trip. We recommend dressing in layers, so you can add or remove clothes depending on the conditions. You should also bring a warm jacket or down parka (a light one should be enough), and a Gore Tex jacket or similar, for the possible rain. Mountain boots or hiking shoes would be perfect for most of the time. Once you confirm your booking, you will also receive a guide withe the recommended gear list for this Japan Photo Tour.
This Japan Photo Tour, as most of our trips, doesn’t include meals (breakfast, lunch or dinner). This will give us maximum flexibility during the trip, in order to focus mainly in the most important thing: photography. Normally, we will be having breakfast in the hotel or in cafes near the area, before or after our sunrise shooting session (depending on timing). For lunch, sometimes we’ll be stopping at restaurants, but other times we’ll be buying food at supermarkets (fruit, snacks, sandwiches, etc…), and doing a picnic or even eating in the vehicle/s. Then, we will have dinner at the hotel or in town.
However, we will have the opportunity to enjoy the delicious Japanese cuisine. Its fish and meat are world famous!
Currently, the main payment option we have is the bank transfer. However, if you prefer it, we also have other payment options, such as credit or debit card, PayPal or Transferwise. Please notice that these other payment options may apply a commission fee. You can ask us about these different payment options.
If you choose to pay by credit or debit card, or by PayPal, you can process your payment online, when you finish the booking process. For bank transfer payment, you just have to proceed with the booking and then, once you finish the process with the chosen payment method, you’ll receive an email with al the instructions and bank details.
During this Iceland Photo Tour, we’ll be normally staying in 3 or 4 star hotel. Each traveller will be staying in a double twin shared room, shared with another participant of the tour. Rooms will always include a private bath. However, it’s possible that, for our night in Koyasan, we stayed at a Buddhist temple, with the monks, to bring a greater experience. In that case, accommodations would be shared between 3 o 4 participants, and no private bathroom would be available. Anyway, it will depend on the Covid-19 pandemic, and we would tell all customers in advance, before confirming this accommodation.
If you come with another person to the trip, you’ll share the room, However, if you are traveling alone, we’ll choose a roommate for you between the other participants in the trip (always same genre). Anyway, you will also have the chance to choose a single room for you, paying an extra supplement. Contact us for all details.
Anyone can join this Japan Photo Tour, no matter your country of residence. Our main travel agency is settled in Santander, Spain, but our trips are open to customers from countries all around the world. Therefore, we may have clients from different places in our photo tours.
This Japan Photo Tour will begin meting up at Narita International Airport in Tokyo, Japan. Therefore, all the participants need to get there for the first day of the tour, traveling from their country of residence, with no need to travel to a particular town to fly together to Japan.
Once you have confirmed your booking for this Japan Photo Tour, we will send you the trip info with a recommended gear PDF guide. This will include suggestions not only about the photography gear, but also about the clothes and accessories you might need during this photo tour. To sum up, you won’t have to worry about anything, since our expert photo leaders and guides will inform you about everything you will need, so you can enjoy your travel as much as possible!
As a first tip, we would suggest you bringing a light color down or shell jacket (for example red, orange, yellow, light green, etc…). That jacket will protect you from the cold and the rain but, at the same time, you’ll look great when photographed in some of the most beautiful locations around Japan!
