Our Fall Japan Photo Tour, from November 15 to 29, 2026, is one of our most demanded tours. One of the most dreamed-of destinations for photographers from all over the world, offering us unforgettable and unique images of its culture, architecture, and nature. In short, a complete trip that will immerse us in this ancient culture and offer us unforgettable images during the beautiful Japanese autumn.
To ensure you have the best and most opportunities to capture great images, we have prepared this Japan Photo Tour with the highest level of detail. Consequently, you will enjoy almost constant photographic opportunities throughout each day of our stay in this beautiful country. A destination with so many possibilities allows us to create a truly complete program, which will have us fully engaged from the very first moment until almost the last day, before heading to the airport for our return home.
Among the many sessions we will conduct, the highlights will be the sunrises and sunsets spent photographing some of Japan’s most spectacular temples. We will also visit the island’s incredible natural beauty. Additionally, we will spend many moments capturing portraits in the markets or at the street stalls in the cities we will visit during the tour.
Our Autumn Japan Photo Tour is focused on several different types of photography, making it a truly complete experience. Throughout the trip, we will equally focus on landscape photography, both natural and urban, architecture, and even social photography.
During this extraordinary 15-day photography trip, we will photograph iconic places such as Mount Fuji or the hot spring lagoon of Jigokudani, where the famous “snow monkeys” enjoy remarkable baths, or the spectacular Arashiyama forest, where we will immerse ourselves in endless bamboo landscapes. We will also visit fantastic cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, with endless opportunities to photograph their temples, pagodas, and fabulous urban landscapes.
Moreover, this Japan Photo Tour is one of our photography tours with a greater social component. In each of our destinations, we will be able to photograph local people going about their daily tasks. From the bustling modern life in Tokyo to historic cities such as Shirakawa-go or Koyasan, where we will visit a Buddhist temple, hoping to photograph the monks who live there.
On an architectural level, the photographic possibilities will be constant. Both in towns and cities, the abundance of castles, temples, pagodas, and monasteries will allow us to capture hundreds of beautiful images, capturing the magic of Japanese architecture, both modern and traditional.
Lastly, in some of the locations we visit, we will practice some night photography sessions.
We consider autumn to be one of the best possible times to photograph this magical country. Joining this Japan Photo Tour at this time of year will allow you to photograph the spectacular autumn colors and tones. Undoubtedly, this will add even more beauty to the already incredible locations on the island.
In addition to the autumn season, we also offer a spring edition of the Japan Photo Tour, so you can choose your favorite time to immortalize such a fantastic destination.
Our Japan Photo Tour is designed for everyone. It is a low-difficulty trip, suitable for all levels, both physical and photographic, as well as all ages. If you love photography, rest assured you will greatly enjoy such a trip.
On one hand, no minimum physical fitness level is required to participate in the trip. Most of the places we will photograph are close to where we will park our vehicles. We will do some walking, but it will always be easy-going, ensuring that all participants feel comfortable. Likewise, although we will walk a lot in the cities, the pace will always be slow, constantly stopping to photograph every corner.
Similarly, there is no age limit; anyone in reasonably good health can join us.
Likewise, no specific photographic level is required, nor prior experience taking photos. Our photography guides will assist each participant during the trip, providing personalized attention tailored to each one’s level. This way, you will achieve fantastic results, capturing hundreds of beautiful images after the trip.
Lastly, you don’t need professional photography equipment, nor even a minimum amount of gear to participate. With any camera, you can take full advantage of and enjoy the trip, so don’t worry about the equipment. Although you will find a section below with recommended gear for the trip, it is simply a list of ideal photographic equipment for the trip. However, these items are not essential for participation. To give you an idea, some of our clients occasionally come with compact cameras or even take photos solely with their mobile phones.
In conclusion, we are confident that this Japan Photo Tour will be a fantastic experience for you. A perfect trip to enjoy the magic of autumn, as well as a very special opportunity to visit and photograph a country so full of contrasts and beauty like Japan.
Moreover, we will travel in a small group, which will make it easier for you to enjoy and make the most of the trip. Don’t miss the opportunity and join our Photography Trip now and be one of the lucky ones who will experience an unforgettable adventure.
Arrival in Tokyo. The group will meet at Narita Airport or at a hotel to be determined in the city, marking the moment when our Japan Photo Tour begins.
Depending on the arrival time, we will give participants the option to rest before heading out to take the first photographs of our tour. Among other places, we will visit the Scramble Kousaten crossing in the Shibuya district, known as the “Times Square of Tokyo.” We will also head to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building area to photograph the sunset. Later, we will shoot during the blue hour in the Shinjuku area. Afterwards, we will do some urban night photography before returning to our accommodation for the night.
Today, we will wake up early to visit the Sensō–ji temple, with views of the Tokyo Tower at sunrise. From there, we will walk around the area, exploring the Asakusa District, one of Tokyo’s traditional neighborhoods where we can immerse ourselves and photograph the typical streets with small Japanese restaurants. We will also have the opportunity to photograph the Tokyo Skytree, one of the tallest towers in the city, offering exceptional panoramic views of the area.
In the afternoon, we will head to an observation point where we will have stunning views of the Tokyo skyline, allowing us to capture spectacular photographs at sunset. Once again, we will take advantage of the blue hour and the early moments of the night before returning to our hotel to rest.
At sunrise, we will head to Shiba Park, located next to Zojoji Temple and Tokyo Tower, where we will be able to capture photos of its beautiful buildings at dawn, taking advantage of the first light of the day. After this, we will begin our journey toward the Mount Fuji area in our vehicles.
Upon reaching the Fuji area, we will visit a location where we will attempt to photograph the iconic volcano, such as one of the surrounding lakes or the Chureito Pagoda.
Today, we will wake up early to photograph the first light of dawn once again in the area around Mount Fuji, one of the most iconic and beautiful places in all of Japan. We will spend enough time in the area to fully enjoy it and capture fantastic images of such a magical setting.
During our time here, we will capture the surroundings of this impressive volcano, including the incredible views offered by the famous Five Lakes region, which, with a bit of luck, will allow us to capture beautiful reflections, surrounded by the autumn colors. Alternatively, we may visit a beautiful waterfall located nearby.
In the afternoon, we will head to photograph the formidable Matsumoto Castle, where we will capture the sunset and the blue hour. Afterward, we will head to our accommodation to rest.
After having rested, and without the need for an early rise, we will head to Jogokudani Park, where we can observe some of the well-known snow monkeys that live in this park, bathing in the hot springs. These monkeys, around 200 of them, are another one of Japan’s most photographed subjects, offering us extraordinary photographic opportunities.
In the afternoon, we will head to our accommodation on the way to Shirakawa-go, located in the area known as the “Japanese Alps.”
Today, we will visit Shirakawa-go in the morning to photograph this beautiful village with the first light of the day and visit its traditional houses, amidst the autumn colors and fallen leaves. At noon, we will resume our journey to reach our next destination, Kyoto.
On the way to our destination, we may make a stop in Hikone, depending on the time and weather, to photograph the castle surroundings, with the beautiful gardens that surround it. Once our session is complete, we will continue our journey to Kyoto, where we will spend the next few days.
We will photograph the sunrise in the Gion area, one of the most incredible neighborhoods we will visit during our trip. Known as the geisha district, we will try to spot these women in their traditional costumes as they walk among ancient wooden houses and traditional merchant shops. Although part of the city, which will provide us with magical moments, has recently imposed restrictions on photographing geishas, we will have opportunities to capture girls dressed in traditional geisha costumes as they stroll through the area or pose for our cameras.
Afterwards, we will head to the Nishiki Market for lunch and to photograph this bustling Japanese market.
In the afternoon, we will return to the Gion area before heading to the location where we will photograph the last light of the day, the incredible Kiyomizu-dera Pagoda.
Today, we will have to wake up early to reach Fushimi Inari before sunrise, giving us time to position ourselves and capture the first light of the day before tourists flood this iconic spot in Kyoto.
We will walk through its more than 10,000 “torii” or sacred gates, traditional Japanese arches of indescribable beauty, which will allow us to achieve incredible sunrise images. We will make the most of our time in the area, always searching for the best compositions, and spending the entire morning photographing this sacred mountain.
Additionally, we will visit another location with fantastic photographic possibilities, such as the Daigoji Temple. This site, with its spectacular autumn colors, will provide us with one of the most iconic images of this trip.
In the afternoon, we will head to the To-ji Temple, an ancient Buddhist temple that features the tallest 5-story pagoda in Japan, where we will stay until dusk to capture spectacular photos of the area, surrounded by the beautiful autumn colors, with this magical temple as the main focus of our lenses.
We will return to the hotel early to rest and prepare for the following day.
Once again, we will wake up early to reach the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove before sunrise. We will choose the best locations to be ready when the first rays of sun enter this incredible forest.
Afterwards, we will head to one of the most visited spots in the city, the Golden Pavilion, which offers fantastic photographic opportunities.
In the afternoon, we will leave Kyoto to travel to Osaka, where we will photograph its beautiful castle at sunset.
We will end the day by visiting, once night has fallen, the Dōtonbori area, where, in addition to having dinner to recharge, we can photograph its famous neon lights, in one of the city’s busiest streets.
Today, we will get up early to visit the Shitenno Ji Temple, where we can photograph its two beautiful pagodas.
At noon, we will arrive in Himeji to stroll through the Koko-en Gardens, close to the impressive Himeji Castle. We will photograph the castle and its surroundings until sunset, conducting our sunset session from there. After that, and once it is dark, we will return to Osaka to rest.
After checking out of our accommodation, we will visit the city of Nara, famous for the deer that roam its streets, and which also preserves traditional Japanese style in its architecture. We will visit the Todaiji Temple, one of the most spectacular temples we will see during the entire trip. Depending on our time, we might make additional stops to visit other temples.
After our visit, we will head to our next destination, Koyasan, where we will visit its extraordinary cemetery, taking advantage of the late afternoon and the blue hour, and engaging in night photography at this location. The photographic opportunities here will be simply endless.
After the session, we will travel to our accommodation for the night.
Today we will visit Mount Yoshino, where we will experience one of the most spectacular views of our trip, with the Nara mountains filled with trees in autumn colors, providing us with stunning vistas to photograph.
In the afternoon, we will visit another spectacular temple in the area, which will be one of the highlights of the trip. With an impressive giant Buddha statue surrounded by autumn colors, this location will allow us to capture unforgettable images.
This will be a travel day, but after checking out of the hotel, we will visit the temple we saw the previous evening again.
In the afternoon, we will begin the journey back to Tokyo, aiming to stop for the night approximately halfway through. On the way, we will stop to photograph the magnificent Nagoya Castle under the last light of the day, and also take advantage of the blue hour.
After a restful night, we will wake up early to photograph a new sunrise. We will start our route through the Kiso Valley in the village of Magome, a must-see stop on the ancient Nakasendo Route, which ran from Edo (Tokyo) to Kyoto. Magome and Tsumago, another village on the route, were two main resting points on this path between Japan’s major cities. With industrialization, this route was almost abandoned, leaving these villages frozen in time. This will allow us to photograph the most traditional and best-preserved rural Japan of our entire trip. The route, which takes place in the heart of nature, is not only a fantastic example of typical Japanese architecture, but also includes waterfalls and spectacular mountainous landscapes.
After visiting Magome, we will head to photograph some of these beautiful waterfalls and water cascades, where we can capture stunning images.
Once our route is complete, we will continue our journey to Tokyo, stopping to photograph the sunset in the impressive city of Yokohama. In the Marina area, we will capture extraordinary images of its striking skyscrapers and futuristic architecture. We will spend the rest of the afternoon here, photographing the sunset and the blue hour.
Alternatively, depending on the conditions we experienced during our visit to Mount Fuji earlier in the trip, we may consider making a new stop at sunset in the surroundings on the way back to the capital.
Today ends our Japan Photo Tour, with the transfer of participants to either Narita International Airport or Haneda Airport.
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 Japan 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!
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