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Photography Tours of Japan
Photography guides, field notes, and tour reports about Photography Tours of Japan from Japan Photo Guide.
Mar 15, 2017
2017 Winter Wildlife Tour of Japan | Red-Crowned Cranes
After a great few days with the snow monkeys in Jigokudani, Nagano Prefecture, our 2017 Winter Wildlife Tour of Japan would continue on to Japan’s northern most island, Hokkaido. Our first stop was in Kushiro to photograph the red-crowned crane, also known as Japanese crane or Manchurian crane. While I had a good idea how I [...]
Read article → Mar 13, 2017
2017 Winter Wildlife Tour of Japan | Snow Monkey Business
Spending three days with the Japanese Snow Monkeys of Jigokudani in Nagano, Japan was a great experience. We arrived just after a significant snow storm so there was plenty of fresh snow. We had mostly overcast weather and though we had a few short snow flurries, kind of wished we had a little more snow [...]
Read article → Mar 12, 2017
2017 Winter Wildlife Tour of Japan | Snow Monkey Family Portraits
Still in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, the 2017 Winter Wildlife Tour of Japan had us spending three days with Japanese Snow Monkeys. This is post 2 from my time with the monkeys in the onsen where I wanted to share family portraits of the snow monkeys. As a portrait photographer first I shared some [...]
Read article → Mar 11, 2017
2017 Winter Wildlife Tour of Japan | Snow Monkey Portraits
In collaboration with Magic Is Photo Safaris, I escorted a small group of wildlife photographers for a Winter Wildlife Tour of Japan in search of Japanese Snow Monkeys, Red Crowned Crane, Swan, Steller’s Sea Eagles and whatever else we could find! You can see all the posts (though you are currently on the first one) [...]
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Aug 19, 2016
Private and Custom Tour of Japan | Flowers and Swords in Kyoto
The Japanese Summer was getting hotter and hotter but our custom tour of Japan would continue! After spending a few days in Kanazawa and Shirakawago, we headed to Kyoto, my favorite city in Japan. Part of the reason why I love Kyoto so much is all the wonderful experiences that can be had in the [...]
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Aug 17, 2016
Private and Custom Tour of Japan | Shirakawago and Kanazawa
After spending a great couple of days in Kamikochi, our private tour of Japan continued to Shirakawago and Kanazawa, by way of Takayama. First up, we would stay the night in a gassho-zukuri which translates to built like praying hands for the triangle shaped roof that are suppose to look like a Buddhist monk’s hands [...]
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Aug 12, 2016
Private and Custom Tour of Japan | Kamikochi
After short stay in Tokyo, the private (hiking) tour of Japan would continue onto one of my favorite places in Japan, Kamikochi. Kamikochi is located in Nagano Prefecture and is only open from April through October and can only be accessed by bus or taxi, not private car. It’s a great place to escape the [...]
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Aug 11, 2016
Private and Custom Tour of Japan | Tokyo and Cooking Experience
If my previous private and custom tour of Japan was a photography and foodie tour of Japan, my next private tour of Japan was a photography and hiking tour of Japan! I say hiking tour of Japan because we probably walked between 15km – 18km a day as it was Mike’s preference to walk whenever possible! [...]
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Aug 5, 2016
Private and Custom Tour of Japan | Hiroshima and Miyajima
Even with the hot Summer weather in Japan, the private tour of Japan was going great! We were eating too much food but walking almost cancel out all the Japanese food and sweets…. Well, at least walking enough around to make it worth eating all the food! Miyajima, a small island off the coast of [...]
Read article → Aug 4, 2016
Private and Custom Tour of Japan | Maiko Portrait Session in Kyoto
Just another day of taking portraits in Kyoto! Sometimes I have to take a step back and really appreciate these special portrait sessions in Kyoto as after developing a relationship with a tea house in Kyoto, portrait sessions with a maiko have become a special experience that I’ve been able to offer on almost all [...]
Read article → Aug 3, 2016
Private and Custom Tour of Japan | Himeji Castle and Wedding
The private photography and foodie tour of Japan was going along with great weather and after seeing and eating so much in Kyoto, we decided to take a day trip to Himeji to see the famous Himeji Castle. Himeji Castle is considered by most to be the most spectacular castle in Japan and also one [...]
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Aug 2, 2016
Private and Custom Tour of Japan | Kyoto
After meeting in Tokyo and spending a few days in Kanazawa our private tour of Japan headed to my favorite city in Japan, Kyoto! With it’s mix of modern and tradition, along with what seems like an endless supply of beautiful gardens, shrines and temples, Kyoto is a photographer’s dream. Kyoto is also great for [...]
Read article → Jul 27, 2016
Private and Custom Tour of Japan | Kanazawa
Summer may not be considered the best time to visit Japan with all the heat and humidity but Summer is when many have vacation from school! Just because Summer isn’t cherry blossom or fall leaves season doesn’t mean that Japan isn’t beautiful and a great place to visit in the Summer. I spent most of [...]
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Jun 1, 2016
2016 Cherry Blossom Photography Tour of Japan | Fuji Five Lakes
Mt. Fuji as a reputation for being really shy, especially while visiting the Fuji Five Lakes outside of Winter. For the 2016 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour of Japan, Mt. Fuji was operating about half of our photographer sessions in the Fuji Five Lake area. Our hotel was at Lake Kawaguchi (where the photo above was [...]
Read article → May 29, 2016
2016 Cherry Blossom Photography Tour of Japan | Maiko Portrait Session in Kyoto
If you have stopped by my blog before, you may have noticed my group tours to Japan have participated in a few portrait sessions with real maiko as the subject of our portrait session in Kyoto. It’s rare for visitors or really Japanese as well, to meet a real maiko or geiko (geiko is what geisha [...]
Read article → May 28, 2016
2016 Cherry Blossom Photography Tour of Japan | Portrait Session in Kyoto and Tokyo
While in the USA, my main business is small boutique portrait photography studio, so while on these photo tours of Japan, I always enjoy working in a portrait session or two if the other photographers are interested. For the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan, we not only had a portrait session with a real maiko [...]
Read article → May 27, 2016
2016 Cherry Blossom Photography Tour of Japan | Arashiyama and Kenninji
Even when visiting the same cities in Japan, every photography tour of Japan has some locations that I’m returning to and some locations that are new. When visiting Kyoto, Fushimi Inari is always one that photographers want to visit along with the bamboo forest in Arashiyama. One location in Kyoto that isn’t always on my list [...]
Read article → May 26, 2016
2016 Cherry Blossom Photography Tour of Japan | Fushimi Inari Taisha
Fushimi Inari Shrine in south eastern Kyoto is always a popular place to visit for photography tours of Kyoto or just as a normal tourist visiting Japan. Like the bamboo forest in Arashiyama though, if you don’t go early in the morning, good luck with getting photos without lot’s and lot’s of fellow tourists in [...]
Read article → May 15, 2016
2016 Cherry Blossom Photography Tour of Japan | Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle is a great place to visit anytime of the year when traveling to Japan, but the best time to visit Himeji Castle to take photographs is probably during cherry blossom season. Japan’s most spectacular castle is also perhaps one of the top 2 or 3 spots to view and take photos of cherry [...]
Read article → May 14, 2016
2016 Cherry Blossom Photography Tour of Japan | Hiroshima and Miyajima
Miyajima is a small and beautiful island off the coast of Hiroshima in Japan. Like the tides that come and go to make Itsukushima’s Great Torii float or just stick out of the sand, hordes of visitors come to visit Miyajima during the day and leave in the afternoon or early evening. Especially during the [...]
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May 13, 2016
2016 Cherry Blossom Photography Tour of Japan | Tokyo
Cherry blossom season in Japan is a beautiful time of year if you are lucky enough for good timing! Besides the cherry blossoms blooming slight different times in different years, after the cherry blossoms bloom, one strong storm can wash off a lot of the cherry blossoms. In 2015 the cherry blossom photo tour of [...]
Read article → May 12, 2016
Winter Photo Tour of Japan | Snow Monkeys!
Located in Nagano Prefecture, the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in Yamanouchi has become a very popular place for tourists visiting Japan to include on their Japan tour itinerary. If you google snow monkey Japan, you will find all sorts of articles and a few videos and then if you go to the images section of [...]
Read article → Feb 20, 2016
2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Kokedera Saihoji
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Kokedera, The Moss Garden Temple also called Saihoji. Kokedera, which is located west of Kyoto in the Arashiyama area, does require advance reservations (I’d recommend at least a few weeks or a month and give multiple dates if you can) and an entrance fee of 3000 [...]
Read article → Feb 19, 2016
2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Much like when I visit and make photographs at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Southern Kyoto, visiting the bamboo groves in Arashiyama allows me visit and photograph the same subject looking for some new angles. Or like the photo above and below, some random techniques with the bamboo. This time in the bamboo grove in Arashiyama I [...]
Read article → Feb 18, 2016
2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Maiko Portrait Session
The last few times I’ve escorted tours to Kyoto, I’ve been able to arrange portrait sessions with a real maiko (geiko apprentice, “geiko” is how geisha are referred to in Kyoto). It’s always a a lot of fun to take portraits of a real maiko though I have to admit, with how beautiful they are [...]
Read article → Feb 17, 2016
2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Kiyomizu Temple & Shinnyodo Temple
At this point in our tour we had learned colder than normal weather, followed by drought, followed by warmer than normal weather, had split the vast majority of maples into three groups, turned color early, dried up and died early, or turning color late. Our tour of Japan must go on, though it meant now we were [...]
Read article → Feb 16, 2016
2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Tofukuji
After spending time strolling through and photographing Fushimi Inari Taisha, we headed a little north to Tofukuji, a large temple complex famous for Fall Leaves. If you aren’t great with crowds, you might want to avoid Tofukuji in the Fall though as at some parts it’s just a huge mob in what seems to be [...]
Read article → Feb 15, 2016
2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Fushimi Inari Kyoto
Anyone that has talked to me about visiting Japan before knows that Kyoto is my favorite city to travel to in Japan. I usually follow that up with saying, Kyoto is perhaps my favorite city to visit not only in Japan but in the world. I’m sure there are some great cities out there for [...]
Read article → Feb 14, 2016
2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Miyajima
After taking our time in Kanazawa and around Kanazawa, then a brief stopover in Okayama to photograph another garden and castle there, we made it down to the southern most part of the Fall Photo Tour of Japan, Miyajima and Hiroshima. Miyajima is a small island off the coast of Hiroshima with beatiful scenery, old [...]
Read article → Feb 13, 2016
2016 Cherry Blossom Forecast for Japan!
I can’t wait for the 2016 cherry blossom tour of Japan and things are looking good with the current cherry blossom forecast! The first cherry blossom forecast for the 2016 season in Japan has been released by the Japan Weather Association and Tenki.jp. While it’s still early and a lot can change, currently the forecast [...]
Read article → Feb 13, 2016
2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Okayama
After 3 wonderful nights in Kanazawa, the next stop on the tour of Japan was to visit Okayama for fall leaves and another of Japan’s most scenic gardens, Korakuen, a wonderful strolling garden that while not as vast as Kanazawa’s Kenrokuen, certainly beautiful and plenty to take photos of. We just stayed in Okayama for 1 [...]
Read article → Feb 13, 2016
2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Around Kanzawa
Having spent a lot of time taking photos at one of Japan’s most scenic gardens, Kenrokuen, and then a few day trips to Natadera and Shirakawa-go, we wanted to explore some other places in the city of Kanazawa. Kanazawa does have many interesting places to visit as a tourist of Japan and for photographers looking [...]
Read article → Jan 26, 2016
2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Kanazawa to Natadera
Having already spent a lot of time in Kenrokuen and making a day trip to Shirakawago, it was time to check out some other sites around Kanazawa and we made one more day trip to Natadera which is still in Ishikawa Prefecture but in Komatsu and Kaga Onsen area, not Kanazawa. As you can see [...]
Read article → Jan 23, 2016
2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Kanazawa and Shirakawago
We stayed in Kanazawa for 3 nights for the 2015 Fall Photo Tour and while we spent a lot of time at Kenrokuen, there is plenty else to see and photograph in Kanazawa and a few great day trips you can make. The first day trip we took was this Shirakawago, a village of traditional farmhouses [...]
Read article → Jan 22, 2016
2015 Fall Photography Tour of Japan | Kanazawa and Kenrokuen
The 2015 Fall Photography Tour of Japan started off with a short stay in Tokyo and then on to include Kanazawa, Okayama, Miyajima, Kyoto and then returning to Tokyo. The first evening started off with a rainy day in Tokyo and by the time we reached the city from the airport, it was dinner time. [...]
Read article → Aug 10, 2015
Kushimoto and Hashigui Iwa
The typhoon was getting closer but I still had much more to see in Wakayama and needed more time to try out the graduated ND filters along with the 10 stop ND filter! The next place was Kushimoto and Hashigui Iwa, a cool rock formation just off the coast of Kushimoto. It’s best to [...]
Read article → Aug 10, 2015
Nachi Taisha of Kumano Kodo
Instead of going directly from Shirahama to Kushimoto, we went inland a little to first check out one of the most famous shrines on the Kumano Kodo, Kumano Nachi Taisha. It’s not the easiest place to access without a car, but there are some bus you can take. If you do drive, there are a [...]
Read article → Aug 8, 2015
Engetsu Islet in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture
This summer in Japan I had planned to spend a week exploring Wakayama Prefecture. Wakayama Prefecture, Southeast of Kyoto and Osaka, is most famous for Koyasan and The Kumano Kodo, but this trip I wanted to explore the beautiful coastline in the Kii Peninsula. As it turned out, a typhoon also wanted to visit Wakayama [...]
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Jun 17, 2015
2015 Rice Terrace Tour of Japan | Kujukushima from Ishidake Observatory
The last sunset of the 2015 Tanada Tour of Japan was spent at Ishidake Observatory to see views of the islands of Kujukushima. It’s a popular spot for sunsets and also a spot that was used for the opening scene of the film, “The Last Samurai.” The observatory does get crowded with photographers and the space [...]
Read article → Jun 16, 2015
2015 Rice Terrace Tour of Japan | Kujukushima from Yumiharidake Observatory
Our escorted tour of Japan continued from Karatsu in Saga Prefecture to Sasebo of Nagasaki Prefecture. The hotel our group stayed at was next to a nice observatory with great views of Kujukushima. Having such a nice place within a 5 minute walk from the hotel was very convenient for taking photos not only of [...]
Read article → Jun 15, 2015
2015 Rice Terrace Tour of Japan | Jufukuji
During the day for our group tour of Japan in Sasebo, we decided to visit a small private temple in Nagasaki called Jufukuji in Emukae Town. During May and again in Autumn, the temple lays down acrylic panels inside to create a water-like reflection of their beautiful Japanese garden and rock garden. The staff there was [...]
Read article → Jun 14, 2015
2015 Rice Terrace Tour of Japan | Warabino and Mikaeri Falls
On our last day in Karatsu and before heading to Nagasaki, we had light rain and mostly cloudy weather. We decided to go to Mikaeri Falls, which is about 30 minutes from Karatsu. I had visited Mikaeri Falls last year during the hydrangea festival, which was beautiful, but too crowded! This time, because of the weather [...]
Read article → Jun 13, 2015
2015 Rice Terrace Tour of Japan | Niji no Matsubara Beach and Forest
The hotel the group tour stayed in was just a short walk across the street from the famous beach in Karatsu, Nijo no Matsubara. In addition to a nice beach with islands in the ocean and mountains to the sides, there is a forest of pine trees just off the beach that is worth exploring [...]
Read article → Jun 12, 2015
2015 Rice Terrace Tour of Japan | Oura Tanada
Another day with the group touring Japan and another rice terrace to take photographs of! In the morning we went to Hamanoura Tanada and for sunset, we went to Oura Tanada. It should be noted that you cannot actually see the sun setting at Oura Rice Terrace, but the plan was that since the weather [...]
Read article → Jun 11, 2015
2015 Rice Terrace Tour of Japan | Hamanoura Tanada
After a good start at Doya Rice Terrace in Nagasaki, the next morning I escorted our group of photographers to Hamanoura Tanada. The best time to go to Hamanoura is really for sunset, but the weather was looking gloomy later in Saga Prefecture, and sometimes there can be some nice light and colors opposite the sunrise, [...]
Read article → Jun 10, 2015
2015 Rice Terrace Tour of Japan | Doya Tanada
Back in 2013 I escorted a large group of photographers around Hokkaido, Tokyo and Kyoto. It was a great trip as we explored and photographed Japan for just about 2 weeks. I was delighted when Dmitry from Photosafari contacted me again about creating a short extension trip for him and other photographers after they spent some time [...]
Read article → May 7, 2015
2015 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan | Maiko Portrait Session
Before evening returning from the the 2015 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan, I received a few inquiries about the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan! If you are looking for that information, the details of the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan can be found here. I already shared with you about Kyoto and [...]
Read article → May 5, 2015
2015 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan | Special Experiences in Kyoto
Before evening returning from the the 2015 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan, I received a few inquiries about the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan! If you are looking for that information, the details of the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan can be found here. It’s on the front page of Japan Photo Guide, “Don’t [...]
Read article → May 4, 2015
2015 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan | Arashiyama
Before evening returning from the the 2015 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan, I received a few inquiries about the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan! If you are looking for that information, the details of the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan can be found here. I already shared with you photos from the group’s [...]
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Apr 30, 2015
2015 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan | Fuji Five Lakes
Before evening returning from the the 2015 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan, I received a few inquiries about the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan! If you are looking for that information, the details of the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan can be found here. After part of the group returned home after [...]
Read article → Apr 29, 2015
2015 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan | Kyoto
Before evening returning from the the 2015 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan, I received a few inquiries about the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan! If you are looking for that information, the details of the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan can be found here. I’ve said it many times before, Kyoto is my [...]
Read article → Apr 29, 2015
2015 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan | Himeji Castle
Before evening returning from the the 2015 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan, I received a few inquiries about the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan! If you are looking for that information, the details of the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan can be found here. Himeji Castle, located in between Hiroshima and Kyoto, is [...]
Read article → Apr 27, 2015
2015 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan | Miyajima and Hiroshima
Before evening returning from the the 2015 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan, I received a few inquiries about the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan! If you are looking for that information, the details of the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan can be found here. After spending a few days in Tokyo we took [...]
Read article → Apr 25, 2015
2015 Cherry Blossom Group Tour of Japan | Tokyo
Before evening returning from the the 2015 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan, I received a few inquiries about the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan! If you are looking for that information, the details of the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan can be found here. Like every trip to Japan, the 2015 Cherry Blossom [...]
Read article → Aug 2, 2014
Traveling around Kyushu | Tanada Rice Terraces
Tanada, or in English, rice terraces, are rice fields built into hillsides and mountains. With the right timing and weather, they can provide excellent backgrounds for landscapes in Japan or other countries that have time. Accessing the best rice terraces isn’t always easy and finding information in English is rare, so I’ve become really interested in [...]
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Jun 3, 2014
Panoramic Kamikochi Photos
Just a quick post today, again from Kamikochi. After sharing my favorite black and white photos from Kamikochi, here are my favorite panoramic photos of Kamikochi. All of these photos were simply taken with the iPhone camera’s panoramic photo tool and just cropped a little in photoshop. If you have been looking around the blog recently, [...]
Read article → May 25, 2014
Kamikochi in black and white
From Myonjin Pond to Taisho Pond and all the wonderful places in between, it’s no secret I love Kamikochi! I only wish I could have spent more time in this special place in the Japanese Alps to take more photographs and really explore the area. I would have also been really happy with different kinds [...]
Read article → May 20, 2014
Walking Around Kamikochi
When visiting Kamikochi, you will surely visit and get great photos of the famous sightseeing spots like Kappabashi, Myojin Pond and Taisho Pond, but also just by walking around the trails you will find spectacular scenery, nature and perhaps even some animals. With my limited time in Kamikochi, I was always rushing from one place [...]
Read article → May 20, 2014
Kamikochi | Taisho Pond
I already introduced you to the beautiful Myojin Pond in Kamikochi and now it is time to show you photos Taisho Pond. Like Myojin Pond, Taisho Pond is about an hour walk from Kappabashi, but in the opposite direction. So if you were to talk from Myojin Pond to Taisho Pond, it would take you [...]
Read article → May 18, 2014
Kamikochi | Myojin Pond
Myojin Pond is about an hours walk from Kappabashi and the Kamikochi Bus Terminal. Starting from Kappabashi, you can walk along the right or the left side of the Azusa River to get to Myojin Pond with the right side being more of a path and the left side more of elevated wooden platform. Photography [...]
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