Article tag
Japan Tour Guide
Field notes, tour reports, and photography guides tagged with this topic.
Apr 1, 2022
What’s so special about Japanese convenience stores?
Have you heard much about Japanese convenience stores? Yes, we are talking about convenience stores. In the U.S., there are also convenience stores too, but you don’t necessarily think of a convenience store where people go to have a decent meal, right? In the U.S., you may step into a convenience store to grab a [...]
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Feb 1, 2022
Useful expressions when you want to ask someone out in Japanese
Have you ever thought about asking a Japanese girl or guy out? Well, if you ever thought about it, this is going to be a very useful article as there will be some useful expressions you can use to ask a Japanese girl or guy out! Of course, you can try these in Japan when [...]
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Jul 1, 2021
Japanese Learning Today – Ru-verbs, U-verb, Irregulars
Learn three kinds of verbs in Japanese In the previous Japanese learning blog, we learned what to say when you want something and when you want to do something. Furthermore, we also talked about Japanese verbs, ru-verbs in particular. In Japanese, there are two main verb types called “ru-verbs” and ‘u-verbs.” In this article, we [...]
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Jun 14, 2021
Let’s eat at a Kaiten Sushi!
What you should expect when eating sushi at a kaiten sushi, converter belt sushi. Do you like sushi? Who is excited to go to Japan to eat fresh sushi? Well, sushi has become an internationally well recognized Japanese food in the 20th century. However, not everyone has been to kaiten sushi, the sushi that comes [...]
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Jun 1, 2021
Learn Japanese Today – “I want to go to Mt. Fuji.”
Learn how to express when you want something and want to do something. When you travel somewhere new, you probably want to express what you want, such as where you want to go and what you want to eat. In this article, let’s learn how to use”want something” and “want to do something” in Japanese [...]
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May 3, 2021
Yaya’s Life in Japan
A glimpse of everyday life in Japan There is a new YouTube channel in town! Well, this is a new YouTube channel created by Japan Photo Guide’s friend in Japan. She is a photographer so despite it’s new for her to do videography, the videos are beautiful. The angles, subjects, and lighting, you can tell [...]
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May 1, 2021
Learn Japanese Today
Learn how to make possessive sentences in Japanese! In the last “Learn Japanese Today,” you learned how to say “this” and “that” in Japanese. In this article, let’s expand your Japanese even further to learn how to make a possessive sentence using this and that in Japanese. This will certainly be beneficial on your [...]
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Apr 7, 2021
What’s Different, Maiko and Geisha?
What is the difference between the two? Maiko and geisha are one of the most iconic symbols of Japan. They are mysterious, beautiful, elegant, and perfect photographic subjects for your photo tour of Japan. With 300 years or so of history, we can learn so much about Japan through them. In this article, let’s learn [...]
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Apr 1, 2021
Learn Japanese Today
How to say “This” and “That” in Japanese – “kore, sore, are” Do you know how to ask “What is this?” and “What is that?” in Japanese? How about “How much is this?” and “How much is that?” Well, these are simple questions, but very useful when you are visiting Japan. Of course, when you [...]
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Mar 17, 2021
Time for Sakura in Japan!
Sakura Flowering Rush about to take place in Japan 2021 March One of the most popular times of the year for international travelers to visit Japan is spring when sakura, cherry blossoms are blooming. If you have visited Japan during this time, you know the beautiful pink sakura flowers spotted all over the country. For [...]
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Mar 1, 2021
Learn Japanese Today
“Shashin wo totte mo ii desu ka?” – How to ask others to take a photo of them Who is ready to travel to Japan? Are you eager to join Japan Photo Guide’s Japanese photography tour right now? Well, I am sure many of you are eager to travel to Japan and also work on [...]
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Jan 14, 2021
Photographing Mt. Fuji from Yamanashi Prefecture
If you had some time to already look through Japan Photo Guide’s past photography tours of Japan, you probably noticed that he has many beautiful photos of Mt. Fuji at Fuji Five Lakes. As you might have already guessed, Fuji Five Lakes are the lakes around Mt. Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture, which are known for [...]
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Sep 14, 2020
Photographing Mt. Fuji from Shizuoka Prefecture
Mt. Fuji (Fujisan in Japanese) is without a doubt the most famous mountain and the landscape of Japan. It is also one of the most photographed landscapes of Japan and is a very popular destination for Japan Photo Guide’s Japan photo tour. Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic, Mt. Fuji is closed for 2020 and [...]
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Aug 1, 2019
Tour of Japan | Cary Academy Goes to Japan 2019 – FAQ Part 3
Sometimes when you’ve visited a place a few times, it can be easy to forget all the little things that you noticed when you first visited. Traveling with someone who has never visited a place helps you to remember what you first noticed and to notice new things as well! Teenagers are especially fun to [...]
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Jul 31, 2019
Tour of Japan | Cary Academy Goes to Japan 2019 – FAQ Part 2
Sometimes when you’ve visited a place a few times, it can be easy to forget all the little things that you noticed when you first visited. Traveling with someone who has never visited a place helps you to remember what you first noticed and to notice new things as well! Teenagers are especially fun to [...]
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Jul 21, 2019
2019 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour | Kyoto Geiko Portrait Session
In 2014 I received a request to arrange a private tour in Japan for a photographer and his family. There were a few photography opportunities requested such as spending time with a master sword smith as he worked to to take portraits of a real maiko, geiko or geisha in Japan. So it was in [...]
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Jul 18, 2019
2019 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour | Mt Fuji
I’m always a little anxious when Mt. Fuji is included on the plan for our photography tours as mountain can be quite shy hiding behind clouds days at a time. For the 2019 photography tour of Japan during cherry blossom season, we had 4 nights planned in the Mt. Fuji area. Two nights in Shizuoka [...]
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Jul 17, 2019
2019 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour | Kyoto
So far our cherry blossom photography tour of Japan was lucky enough to have nice weather and perfect cherry blossom timing for just about all cities we traveled to in Japan. Kyoto was more of the same with cherry blossoms in full bloom just about everywhere in Kyoto waiting for our group to photograph them. [...]
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Jul 16, 2019
2019 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour | Himeji Castle
With Tokyo and Miyajima finished, the 2019 cherry blossom photography tour continued to Himeji, home of Himeji Castle. Famous for the thousands of cherry blossom trees, Himeji Castle is a great spot to capture the essence of Japan. Finding spots where the castle and the cherry blossoms can be photographed together is the goal but [...]
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Jul 15, 2019
2019 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour | Miyajima and Hiroshima
After spending 2 nights in Tokyo, the 2019 cherry blossom photo tour of Japan traveled by bullet train to Miyajima. While tour was without rain so far, colder than normal temperatures had Japan feeling more like Japan in the winter rather than Japan during cherry blossom season. For the most part, the cooler temperatures during [...]
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Jun 17, 2019
Tour of Japan | Cary Academy Goes to Japan 2019 – FAQ Part 1
Sometimes when you’ve visited a place a few times, it can be easy to forget all the little things that you noticed when you first visited. Traveling with someone who has never visited a place helps you to remember what you first noticed and to notice new things as well! Teenagers are especially fun to [...]
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Jun 14, 2019
2019 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour | Tokyo Portrait Session
During my cherry blossom tours of Japan, we almost always have a portrait session in Kyoto with a real maiko or geiko but during the 2019 cherry blossom photography tour we also had a portrait session in Tokyo with a model living in Tokyo. Last summer in Tokyo I photographed the same model so it [...]
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May 25, 2019
2019 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour | Tokyo
The 2019 cherry blossom season in Japan was an interesting one in terms of cherry blossom timing. A warm winter had the cherry blossoms start blooming earlier than normal in most places in Japan, including cherry blossoms in Tokyo, but a sudden cold spell had spring closer to winter temperatures and paused the cherry blossoms [...]
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Nov 26, 2018
Tour of Japan | Cary Academy Goes to Japan 2018 – Experiences
This summer, Japan Photo Guide by Evan Pike was once again able to offer a spectacular trip to Japan just for Cary Academy students. Katie Taylor, 6th grade Language Arts teacher and Japan enthusiast, co-led the group with Evan. We began our trip in Tokyo, then traveled to Nagoya, Hiroshima, and Kyoto before returning home [...]
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Oct 26, 2018
Tour of Japan | Cary Academy Goes to Japan 2018 – Food
This summer, Japan Photo Guide by Evan Pike was once again able to offer a spectacular trip to Japan just for Cary Academy students. Katie Taylor, 6th grade Language Arts teacher and Japan enthusiast, co-led the group with Evan. We began our trip in Tokyo, then traveled to Nagoya, Hiroshima, and Kyoto before returning home [...]
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Sep 26, 2018
Tour of Japan | Cary Academy Goes to Japan 2018 – Souvenirs and Shopping
This summer, Japan Photo Guide by Evan Pike was once again able to offer a spectacular trip to Japan just for Cary Academy students. Katie Taylor, 6th grade Language Arts teacher and Japan enthusiast, co-led the group with Evan. We began our trip in Tokyo, then traveled to Nagoya, Hiroshima, and Kyoto before returning home [...]
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Aug 12, 2018
2018 Summer Tour of Japan | Portraits in Tokyo
While most of my work in the USA is portraiture, while on the photography tours of Japan I tend to take more landscapes or wildlife photos. At the end of my 2018 summer tour of Japan I had a some for a few portrait sessions in Tokyo. The heat was miserable but somehow the two [...]
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Jun 1, 2018
2018 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour of Japan | Maiko Portrait Session in Kyoto
I’ve been photographing this maiko san since 2014 and this past photography tour will be the last time I photograph her as a maiko as she is finished her apprenticeship and became a geiko (geisha are called geiko in Kyoto) in May! A portrait session with a real maiko is always a popular request from [...]
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May 25, 2018
2018 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour of Japan | Mt. Fuji
In previous photography tours of Japan, I’ve spent a lot of time photographing Mt. Fuji from the Fuji Five Lakes, but for the 2018 photo tour of Japan in cherry blossom season we spent most of our time photographing Mt. Fuji from the Shizuoka side. One thing that really interested me about photographing Fujisan from [...]
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May 20, 2018
2018 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour of Japan | Kyoto
By the time our small group of photographers reached Kyoto, time earlier than normal cherry blossom season was starting to catch up with us. Even that being the case, there were still areas of Kyoto where we could still find cherry blossoms in good condition and also many places in Kyoto are picturesque with [...]
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May 16, 2018
2018 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour of Japan | Himeji
After 3 wonderful days photographing the cherry blossoms of Miyajima, the 2018 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour continued North East to Himeji, home of Japan’s most spectacular castle, Himeji Castle. Like most of the locations I choose for the photography tour of Japan during cherry blossom season, the castle has fantastic cherry blossoms, but also there [...]
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May 13, 2018
2018 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour of Japan | Miyajima
The 2018 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour departed Tokyo to travel to Hiroshima by bullet train, then took a chartered van to Miyajima Port and finally a ferry to reach Miyajima. It’s a long journey but our small photography group arrived in Miyajima at perfect time to photograph the cherry blossoms. When one thinks of Miyajima, [...]
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Apr 30, 2018
2018 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour of Japan | Tokyo
Either as a photographer to take photos or just view the cherry blossoms, Japanese and tourists are always excited for cherry blossom season. The 2018 the cherry blossoms couldn’t wait either. Compared to an average year, the cherry blossoms in Japan bloomed earlier than normal and in some places in Japan even 10 -14 days [...]
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Aug 19, 2017
2017 Private Summer Tour of Japan | Portraits and Tea Ceremony with Maiko
While traveling to Kyoto for the private and custom tour of Japan, I arranged for a tea ceremony and private portrait session with a real maiko (geiko apprentice) in Kyoto. I’ve taken her portraits many times before and she is almost finished with her apprenticeship and will be a geiko soon, I think by the time [...]
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Jun 1, 2017
2017 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan | Fuji Five Lakes
The last stop for our group of photographers visiting Japan before returning to Tokyo was Fuji Kawaguchiko. Lake Kawaguchiko is one of the Fuji Five Lakes and offers stunning views of Mt. Fuji no matter what time of year. Thankfully this is the case as we were early for cherry blossoms this year. Though we [...]
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May 28, 2017
2017 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan | Tea Fields of Wazuka
After a few days in Kyoto, the small group of photographers on the 2017 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan headed to the outskirts of Kyoto to Wazuka. Wazuka is a green tea farming town, considered by many to grow some of the finest, if not the finest, green tea in Japan, which means the world [...]
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May 24, 2017
2017 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan | Kyoto
After visiting Tokyo, Hiroshima, Miyajima and Himeji, the 2017 Cherry Blossom tour of Japan headed north again to Kyoto. I’ve said it many times before, Kyoto is my favorite city in Japan and perhaps in the world. The mix of modern and traditional Japan is fantastic and there are always opportunities for photographers visiting Kyoto. [...]
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May 21, 2017
2017 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan | Himeji Castle
The cherry blossoms were catching up with our small group of photographers as we headed north in Japan from Miyajima to Himeji. Himeji is Japan’s most famous and spectacular castle but also famous for it’s hundreds of cherry blossom trees spread out across the castle grounds. While the cherry blossoms were almost few bloom, we [...]
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May 19, 2017
2017 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan | Miyajima and Hiroshima
After a short stay in Tokyo, our group of photographers touring Japan headed southwest to Hiroshima and Miyajima for the 2017 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan. Even though the cherry blossoms started to bloom earlier than normal in many places in Japan, a sudden burst of cold weather put the cherry blossoms on pause, so [...]
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May 18, 2017
2017 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan | Tokyo
The 2017 Cherry Blossom Photography Tour of Japan was shaping up to be quite a large group of photographers visiting Japan but suddenly some members had to drop out for personal reasons. In January I had pretty much accepted that the 2017 Cherry Blossom Tour was not going to happen when just as suddenly as [...]
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Sep 6, 2016
Tour of Japan | Cary Academy Goes to Japan – Kyoto
Here is the last report about my tour of Japan with a small group from Cary Academy. After the line below this paragraph, the rest of this report on our trip to Japan is written by Katie Taylor, a 6th grade teacher at Cary Academy and Japan enthusiast. Check out Katie’s previous post about our time in Tokyo and Hiroshima [...]
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Sep 4, 2016
Tour of Japan | Cary Academy Goes to Japan – Hiroshima and Miyajima
Besides family and friends, Cary Academy and Japan have influenced my life more than anything else. Combining the two of them was a lot of fun for me and a very special experience and tour of Japan to plan! After the line below this paragraph, the rest of this report on our trip to Japan is written by Katie [...]
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Aug 28, 2016
Tour of Japan | Cary Academy Goes to Japan!
Cary Academy is celebrating it’s 20th anniversary this year and as a proud alumnus from the early years, I couldn’t have been more excited to arrange and escort a group from one of my favorite places to another of my favorite places, Japan! Besides family and friends, Cary Academy and Japan have influenced my life more [...]
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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 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 [...]
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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 [...]
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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 [...]
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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 [...]
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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 [...]
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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 [...]
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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 [...]
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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 [...]
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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 [...]
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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 [...]
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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 [...]
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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 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 [...]
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