Article tag
Kyoto
Field notes, tour reports, and photography guides tagged with this topic.
Jun 30, 2023
The Old Capital in Bloom: Experiencing Kyoto during Cherry Blossom Season 2023
The next stop on our 2023 Cherry Blossom Photography Tour was Kyoto, the old capital of Japan and a city steeped in history, tradition, and breathtaking beauty. After a challenging start with the weather, we were greeted with sunny skies and blossoming sakura trees upon our arrival in Kyoto. However, with each passing day, the [...]
Read article →
Nov 29, 2022
A Photographic Journey through Japan’s Landscapes and Culture
In the fall of 2022, I had the unique opportunity to lead a photography tour of Japan for a small group of passionate photographers. This was the first photography tour of Japan I was able to lead post COVID and I couldn’t have been more excited! Our journey took us to some of the most [...]
Read article →
Oct 5, 2022
Traveling to Japan Post COVID
Step by step traveling procedures in June and Oct 2022 Yes, it might be still too early to say it’s “Post COVID” particular in Japanese standard, but things are clearly changing in the right direction even in Japan when it comes to international traveling! We just recently shared the exciting news about Japan finally opening [...]
Read article →
Sep 30, 2022
No more travel restrictions to Japan!
Oct 11th 2022 onward, all the travel restrictions will be removed Yes, it is official! A long awaited travel restriction will be removed on October 11th 2022 to travel to Japan. Yes, it is legit, not fake news. Finally, we can plan a photography tour of Japan that we have long awaited!! This is an [...]
Read article →
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 [...]
Read article →
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 [...]
Read article →
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 [...]
Read article →
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. [...]
Read article →
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 [...]
Read article →
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 [...]
Read article →
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 [...]
Read article →
Aug 16, 2017
2017 Private Summer Tour of Japan | Kyoto
Kyoto. More than 30 trips to Kyoto since 2004 and I’m still amazed every time I travel to Japan’s old capital. The mix between modern and traditional Japan is is probably the main reason why Kyoto is my favorite city in the world though it’s always exciting to see what first time visitors to Kyoto [...]
Read article →
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 [...]
Read article →
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 [...]
Read article →
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. [...]
Read article →
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 [...]
Read article →
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 [...]
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 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 →
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 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 →
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 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 →
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 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 [...]
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 →
Jan 25, 2015
First 2015 Cherry Blossom Forecast for Japan Released
Cherry blossom season is probably my favorite time of year to experience Japan but it’s not always exactly the dates for year to year. The first cherry blossom forecast for 2015 of Japan’s cherry blossom season has been released by weathermap.jp! As with all forecasts, they are best guesses and will certainly be updated from [...]
Read article →
May 9, 2014
2014 Summer and Fall Tours of Japan
Japan Photo Guide is excited to announce 2 opportunities to experience Japan in 2014! In June and July of 2014 there is limited availability of short day tours or photography/portrait sessions in Japan. Whether in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hokkaido, Miyajima or someplace else, please contact me about what you want to do in Japan this summer! [...]
Read article →
Apr 20, 2014
Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan | Maiko Portrait Session
The 2014 cherry blossom tour of Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan had been going great and filled with special experiences so far. When planning this trip to Japan, one of the experiences I was most excited about was this portrait session with a real maiko! A maiko is an apprentice geisha or geiko as they are [...]
Read article →
Apr 16, 2014
2014 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan | Tokyo and Kyoto
I love visiting and sharing Japan during anytime of the year, but there is nothing like Japan during cherry blossom season! What started out as me helping the family plan by consulting on their trip, turned into a 8 day tour with them in Tokyo and Kyoto during cherry blossom season. We were perhaps a [...]
Read article →
Apr 16, 2014
Photo Tour of Japan | Fushimi Inari Shrine
Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of my favorite places in Kyoto. It’s a little out of the way in Southeastern Kyoto, but certainly worth the extra effort to get there! There are thousands of torii gates lined up next to each other of various sizes. All of the gates have the names of individuals or [...]
Read article →
Apr 15, 2014
Photo Tour of Japan | Bamboo Grove in Arashiyama
Arashiyama is on the outskirts of Western Kyoto and a beautiful place to visit. I talked about Arashiyama already in my post in Kokedera (Moss Garden) and another popular place to visit, walk through and take photos is the bamboo grove. I recommend going as early as possible, even arriving just before sunrise. I recommend [...]
Read article →
Apr 10, 2014
Photo Tour of Japan | Golden Pavilion
In the Northwest of Kyoto you can find quite a few interesting temples and shrines, including a few that are designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites like Ryoanji, Ninnanji and this one Kinkakuji. Or in English, The Golden Pavilion. Perhaps one of the most iconic symbols of Kyoto, and maybe Japan, The Golden Pavilion is [...]
Read article →
Mar 16, 2014
Photo Tour of Japan | Kokedera, The Moss Garden Temple in Kyoto
Kokedera is one of my favorite places in Kyoto. The Moss Garden Temple, aka Kokedera or Saiho-ji, is on the outskirts of Kyoto and you not only do you have to make reservation far in advance by mail, the entry fee is 3,000 yen per person. Even though you do need a reservation for the [...]
Read article →
Feb 2, 2013
Japan Photo Guide and PhotoSafari.ru Photography Tour of Japan
I am excited to announce I will be working with Dmitry from PhotoSafari.ru for an upcoming guided photography tour of Japan in the Autumn of 2013! Dmitry leads photography tours for Russians all over the world and I am honored that he asked me to accompany him to Japan as his Japan specialist. If you [...]
Read article →