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 few days early for the sakura to be in full bloom, but towards the middle and end of the trip, we got to see some beautiful cherry blossom trees.  Besides the cherry blossoms, we had plenty to do!

This tour of Japan was one of my hybrid general + photo tours where the father had a strong passion for photography and while the rest of the family enjoys taking photos, the tour couldn’t be just a photography tour.   There were still some early morning photography sessions just the rest of the family was sleeping in and eating breakfast while we were out taking photos.  The father’s main focus is actually wildlife photography but aside from crows in Tokyo, there really aren’t any wildlife photography opportunities in Tokyo!  Instead, we were mainly focusing on cityscape and HDR images in Tokyo.  I also arranged a portrait session in Tokyo.  In Kyoto, I arranged two portrait sessions with a real maiko (Geiko in training, Geiko is what Geisha are called in Kyoto) and of course some of the amazing temples and shrines were our focus, along with the ever popular bamboo groves in Arashiyama.

Like I said though, this wasn’t just a photography tour of Japan!  There was lot’s of sightseeing and experiences for the rest of the family as well!  Of course we went to the usual suspects in Tokyo and Kyoto, like in Tokyo, Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara and in Kyoto, Golden Pavilion, Ryoanji, Path of Philosophy, Kiyomizudera and so on… but also, were able to arrange some very special experiences as well.  Some of those experiences were a private demonstration with a Japanese sword smith, tea ceremony, already mentioned the maiko portrait session, private meeting with a monk for learning about Buddhism and to take some photos, a ninja experience and more!   Check out a few of my favorite photos of the family and cherry blossoms from the trip.  More photos from our tour of Japan coming soon!