Private and Custom Tour of Japan | Kamikochi

Aug 11 | Evan | No Comments |

Japan Photo Guide Kamikochi 101

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 crowds of Japan and get in touch with nature.  Though nature is about all that there is in Kamikochi and they intend to keep it that way with their five rules, or as I like to say, the Kamikochi Five (nice ring to it).

Japan Photo Guide Kamikochi 018 Japan Photo Guide Kamikochi 020

Basically, you aren’t allowed to feed the wild animals, you cannot take anything away from or bring any foreign species into Kamikochi, you cannot litter and keep on the paths.  Speaking of the paths, they are mostly flat either raised wood, dirt or gravel.  Easy to walk for all ages.

Japan Photo Guide Kamikochi 009 Japan Photo Guide Kamikochi 010

Kamikochi really is a photographer’s and perhaps hiker’s dream.  For this private tour of Japan, we stayed in Kamikochi for 2 nights, but easily could have stayed longer to take more photos of the mountains, lakes and streams as well as exploring by foot the natural surroundings.  While we stayed on the flat terrain, as that was enough hiking for us, there are more challenging paths up the mountains.

Japan Photo Guide Kamikochi 011 Japan Photo Guide Kamikochi 014

And did I mention there are monkeys?  Monkeys always make for some interesting observing and photographic opportunities!  A few more monkey photos from our private tour in Kamikochi and then a gallery of more monkeys and a few photos of Kamikochi.

Japan Photo Guide Kamikochi 003 Japan Photo Guide Kamikochi 004

Private and Custom Tour of Japan | Tokyo and Cooking Experience

Aug 10 | Evan | No Comments |

Japan Photo Guide Tokyo 111

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!  To be honest though, it’s not uncommon for us to walk around 10km per day in a normal tour, so we are always walking a lot in Japan, but we walked a little more in this photo tour of Japan!

Japan Photo Guide Tokyo 009

Japan Photo Guide Tokyo 001

We started out with a short stay in Tokyo and explored a lot of the popular spots like Shibuya, Harajuku, Akihabara, Ueno and so on, but also I arranged for Mike to have a private cooking lesson with a chef in her home.  I strongly believe that trying the food of Japan and meeting locals are very important for experiencing Japan, so a cooking lesson with a Japanese chef in her home is a great cultural experience!

Japan Photo Guide Tokyo 002

Japan Photo Guide Tokyo 005

Mike and Chef Yuca prepared about 5 different dishes representing a typical meal a family might have on any given night in Japan, including one of my favorites, gyoza, a Japanese version of a Chinese dumpling.  I’m always sad to leave Tokyo, but our hiking and photography tour of Japan would continue on to one of my favorite places in Japan, Kamikochi!

Japan Photo Guide Tokyo 006 Japan Photo Guide Tokyo 007

Private and Custom Tour of Japan | Hiroshima and Miyajima

Aug 05 | Evan | No Comments |

Japan Photo Guide Miyajima 003

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 Hiroshima, is one of my favorite places in Japan to visit.  Miyajima is famous for the (sometimes) floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine and the “wild” deer that roam free on Miyajima.

Japan Photo Guide Miyajima 044 Japan Photo Guide Miyajima 046

As you can see from my photo of the torii gate at the top of this post though, even when the tide is out enough to walk up to the torii gate, interesting photos can still be made!  Besides Itsukushima Shrine and the deer, there are lot’s of photogenic places around Miyajima that vary with the season.  I particuallary like finding scenic spots of the 5 story pagoda as you may have noticed from some of my previous reports of Miyajima photography tours!

Japan Photo Guide Miyajima 006 Japan Photo Guide Miyajima 008

The photos below were created by and courtesy of Isabelle Nazha Photography. Check out Isabelle’s blog post for more of her photos and her report on our time in Hiroshima and Miyajima.

Isabelle Nazha Photography Japan 023

Created by and Courtesy of Isabelle Nazha Photography

Created by and Courtesy of Isabelle Nazha Photography

Created by and Courtesy of Isabelle Nazha Photography

Private and Custom Tour of Japan | Himeji Castle and Wedding

Aug 03 | Evan | No Comments |

Japan Photo Guide Himeji 062

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 of the best cherry blossom spots in Japan.

Japan Photo Guide Himeji 003

Japan Photo Guide Himeji 061

Every since finishing the renovation, Himeji Castle has been more crowded than ever, even on this random Summer day with very hot  and overcast weather, there was no ends to the crowds visiting Himeji Castle.  After visiting the castle grounds and going inside the main keep for a bit, we entered Koko-en Garden, next to Himeji Castle.  A very nice strolling garden to walk through though would love to come back here during the Fall for maple season!

Japan Photo Guide Himeji 021 Japan Photo Guide Himeji 035

After the Koko-en Garden, I guided mom and daughter to a few other spots for scenic views of Himeji Castle.  Actually, none of the photos of mine in this post were taken on Himeji Castle grounds.  Like Mt. Fuji, I think Himeji Castle is best viewed from afar! Along the way to check out some spots to photograph Himeji Castle from, we had great timing as a couple had just been married and leaving the procession line while the crowd was throwing paper cranes.  With our long lenses we were able to take a few great shots, including this spectacular capture below by Isabelle!  I tried to take credit for the perfect timing but really was just another case of right time and right place!  All the photos below are courtesy of  and created by Isabelle Nazha Photography.

Isabelle Nazha Photography Japan 010

Created by and Courtesy of Isabelle Nazha Photography

Isabelle Nazha Photography Japan 012

Created by and Courtesy of Isabelle Nazha Photography

Isabelle Nazha Photography Japan 015

Created by and Courtesy of Isabelle Nazha Photography

Older Entries Newer Entries