2016 Cherry Blossom Photography Tour of Japan | Arashiyama and Kenninji

May 27 | Evan | No Comments |

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 of places it visit is Kenninji in Gion.

Kenninji and Arashiyama are not close to each other, Kenninji is in Gion and Arashiyama is Western Kyoto, but I’m including them both in this post just go along with the some places I return to and others are visited depending on what mother nature in Japan gives us!

Kenninji a lovely temple and especially a nice place to visit if it’s raining like it was one of our days touring Kyoto. Kenninji has covered walkways around the edges so you can still appreciate the gardens but also allows photography inside most areas of the Temple.

With Tokyo, Hiroshima, Miyajima and Himeji Castle already visited, next up for the 2016 cherry blossom tour was Kyoto, my favorite city in Japan! After Kyoto we would continue our tour of Japan to photography Mt. Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes, still chasing and photographing the cherry blossoms around Japan! Interested in joining the 2017 cherry blossom tour? Please contact me today to start your trip to Japan during cherry blossom season or any other time you’d like!

2016 Cherry Blossom Photography Tour of Japan | Fushimi Inari Taisha

May 25 | Evan | No Comments |

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 the photos!

There are not too many places open early in Kyoto before sunrise, but Fushimi Inari Shrine never closes. Photography wise, I’d recommend visiting Fushimi Inari as close to sunrise as possible. If you can visit Fushimi Inari before sunrise, the small lanterns in the gates should be on like the first of the two photos below.

Photo courtesy of and created by Barna Photo

2016 Cherry Blossom Photography Tour of Japan | Himeji Castle

May 15 | Evan | No Comments |

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 blossoms. Lucky for our group traveling to Japan, we had nice weather and perfect timing in regards to the cherry blossoms blooming.

Photo created by and courtesy of Kel Blake Photography.

There is no question that Himeji Castle is the star of the show in the city of Himeji, so finding interesting views to take photos of Himeji Castle is always fun as well. I’m always looking for a better or the best view to take photos of Himeji Castle Below, but not sure I have found it yet! Below is a photo of members of our group tour Japan, taking the photo and then the type of photo we could create from this observatory for a view of the city and Himeji Castle.

Photo created by and courtesy of Patricia Pomerleau.

The next morning we went up to a park to try and make some photos of Himeji Castle at sunrise. While we would have liked a little more color and perhaps moving the sunrise a little to the right, we still had a better sunrise than last year’s group visiting Japan!

Japan Photo Guide Himeji 065

2016 Cherry Blossom Photography Tour of Japan | Hiroshima and Miyajima

May 13 | Evan | No Comments |

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 peak seasons for Miyajima which are cherry blossom season and during the Fall when the leaves of Momijidani change colors.

Like when our group was touring in Tokyo, we had perfect timing for cherry blossoms in Miyajima! We were basically surrounded by cherry blossoms in Miyajima and Hiroshima, even after a slightly rainy day had some of the cherry blossom pedals fall!

With Tokyo, Hiroshima and Miyajima finished, next up for the 2016 cherry blossom tour was Himeji, home to one of the best cherry blossom spots in Japan, Himeji Castle. We would also travel to Kyoto and the Fuji Five Lakes to chase and photograph the cherry blossoms around Japan! Interested in joining the 2017 cherry blossom tour? Please contact me today to start your trip to Japan during cherry blossom season or any other time you’d like!