2019 Autumn Photography Tour of Japan

May 26 | Evan | Comments Off |

The Autumn season is my favorite time (okay tied with cherry blossom season maybe) to visit Japan and I am excited about the opportunity to offer private tours for Fall of 2019 in Japan. Japan is great all year long, but in the fall you can expect moderate temperatures, low humidity and chances of rain and of course the leaves are spectacular as they change colors!

The timing of the fall leaves changing color isn’t an exact science and we can’t always count on mother nature to be on time, but the places we plan to visit will have fantastic photo opportunities even if we are a little early or late for the leaves. Also, I don’t think it is enough to just visit Japan, but always like to include optional cultural experiences as well. These will be arranged depending on the preferences of the group but could be such experiences as cooking lessons in a Japanese home, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, traditional Japanese music/art, or something more along the lines of ninja/samurai experience or even visiting a master sword smith.

Another popular option is to have a portrait session with a real maiko/geiko (geiko is the commonly used term for geisha in Kyoto) while in Kyoto or some locals wearing Japanese traditional clothes like kimono or yukata. If you have other interests or requests, please let me know as it might be possible!

2020 Autumn Small Group Photo Tour to Japan

May 25 | Evan | Comments Off |

Only 1 spot left, contact me today or start live chat to reserve the spot!

The Autumn season is my favorite time (okay tied with cherry blossom season maybe) to visit Japan and I am excited about the opportunity to bring a small group (max of 5 participants) to experience Japan in November of 2020!

Japan is great all year long, but in the fall you can expect moderate temperatures, low humidity and chances of rain and of course the leaves are spectacular as they change colors!

2024 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour of Japan

Apr 23 | Evan | Comments Off |

Looking forward to the 2024 Cherry Blossom Photo Tour of Japan! View the trip report from 2023 cherry blossom tour of Japan or 2019 cherry blossom tour of Japan or trip report from the 2018 Cherry Blossom Photography Tour of Japan or the 2017 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan report or the 2016 Cherry Blossom Tour of Japan!

Cherry blossom season in Japan is a magical time of year when a sea of white and pink flowering cherry blossom trees sweeps over the entire country. This tour is planned for a small group of photographers, with a maximum of 7 participants plus your guides, to provide a mixture of landscape, street, and portrait photography in various areas around Japan during this spectacular time of year. Exploring different areas in Japan during the full bloom of the cherry blossoms has also been taken into consideration. However, we also plan to visit areas and have options for cultural experiences that will be incredible with or without the cherry blossoms. After all, just like other weather-related forecasts and yearly averages, it is impossible to always forecast correctly so far in advance.

That being said, with the different places we plan to visit, we should have good timing for at least some, if not all, unless the cherry blossoms bloom a couple of weeks early or late. Additionally, there are many varieties of cherry blossoms, and some bloom earlier than others. Therefore, even within cities, certain locations will offer better photographic opportunities than others, and it is best for us to remain flexible!

It is not enough to simply visit and photograph Japan, so I will arrange some opportunities to experience the local culture and customs. Some possible cultural experiences include specially arranged cooking lessons, introductions to traditional Japanese art and music, demonstrations by traditional swordsmiths, and more. I will gather feedback from the group to determine which experiences generate the most interest.

Photo created by and courtesy of Patricia Pomerleau.

Overall, Japan is a very safe country that welcomes tourists from around the world with open arms. Public transportation, though it may seem overwhelming at first, especially in Tokyo, is fantastic and punctual. The food is (mostly) delicious, and there are usually plenty of options available. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated while visiting Japan, but please make sure to contact Japan Photo Guide as soon as possible with any restrictions or allergies. Since we started helping tourists experience Japan in 2005, everyone has expressed their love for Japan and their desire to return during a different time of year (and some have already done so)!