Japan in Bloom
March 30 to April 7, 2028
Traveling to Japan in spring to photograph the cherry blossoms feels like stepping into a living watercolor. Entire streets, riverbanks, and temple grounds transform into scenes that seem almost too beautiful to be real. Wandering through places like Kyoto’s Philosopher’s Path, the Meguro River in Tokyo, and Osaka Castle surrounded by cherry trees, you will capture fleeting moments of petals drifting on the breeze, reflections shimmering on quiet ponds, and the most glorious colors of nature everywhere you look. It’s a season that rewards patience, curiosity, and a willingness to chase the perfect light as nature briefly reveals one of its most breathtaking displays.
In Japan, nature is often woven seamlessly into the fabric of urban life. Through centuries of thoughtful planning and cultural values that emphasize harmony with the natural world, the Japanese have carefully protected and lovingly cultivated green spaces, from temple gardens and neighborhood parks to tree-lined streets and riverside walkways. Even in the busiest cities, these landscapes are tended with remarkable care, creating places where seasonal beauty, biodiversity, and daily life coexist in quiet balance.
What you will learn on this photo tour:
-- Focus stacking for complete depth of field
-- Landscape photography techniques
-- Advantages of using HDR at twilight and night
-- Using the wind to create painting-like images
-- Using long exposures plus ND filters to eliminate people
-- Taking wide angle portraits
-- Post-processing images taken in midday sunlight
-- Effectiveness of window light for portraits
ITINERARY
Day 1, March 30, Tuesday
Arrive this day in Tokyo and take a taxi to our hotel. Jim recommends arriving one day early, at your expense, to recover from jet lag and to rest from the long journey. We meet in the lobby of the hotel at 5pm for twilight and night photography of cherry blossom trees artfully lining the Meguro River. The mixture of lights with the flowers is exquisite. This is followed by a welcome dinner. Overnight Tokyo.
Day 2, March 31, Wednesday
We get up early this morning to photograph the Meguro River at dawn. The cobalt-colored sky mixes with the pink cherry blossoms beautifully, and there should be virtually no other tourists. We then return for breakfast. Following this, we pack up our van and drive an hour to the city of Kawagoe. We will spend time today to capture the exquisite cherry blossoms that line the Shingashi River. The reflections are extraordinary, and the way the river is framed by the colorful trees is something you'll never forget. After 2pm we'll check into our hotel and get ready for truly phenomenal picture taking at twilight and night. The lanterns that intermingle with the cherry blossoms in the low light environment will take your breath away. Overnight Kawagoe.
Kawagoe was constructed beginning in 1457. After a devastating fire in 1893, the town was rebuilt using fire-proof clay. We will photograph the traditional Japanese architecture, Kita-in Temple, Motor River Cherry Blossom Avenue, and Kofun Ancient Tomb Park for outstanding images of cherry trees atop a hill. Overnight Kawagoe.
Day 3, April 1, Thursday
After breakfast we head for the Mt. Fuji area. We spend the day photographing the perfectly symmetrical still-active volcanic mountain, considered sacred by the Japanese. We'll capture it reflecting in various bodies of water, with cherry trees in the foreground, and in sunset lighting. Fuji-san has many moods, many faces, and we will photograph as many of them as possible. Some of the viewpoints we will shoot from include Arakurayama Sengen Park and Oshino Hakkai.
Our sunset shoot is Mt. Fuji reflecting in a lake. If we have a clear sky, the golden light on the snow capped peak is an unforgettable magical experience. Overnight Lake Kawaguchi.
Day 4, April 2, Friday
For the most iconic, beautiful view in all of Japan, we will climb (slowly) 398 stone steps to Chureito Pagoda early in the morning. With the red-trimmed pagoda in the foreground and Mt. Fuji in the background, and with cherry trees adding color, we'll take one of the greatest travel pictures in the world.
We return to the hotel for breakfast, and then we pack up our vehicle and head for Kyoto. The drive takes about 5 hours, so we'll stop for lunch enroute. Upon arrival, we check into our hotel and prepare our photo gear for this evening's shoot. Gion Shirakawa is a willow-lined canal that is perfect for evening photography. At one end is the guardian shrine, Yasaka. It is beautifully illuminated at night. Hanamikoji Street is lit by lanterns and is the heart of the geisha district, and it is lined with exclusive high-end restaurants. Overnight Kyoto.
Day 5, April 3, Saturday
Kyoto is the epicenter in Japan for spectacular cherry blossom viewing, and we have entire day to take incredible pictures. We will visit the Philosopher's Path, a stunning mile long stone path enveloped in cherry trees, the Heian Shrine and garden with its famous collection of weeping cherry trees, and Maruyama Park which is Kyoto's most famous cherry blossom park. In late March it is transformed into a stunning lantern festival, an illuminated wonderland. Overnight Kyoto.
Day 6, April 4, Sunday
Before breakfast and to avoid the crowds, we explore and photograph the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. It is one of Kyoto's most photographed sites. It is a short, 1300 foot path that cuts through walls of dense bamboo forest. It is open 24 hours a day so we can visit this iconic place early. We return to the hotel for breakfast, and then we visit Fushimi Inari, an important Shinto shrine famous for its thousands of vermillion Torii gates that straddle a network of trails. Inari is the Shinto god of rice, and foxes are thought to be Inari's messengers which is why there are so many statues of foxes along there way.
Today we will also have a private photo shoot with a Maiko, a young girl in training to be a Geisha. Her long robed-kimono, stylized hair, and umbrella make for classic and very beautiful shots of Japanese culture.
We also visit the Higashiyama district to capture the illuminated Yasaka Pagoda. This is one of the city's best preserved historic districts, and it invokes the feeling of being in old Kyoto centuries ago. Overnight Kyoto.
Day 7, April 5, Monday
We leave Kyoto after breakfast and head to Osaka. On the way, we stop at the remarkable Nara Deer Park in Nara, Japan. The park is home to about 1000 free ranging Japanese sika deer. You can take intimate closeups as well as distance shots of the deer. Nearby is Todaiji Temple, the largest wooden structure in the world.
Upon arriving in Osaka, we check into our hotel, have dinner, and then visit the amazing Shinsekai for an outrageous session in night photography. Overnight Osaka.
Day 8, April 6, Tuesday
We begin our photography early today to photograph impressive 16th century Osaka Castle. At this time of year, it is surrounded by cherry blossoms, and you'll find a myriad of sensational compositions. We then return to the hotel for breakfast, and then we visit Kema Sakuranomiya Park to compose images of cherry blossom trees framing the city in the distance. For a change of pace, Nanba Yasaka Shrine, depicting a guardian deity, is a fun thing to photograph, and then. we'll shoot something really unusual and quite striking. It's the ultra modern escalator in the Umeda Sky Building.
In the evening, we photograph Osaka Castle again, this time against a cobalt blue sky and with lights in the cherry trees. It's breathtaking. This is followed by night photography in Dotonbori, an area of Osaka that's brilliantly illuminated and bustling with activity. This is a good time to use HDR, long exposures for eliminating people, and to do some creative blurred images. Overnight Osaka
Day 9, April 7, Wednesday
This morning after breakfast we transfer to Kansai International Airport (KIX) for our homeward flight, knowing we've seen and photographed incredible beauty, artistry, and a great culture.
Tour cost: $8650. Includes 9 nights lodging based on adouble occupancy, all ground transportation except noted below, a local English speaking guide, all breakfasts, all dinners, all entrance fees, cost of hiring Japanese models, photo instruction, and critiques on demand.
Single supplement: $1275.
Not included: International airfare to Japan, taxi from airport to hotel in Tokyo upon arrival, all lunches, medical evacuation insurance, trip cancellation insuranc, alcohol, and items of a personal nature.