Pay full price now or a €300 deposit with the balance payable 8 weeks before the workshop start date.
28 March – 9 April 2027
Places available
Max 6
13 days
Low to Medium
Various in Tokyo; Kyoto; Osaka
We'll meet at our hotel in Osaka.
Join me in the spring of 2027 for a photography tour of Japan with its beautiful cherry blossoms, also known as sakuras, as well as its futuristic cityscapes.
During the spring months in early April, the beautiful sakura or cherry blossom flowers start to bloom across Japan.
But the photo tour will not only cover these magical flowers, but we will also take in the awesome Blade Runner-like cityscapes of Tokyo and Osaka. Tokyo is one of the World’s biggest cities, and no photography tour to Japan would be complete without exploring at least some of its futuristic districts as well as some of its more traditional temples.
The Japan photo tour is based in various locations. We’ll start in Osaka, where we’ll spend 1 night. From here, we’ll head over to Himeji with its iconic castle, then Nara and then make our way across Japan to the iconic Mount Fuji.
As we head across Japan, we’ll take in some of the more out-of-the-way places before arriving in Tokyo.
We will spend time seeking out both the traditional and newer sides of Japan.
We will all meet at our hotel in central Osaka. If you need help getting from the airport to the hotel, please contact me.
Yes, it can be chilly in the mornings and evenings, but be prepared for warm days as well as the odd rain shower.
Make sure to bring comfortable clothing. You will need a fleece for dawn/ evening shoots.
Comfortable walking shoes are ideal for both walking around the ancient temples as well as the city.
It can be crowded in the photo hotspots of Japan, such as Kyoto, but this is mainly evident during the daytime.
Early in the morning, you find that most people aren’t walking around yet, and we will concentrate our efforts on getting to the major places at the optimum time. That’s not to say we won’t see people or other photographers, so please be aware of this and have due patience.
A wide-angle lens (16-35mm) and a medium zoom (24-70mm) are the lenses we’ll be using the most. A longer zoom (100-400) will be useful to cover most compositional eventualities that we may need to isolate.
Although not essential, it’s a great idea to bring a laptop computer with you so you can discuss imagery with me.
I try to make a point of helping those who need it in digital photography. If inclement weather or tiredness takes hold, it can help to have a computer session to assess our progress.
What’s included in the tour?
4-star or 3-star hotel accommodation in double rooms with single occupancy accommodation and private ensuite bathrooms. Depending on the area, it may not always be possible to get 4-star hotels. The hotels will still be comfortable and clean.
All meals from dinner on Sunday night to breakfast on the departure day.
Ground transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles for the listed activities
Public transport, taxis during the Tokyo part of the tour (Suica card for metro etc).
Site entry fees (if applicable)
Tuition from Julian Elliott
What’s not included
International flights to and from Japan
Airport taxes
Entry visa, if required, to Japan
Early/ late check in/ out service at hotels
Travel insurance and trip cancellation (highly advised)
Medical expenses
Extra drinks or alcohol during lunch & dinner
Personal expenses such as telephone charges, laundry etc
Tips and gratuities for drivers, guides and hotel porters
Services and transportation are for listed activities only
Charges will be applied for any additional requests
All other services which are not mentioned in the Inclusion section
My tours fill up quickly but sometimes spots open up due to cancellations.
If the tour you are interested in is currently full and you would like to be added to the waiting list then please fill out this form
