Capture the dreamy and authentic, historical and contemporary during your 12-day Japan photography tour. Your camera will accompany you with specialist guides on a custom-tailored tour as you uncover majesty from traditional inns to the snowcapped Japanese Alps. Discover Geishas strolling beneath blossoming cherry blossoms and witness neon lights shining above a traditional sushi restaurant. From artisan masters to bullet trains, you will discover the picturesque in Japan.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Tokyo – Welcome to Japan!
Your plane arrives in Japan in mid-afternoon. In the arrivals lobby, our airport representative greets you. While at the airport, you activate your Japan Rail Pass, giving you unlimited access to Japan during your 12-day adventure. You travel from the airport by train or shuttle bus, arriving at your hotel in the early evening.
For the rest of the day, you are free to relax. Dinner this evening is on your own. Our representative is happy to tell you about dining opportunities close to your hotel.
What's Included:
Day 2
Tokyo – One Metropolis, Many Angles
Day 3
Tokyo – Beyond the City Limits
Day 4
Matsumoto – Imposing Castles
Day 5
Matsumoto – Photogenic Wildlife
Day 6
Takayama – A City Frozen in Time
Day 7
Shirakawago – A Blend of Past and Present
Day 8
Kyoto – Contemporary Art, Delectable Sushi
Day 9
Kyoto – Elegant Temples and Breathtaking Nature
Day 10
Hakone – Panoramic Views
Day 11
Tokyo – Stunning Vistas
Day 12
Tokyo – Still Much More to Capture
Trip Highlights
- Spend several nights in ryokans, traditional Japanese inns with tatami floors and onsens, thermal hot springs
- Enjoy a guided bike tour of Kyoto, allowing you to enjoy the visually stunning region at your own pace
- Photograph the Japanese Snow Monkeys as they enjoy a leisurely rest in naturally-occurring thermal hot springs
- Ride the famous Shinkansen, a high-speed bullet train that is able to run at speeds up to 200 mph
- Embark on tours throughout Matsumoto, home to the “Crow Castle” and learn about the history of the Samurai
- Capture the image of Tokyo's fashion culture when visiting Harajuku, a district famous for showcasing young men and women dressed in the wildest of fashions
- Visit Shirakawago’s homes to find gassho-zukuri , thick thatched roofs designed to hold up the weight of the heavy winter snow that collects each year
Detailed Description
Your tour begins in Tokyo, the largest city in the world. There is no shortage of photographic opportunities here, from peaceful shrines to the vibrant youth culture. With a guide and on your own, you see what makes this city one of the most talked about places on Earth.
Your journey then extends to Matsumoto, home to an imposing medieval castle nicknamed ‘crow castle’ due its broad black roof. Within, learn about the daily lives of samurai and the shoguns who ruled Japan hundreds of years ago. The castle grounds are strikingly beautiful, especially in the spring, as millions of cherry blossoms turn the area into a paradise.
While in Matsumoto, take a day trip to Jigokudani Park, home to Japan’s famous snow monkeys. Living around humans for so long, they are quite tame and are used to having people take their picture. You may inadvertently make a few monkey friends if you should bring anything they can climb onto.
Takayama is buried deep within the Japanese Alps, and until recently was cut off from most of Japan during the winter months. This isolation has ensured that Takayama has not lost its small town charm. Also, with blocks of preserved city streets to explore, you feel transported back into the past.
Shirakawago is an even more secluded village, where traditional construction methods have produced some of Japan’s most beautiful homes. Not only do you find yourself taking pictures, but you also briefly join their way of life as you stay in a centuries old ryokan, or Japanese inn, for the night.
Though you only have half a day in Kanazawa, the city’s efficient transportation system means you can see the best sites. The city is home to one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan, and the seafood is second to none. You leave this city feeling at peace, and your stomach full of delicious sushi.
Kyoto is home to more than 2,000 shrines and temples. With a guide and on your own, see the most beautiful sites in the city on foot and by bicycle. There is plenty of time to take many splendid shots of Kyoto, as your guide knows how to avoid the crowds and make sure you have the best experience possible.
From Kyoto, you head to Hakone, home to Mt. Fuji and rolling hills of densely packed trees. In the shadow of the mountain, have a traditional Japanese dinner and soak in relaxing onsen baths. The next morning, tour the area by ropeway or lake cruise. If the weather is just right, you may get the perfect picture of the mountain. Your final night in spent back in Tokyo.
This tour is perfect for couples of all ages. It is best taken in the spring or fall when Japan’s natural beauty is at its peak, and the temperature is just right for outdoor activity.
Starting Price
$7,800 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.84 stars based on 675 reviews.
Our trip to Japan was well planned and well thought out. Zicasso's travel designer made us feel very well taken care of. We are grateful to the travel designer for his effort in putting together this wonderful trip for us. We loved interacting with our excellent guides. Their expertise truly enhanced our experiences. All our travel assistants were extremely helpful and very thoughtful.
Reviewed By Alok G.
Yet another fantastic family trip, courtesy of a Zicasso partner! My family of six just returned from our 10-day trip to Japan, as coordinated with Zicasso's travel company, and we have nothing but wonderful stories and memories to report!
Our agent arranged every detail to perfection, from transportation to guides to activities. All four kids and both parents had a fantastic experience. The guides he selected were incredibly knowledgeable and personable, and the hotels and transportation were spot on. I have nothing to say but that it was a seamless, A+ experience.
Thank you to our agent and travel companyI!
Reviewed By Sara G.
Our travel expert was professional, accurate, timely, and patient. It was wonderful working with her. Zicasso really made creating a customized itinerary effortless.
Reviewed By Suzy A.
Zicasso's travel designer had less than three months to bring an amazing trip to life. Our goal was to experience the history, art, culture, and people of Japan. Mission accomplished!
There were so many highlights shared by our exceptional guides and drivers, who felt like friends and family by the trip's end. Some experiences surprised us with their creativity, joy, and value (slapstick sumo skits in Tokyo, the samurai sword experience, sushi class, open-air and Venetian glass museums in Hakone, and especially the Himeji Castle master carpenter tutorial). Though in our late 70s, walking five to seven miles per day and climbing 766-oot sacred Mount Inari weren't an issue.
The veracity of this review is paramount... the only experience we would forgo was spelunking (crawling) in the cold, wet lava cave, as in our ignorance, we were out of our element. We found joints we did not know we had! We are focused on collecting memories, not things. This fabulous trip achieved that goal. Thank you!
Reviewed By William H.
I was very pleased with our trip, the accommodations, and the personal touch. Zicasso's travel specialist was excellent and even when we had some hiccups during the trip, he was there to make an adjustment. I was very pleased. Some really nit-picky tips for future travelers from out of town.
The Shinkansen is a fun ride and everyone should do it. However, when you need multiple tickets at a time, remind the passenger that you put all the tickets into the ticket turnstile at one time, not individually.
We had to visit in July, but I think the best time to visit Japan would be in the three other seasons because of the heat and humidity (with the exception of Hokkaido).
There are still some places that need cash, like public baths etc. I would carry a little on you. Also, visiting the public baths was one of the truly authentic Japanese experiences we had. If a traveler is into the authentic experience, don't underestimate that experience.
You can get "shrined out." They are great and we appreciated every one. We even caught a monk actively praying at a fairly remote one, which was tremendous. I'm not sure if it's possible to know approximate times, but seeing this happen as a traveler was immensely gratifying. It was 6.30am on a Saturday. So if there is a way to figure out an approximate schedule, you will have elevated your travel game above all the rest. It would be a differentiator for you.
Letting travelers know about the bento boxes and grab-and-go foods is a plus. I was so impressed by them and that info should be shared with every traveler, especially the kiddos.
The Japanese do some things really well and a side list of them might be helpful for tours. For example, we stopped for some anime magazines, kitchen knives, street food, and a baseball game, baths, and hot springs. I'd lean into this and provide some lists for people to pick from, especially the kitchen knives.
Explain the concept of luggage forwarding and the approximate costs. It's a uniquely Japanese thing, and it's awesome and affordable, but needs some getting used to.
Google Translate and the app to read the signs (I forgot its name) is a must. Share the links early and often.
I have so many more ideas, but we will start there. I hope it helps.
Reviewed By Matthew F.
Zicasso's travel agent was absolutely fantastic! She created a trip of a lifetime! Furthermore, when our plans changed or we needed something, she was there and helped with ease. We would work with her again, and Zicasso, in a heartbeat.
Reviewed By Erica M.