Japan Dream Photo Tour

Join Elia Locardi and Naomi Locardi in 2018 on an incredible Japan Photo Tour, during the Spring Cherry Blossom Blooming season.

Travel with a group of fellow photographers, as we work together to capture the beauty of this incredible country during an amazingly beautiful time of year. Spring in Japan is a stunningly beautiful time to visit. Throughout the trip you will be given hands-on group and individual photo education.

This is one of the absolute most beautiful times to visit and photograph Japan’s ancient castles, fascinating landscapes, serene shrines, iconic pagodas, and of course some of the most beautiful cherry blossom viewing areas on the planet.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: Tokyo, Hiroshima & Miyajima, Kyoto, Osaka, Kurashiki, Himeji, Nara, and much much more.

Accommodation:

Japanese Style Ryokan and Western style Hotels

Transportation:

Bus, Minibus, local bus, tram, train & walking

Physical Rating: Average

This tour doesn’t include any difficult hiking, but does require a fair amount of walking. Please be sure to have comfortable shoes.

Trip type: Small Group

Small group experience (max 12)

Tour Length: 13 Days

March 29th – April 10th, 2018 (with arrival & departure)

Location: Japan

Tokyo, Hiroshima & Miyajima, Kyoto, Osaka, Kurashiki, Himeji, Nara, and much much more.

Tour Price: $7,495 USD

$1000 deposit required to reserve your spot.
Balance due 60 days in advance (Jan 29th, 2018)

Tour Leaders *

Register for the Japan photo tour

Select your room type and payment amount below, then add it to your cart and finalize your registration and payment.

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Japan Photo Tour Itinerary

Trip Highlights:

Tokyo, Hiroshima & Miyajima, Kyoto, Osaka, Kurashiki, Himeji, Nara, and much much more.

About the Trip:

Our tour introduces you to the rich tapestry of Japan, taking you ‘off the beaten track’, to introduce you to its hidden gems. We begin with a stay Miyajima, an island considered to be so sacred that it’s famous Itsukushima shrine and Torii are built over the water rather than on the island itself. We’ll stop in the historic fishing town of Tomonoura before continuing on to Kurashiki, with its historic Bikan area of preserved warehouses and merchant homes. A night in Himeji allow us time to discover the stunning UNESCO World Heritage site of Himeji Castle.

We also visit ancient Nara, the spiritual capital of Japan. Your guided day of sightseeing and photographing in Nara introduces you to Nara’s temples and religious significance. Deer, as spiritual messengers of the gods, are allowed to roam freely in the temple district. We also visit Osaka – Japan’s down to earth ‘second city’ before continuing on to Kyoto.

Kyoto is surely the spiritual heart of Japan – its capital for more than a thousand years, and the root of the traditional Japanese aesthetic. The city is home to more than 1,600 Buddhist temples, hundreds of Shinto shrines, imperial palaces and formal gardens. There will be ample time to explore this historical city, and also to enjoy wonderful Kyoto cuisine, with its refined preparation and artistic presentation.

We finish our journey with a stay in Tokyo, the modern yet still very Japanese capital, with its mix of neon-lit streets, high rise buildings, and traditional neighborhoods that lie hidden behind her glossy veneer.

What's Included and Excluded in the Photo Tour Fee

What’s Included:

Arrival Airport Transfer

12 Nights Lodging

Stays will be in comfortable and clean Hotels and one traditional Ryokan

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Includes dinner on arrival day and breakfast on group departure day.

Guides & Special Tours

All Tickets & Entrance Fees

For planned group activities

Transportation During Photo Tour

What’s Excluded:

Airfare to and from Japan

Tour begins in Hiroshima (airport code: HIJ) Group transfer is arranged on group arrival day from Hiroshima Airport.

Snacks & Drinks outside of normal meals

Alcoholic Beverages (outside glass of wine with dinner)

Tips for guides, drivers, bellhops etc.

Departure transfer / train ticket

International Medical & Travel Insurance Coverage

*Read About Minimum Coverage Requirements & Suggested Inclusions Here*

Supplemental Fees

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: $650 USD

Prices are based on double-occupancy unless noted. Single-occupancy rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis (in most places) and subject to a supplemental fee. We try to accommodate participants who request single accommodations, as well as those looking for a roommate. If a single room is requested, or if we are unable to find a suitable roommate, you will be required to pay the supplement.

SMALL GROUP ADDITIONAL CHARGE: $500 USD

Photo Tour price is in US Dollars based upon a minimum of 9 paying participants. In the unlikely event the photo tour does not fill, there is a small surcharge of $500 USD for 5-8 paying participants.

Behind the Scenes and Participant Images

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Cancellation Policy

Your deposit is a firm commitment, and will be subject to a cancellation fee, which is why we recommend trip insurance. Please refer to the Payments, Cancellations, and Refunds section in our terms and conditions to read the full details of our policies. Please do not make air travel arrangements until checking with us first.

Disclaimer

While these descriptions represent the photo tour’s planned itinerary, we reserve the right to revise it without notice as we see fit. Details on this page are also subject to change without notice. We reserve the right to cancel the tour if the minimum number of participants is not met. And while we don’t anticipate this happening, we reserve the right to adjust the fees for this photo tour due to factors outside of our control, such as fluctuations in currency rates, political or governmental action, new applicable taxes, and such related issues. Please do not purchase air travel before confirming with us.

Participants are expected to be in fair health and be capable of spending the days walking around the various areas while carrying their own equipment. * Tour leaders subject to change.