Japan in Bloom — Sakura Photography Tour

Name: Japan in Bloom — Sakura Photography Tour
Brand: Daniel Kordan Photography
SKU: 718
Availability: InStock

Likely to sell out soon

Free Tutorials

Perfect Photo Workshop

Fully customizable

Travel details

Dates

Time

--:--

Travelers

From: Tobu Hotel Kawagoe

Description

Summary

Tour starts

Tokyo, Japan

Duration:

10 days & 9 nights

Ending place

Tokyo, Japan

Languages:

English

Difficulty:

Easy

Available:

March

Minimum age:

None

301 reviews

Description

There are few moments in the natural world as fleeting and breathtaking as cherry blossom season in Japan. This carefully crafted 10-day photography tour takes you on a visual journey through some of the country's most iconic and lesser-known sakura locations — from the Edo-era streets of Kawagoe and the sacred island of Miyajima, through the ancient spiritual heartlands of Nara and Mount Yoshino, to the mirror-still lakes beneath the majestic silhouette of Mount Fuji.

Every location has been handpicked for both its beauty and its photographic potential — misty waterways framed by falling petals, ancient weeping cherry trees reflected in still water, deer wandering beneath blossoms in centuries-old parks, and the iconic vermilion torii of Miyajima rising from the sea at golden hour.

This is more than a cherry blossom trip. It's an immersive journey into Japanese culture, light and visual storytelling. Between shoots, you'll unwind in traditional ryokans, savour regional cuisine and soak in the unique tranquillity that defines Japan in spring. Andy Marty will guide you through each session with expert insight — helping you find your frame, read the light and return home with images that truly capture the magic of this extraordinary season.

Included

Twin room accommodation with daily breakfast

Shinkansen train tickets and comfortable vehicle logistics throughout the tour

Expert English-speaking photography guide for the entire journey

Local guide and official tour company support

Show moreShow less

Activities

Sight Seeing

Photo Tours

Photo Workshop

Show moreShow less

Daily itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 - March 30 | Arrival in Kawagoe

Arrive at Narita or Haneda Airport and make your way independently to Tobu Hotel Kawagoe, conveniently located right next to the station. The journey takes approximately 2 hours from Narita by train, 1.5 hours from Haneda, or 1 hour 10 minutes by the Haneda Airport Limousine Bus. Check in any time from 2:00 PM and take some time to rest and settle in before joining the group for a welcome dinner at 7:00 PM. Overnight: Tobu Hotel Kawagoe

Day 2

Day 2 - Kawagoe — Canals, Old Streets & Cherry Blossoms

After breakfast, we head to the Shingashi Sakura Channel — a peaceful waterway lined with cherry trees, perfect for low-angle compositions with rippling petals and mossy embankments. As boats begin navigating the river, we move on to the charming Taisho Roman Yume-dori, Kawagoe's historic old street, with time to explore freely and enjoy lunch at one of the local restaurants. In the afternoon, we visit the Motoara River Cherry Blossom Avenue and the Sakitama Kofun Ancient Tomb Park — a beautiful hilltop sakura spot away from the Tokyo crowds, offering a serene and unhurried photography experience. Overnight: Tobu Hotel Kawagoe

Day 3

Day 3 - Himeji Castle & Arrival on Miyajima Island

After breakfast and check-out, we board the train and shinkansen towards western Japan, with a stop at Himeji to photograph Japan's most celebrated feudal castle. We continue by shinkansen to Hiroshima, then take the ferry to the enchanting island of Miyajima. Arriving in the mid-afternoon, we check in to our ryokan on the island before heading to the beach as the tide ebbs for the iconic O-Torii gate shoot — long exposures rendering the sea silky around the gate's ancient pillars, with cherry branches framing the scene. We stay through golden hour before returning to explore the island's charming family-owned seafood restaurants. Overnight: Ryokan, Miyajima Island

Day 4

Day 4 - Miyajima Morning & Iwakuni's Kintai-kyo Bridge

Rise early to explore the island before the first ferry arrivals — a magical time to photograph the deer, temples and sakura in peaceful solitude. After breakfast, we take the ferry to Miyajimaguchi and head to Iwakuni to photograph the stunning five-arched Kintai-kyo Bridge, its elegant reflection framed by riverside cherry trees. We enjoy lunch beneath the blossoms before returning to Miyajima for blue hour, with an optional evening walk to the lantern-lit stone stairways of Daisho-in Temple. Overnight: Ryokan, Miyajima Island

Day 5

Day 5 - Final Miyajima Dawn & Transfer to Nara

One last pre-dawn session on the beach for a torii silhouette before breakfast and check-out. We travel via Hiroshima and Shin-Osaka towards Nara, with an optional stop in Kurashiki — a beautifully preserved historic city with centuries-old buildings, a scenic canal and a wonderful light for afternoon photography. Overnight: Candeo Hotels Nara Kashihara

Day 6

Day 6 - Nara's Deer, Temples & Ancient Cherry Trees

We start before sunrise at Nara Park, photographing deer nibbling petals beneath low-hanging blossoms — one of the most iconic and endearing scenes Japan has to offer. After returning to the hotel for breakfast, we spend the day exploring some of the most beautiful sakura spots around Nara, including the terraced gardens of Hasedera Temple in Sakurai, the hilltop pagoda and cherry clusters of Tsubosaka-dera, and the awe-inspiring 800-year-old Matabei Zakura — a magnificent weeping cherry that becomes a sculptural silhouette against the fading sky. Please note: exact locations may be adjusted based on bloom conditions and weather. Overnight: Candeo Hotels Nara Kashihara

Day 7

Day 7 - Mount Yoshino & South Kyoto

We depart at dawn for Mount Yoshino, arriving before sunrise to photograph the empty pathways winding through one of Japan's most celebrated cherry blossom landscapes. We work our way from the upper slopes of Kami-Senbon, compressing rows of blossoms into soft pastel ribbons with a telephoto lens, down to the middle groves of Naka-Senbon for wider valley perspectives. After returning to Nara for a rest, we head to South Kyoto in the afternoon to explore the quieter, lesser-visited quarters of the city — traditional boats navigating the Fushimi waterways and the atmospheric Fushimi-Momoyama Castle on the hillside above. Overnight: Candeo Hotels Nara Kashihara

Day 8

Day 8 - Shinkansen to Fuji & Lake Tanuki

After breakfast and check-out, we board the shinkansen towards the Fuji region, transferring to our lakeside resort at Lake Tanuki. We head straight to the northern shore for an afternoon shoot with Mount Fuji rising majestically in the background, foreground petals catching the soft backlight of the late afternoon sun. We stay through golden hour before returning to the resort for dinner. Overnight: Kyukamura Fuji, Lake Tanuki

Day 9

Day 9 - Lakes, Villages & Mount Fuji Reflections

We begin before dawn at Lake Tanuki for sunrise, before heading to Ryugabuchi to photograph Fuji rising above a beautiful river foreground. After breakfast back at the resort, we explore the reconstructed thatched-roof village of Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nemba on Lake Saiko — a wonderfully photogenic setting with blossom-draped eaves and sweeping village panoramas. For sunset, we choose between several locations depending on bloom conditions, seeking out calm lakeside reflections and overhanging blossoms in the last light of the day. Overnight: Kyukamura Fuji, Lake Tanuki

Day 10

Day 10 - April 8 | Farewell

We meet one final sunrise at Lake Tanuki with sweeping views of Mount Fuji before a leisurely buffet breakfast. We then transfer to Tokyo, where the tour concludes at Tokyo Station at approximately 1:00–2:00 PM.

Good to know

Accommodation

March 30 – April 1 — Tobu Hotel Kawagoe, Kawagoe (2 nights)

April 1 – 3 — Iwaso Ryokan, Miyajima (2 nights)

April 3 – 6 — Candeo Hotels Nara Kashihara, Nara (3 nights)

April 6 – 8 — Kyukamura Fuji, Lake Tanuki (2 nights)

Cancellation and Refund Policy

We strongly recommend you to get a Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance after booking your trip. If you cancel and the Workshop is otherwise filled, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $300 service charge. If you cancel and the Workshop does not fill, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of the Workshop:

Greater than 90 days from the start date of the Workshop: full refund minus $300 service fee.

75 days or more: 75% refund

60 days or more: 50% refund

Less than 60 days: no refund

Refunds will be paid by the same method that the original payment was made.

Departure Schedule

30 March – 8 April, 2027 - guided by Andy Marty

Guides

Andy Marty

Originally from Australia, Andy Marty has called Dubai home since 2009. With a passion for travel at the heart of his work, Andy uses photography as a means to inspire others to explore the world — capturing everything from the bustling bazaars of India and the sweeping landscapes of Iceland to the iconic skyline of New York City.

Over the years, Andy has built a diverse portfolio spanning cityscapes, wildlife, portraiture and time-lapse, creating content for internationally recognised brands including Audi, Fairmont Group, One&Only, Visit Rwanda and flydubai. He is a firm believer that the best photographs deserve to be printed and hung on the wall — and he shoots with that in mind.

Beyond the lens, Andy is dedicated to sharing his expertise through workshops and photo tours, working with Nikon, Iceland Photo Tours, Daniel Kordan Photography and PhotoPills. He is a brand ambassador for Nikon Middle East and Manfrotto.

Through his Dubai-based agency, The Travel Hub, Andy and his team deliver end-to-end content and strategy for travel brands — from stunning imagery and social media reels to bespoke Virtual Reality experiences.

In a world overflowing with images, Andy's focus remains the same: capturing that perfect shot.