Cultural Photography Tours & Trips in Honshu

Spend 14 days photographing Honshu's most famous sites, starting with Tokyo's neon-lit Shibuya Crossing and moving to the UNESCO-listed floating torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island. You'll capture sacred deer wandering through Nara Park at Todai-ji Temple, frame the gassho-zukuri thatched-roof houses in Shirakawa-go village, and shoot the vermilion torii gates that wind up Mount Inari at Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto.

This 10-day photography tour covers Honshu Island from Senso-ji Temple along Nakamise Street to the UNESCO-listed village of Shirakawago's traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses. Photograph Kyoto's gilded Kinkaku-ji Temple, shoot the 10,000 vermillion torii gates at Fushimi Inari's forested hillside.

Photograph the UNESCO-listed Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion and capture Ryoan-ji Temple's minimalist Zen rock garden symbolizing infinity and contemplation. Document sunset views from Naoshima Island featuring Tadao Ando's Chichu Art Museum housing Monet's Water Lilies, then shoot volcanic steam vents at Owakudani Valley in Hakone reached by ropeway, with Mount Fuji above Lake Ashi's waters.

Photograph Meiji Shrine's architecture and Tokyo's contrasts from the observation deck of Tokyo Skytree, then capture Pure Water Temple's mountain streams and Heian Shrine's bright vermillion columns with jade-tiled roofs. You'll also shoot Hiroshima's floating Itsukushima Shrine rising from the sea in Shinden palace style and document the traditional Hida folk village against the Japanese Alps.

Photograph Honshu's contrasts from Tokyo Sky Tree's observation deck, through Arashiyama's towering bamboo grove, to Inuyama Castle's historic timber structures. Capture the Philosopher's Walk during cherry blossom season in Kyoto, Todaiji Temple's massive Buddha in Nara, and Owakudani's steaming geysers near Hakone.

Photograph the waters surrounding Hakone during a pirate ship cruise with views of Mount Fuji, then capture the vermillion gates of Fushimi-Inari winding up the mountainside. Document Kyoto's Golden Temple reflecting in still waters and frame Arashiyama's bamboo forest paths in natural light. Shoot Osaka Castle's stone walls and moats, see Hiroshima's A-Bomb Dome memorial.

Head up to Mt Fuji's 5th Station at 2,400 meters for that perfect symmetrical shot, then make your way to Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto where thousands of vermilion torii gates climb through the forested hills. You'll get great photos of the massive 15-meter bronze Buddha at Todai-ji Temple in Nara, and Kinkaku-ji's golden pavilion reflecting in the pond is pretty spectacular too.

Arakurayama Sengen Park gives you those classic shots of pagodas with Mount Fuji behind them, and you'll also photograph the 20-meter Shiraito Falls plus Lake Kawaguchiko's reflections. The Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama makes a great frame, then walk through Tenryuji Temple's bamboo forest and shoot the red torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine. Kinkakuji Temple's Golden Pavilion is perfect for garden photography, and Tokyo Skytree offers big panoramic views across the region.

In Kyoto, you'll photograph Fushimi Inari Shrine's vermillion torii gates along with the gold-leafed Kinkakuji Temple and its reflection gardens, then capture Tokyo's urban contrasts from the 634-meter Tokyo Skytree observation deck. The Hida Folk Village Museum displays 30 relocated Edo-period houses from 1603-1868, showing traditional life from that era. At Jigokudani, you'll photograph snow monkeys against steaming natural hot springs in the forested mountains, and see Nikko's ornate Nikko-Toshogu Temple featuring the dragon-sound room. Accommodations include a traditional Ryokan stay in Ikaho with evening onsen access.