Cultural Photography Tours & Trips in Honshu

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.