Photography in Japan: A trip from Tokyo to Nagano with Teo

You will be walking 10 minutes to the welcome dinner at a local Japanese izakaya. Your meal will typically be a set menu with water included. Additional food and beverages at your own expense. Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten, therefore vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

After our good welcome dinner I would like to invite you to the first photo-walk. If you're tired from the travel, I totally get that, nobody is obligated to join of course. However seeing as we've got a free evening I think it'd be great to embark on a photo-walk before heading to bed. Depending on our location I will show you a neat place that I think is cool area to shoot in Tokyo. So pack some high ISO film or your digital camera and we'll go on a approximately 1 hour long walk together.

Overnight in Tokyo

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/American, or buffet style. Park Hotel Tokyo offers a buffet and a la carte menu with a combination of Japanese and Western Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel. Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten, therefore vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

From the hotel you’ll walk 10 minutes to the nearest metro station and then take a 15 minute metro train ride to Asakusa. You’ll then walk 5 minutes to reach Kaminarimon (Temple Sensoji entrance gates). Once an entertainment hub during the Edo era, featuring traditional theater like Kabuki, Asakusa has evolved from its historical role and is now a lively area filled with charming shops and restaurants. Nestled in the Taito ward of Tokyo, Japan, Asakusa seamlessly blends tradition with modernity. Its centerpiece is the iconic Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple dating back to the 7th century. The district is famous for Nakamise-dori, a bustling shopping street that leads to the temple, offering an array of traditional goods, souvenirs, and mouth watering street food. Be sure to bring cash for souvenirs and food!

After visiting Asakusa, you will travel across Tokyo on a 50 minute metro train ride to Meiji Shrine. Dedicated to the deified spirits of the former Emperor and his wife, Meiji Shrine is one of the most famous Shinto shrines in Japan. Enter through the 12-meter-high Torii gate into the tranquil grounds, where you'll wash your hands as per Shinto ritual of cleansing before entering this sacred space. Observe Shinto rituals and prayers as you walk through the area, connecting with the traditions of this unique culture. Then, you will have free time to explore one of the most funky streets of Tokyo: Takeshita-dori in Harajuku, a bustling and vibrant street that epitomizes Japan's unique and eclectic youth culture. Lined with an array of quirky and fashionable boutiques, Takeshita-dori is a haven for fashion enthusiasts seeking the latest trends, bold styles, and kawaii (cute) fashion. The street is also known for its diverse range of themed cafes, offering visitors a chance to experience the whimsical and imaginative side of Japanese pop culture.

From Takeshita-dori in Harajuku, you’ll take an 8 minute metro train to Shibuya. The world-famous Shibuya Crossing, often referred to as the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world, is a mesmerizing spectacle as a sea of people converges from all directions. Surrounding the crossing, Shibuya is a hub of fashion, entertainment, and youth culture. The fashionable Shibuya 109 building stands tall as a symbol of the district's trendsetting fashion scene, offering a myriad of trendy boutiques and cutting-edge styles. Beyond fashion, Shibuya is also home to vibrant nightlife, trendy cafes, and a diverse array of shops and restaurants. You’ll then take a 25 minute metro train ride back to Shimbashi and walk 10 minutes to the hotel.

Shinjuku is like the heart of Tokyo - its train station is known to be the busiest train station in the world. It can basically be split in two sides, the business/governmental side and the shopping, entertainment and night-life side. Seeing Shinjuku by day and night are two completely different experiences, the latter of which I would like to invite you to on this evening. This is a part of Tokyo that many photographers including myself have high up on their favourites-list of locations in Tokyo. After exploring Shibuya, we can go to Shinjuku fairly easily seeing as it's just a couple train stops away. We can spontaneously decide whether we want to indulge in the somewhat crazy experience of using the Yamanote line in between these two stations or just walk 45 minutes. In any case, have your cameras ready, this is going to be a fun one! At the end of this evening we'll take the metro back to the hotel.

Overnight in Tokyo

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/American, or buffet style. Park Hotel Tokyo offers a buffet and a la carte menu with a combination of Japanese and Western Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel. Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten, therefore vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

This morning you’ll take a 30 minute metro train ride to Yanaka for a food tour. You will explore the back streets and hidden gems in Yanaka, a rare taste of Tokyo's past. The local guide will take you through the charming area of Yanaka - one of the few remaining districts in Tokyo where the shitamachi (downtown) atmosphere- a feeling of Tokyo from past decades, still survives.You will have the chance to try local street snacks, stop by shops that are over 100 years old, see local shrines and temples and enjoy a regional lunch from the South of Japan, Kyushu, before concluding the tour with a traditional tea ceremony. You will be making 6 food stops trying drinks and snacks that locals love such as senbei, menchikatsu, tayaki. You’ll then take a 30 minute metro train ride back to the hotel. Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten, therefore vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

Lunch as a part of the Yanaka Food Tour is included. You’ll be making 6 food stops, trying 10-12 local dishes and drinks. Note that the menu may change depending on availability and seasonality. Additional food and beverages at your own expense. Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten, therefore vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

You’ll check out of the hotel and take your luggage with you on a 15 minute metro train ride to Tokyo station. You’ll then board a Shinkasen bullet train from Tokyo to Nagano.

This evening we'll have to go find our dinner individually so I suggest that we explore the centre of Nagano city and find ourselves some dinner. After that I would like to invite you to spend a little more time just exploring the downtown with our cameras.

Overnight in Nagano.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/American, or buffet style. Park Hotel Tokyo offers a buffet and a la carte menu with a combination of Japanese and Western Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel. Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten, therefore vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

You’ll start the morning off with a 30 minute walk through Nagano passing through Nakamise street with shops on your way up to Zenko-ji Temple (You’ll also have an option to take a 15 minute metro train ride with a 10-15 minute walk to the temple). Having proudly hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1998, this city is steeped in both modern sports history and ancient cultural significance. One of its most renowned landmarks is the venerable Zenko-ji Temple, a sacred site with a history spanning nearly 1400 years. The Main Hall of this spiritual haven is not only a testament to architectural prowess but is also designated as a National Treasure. Zenko-ji Temple is a repository of legends and myths, offering visitors a profound glimpse into the rich tapestry of Japanese history and spirituality. Take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the tranquil ambiance of the temple, exploring its sacred halls and absorbing the cultural significance that permeates the air. As you venture through the temple grounds, meander along the surrounding streets that lead to the main gate. Here, you'll discover quaint shops offering souvenirs and street food. You’ll then walk 30 minutes back to the hotel / or take the metro train. Remember to bring cash with you!

With the afternoon open on this day I will of course gladly lead a photo-walk to further explore Nagano city. Nagano is not a city I'm familiar with and so I suggest that we simply go for it and see where our walk takes us.

Overnight in Nagano.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/American, or buffet style. Park Hotel Tokyo offers a buffet and a la carte menu with a combination of Japanese and Western Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel. Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten, therefore vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

Take a private transfer from the hotel in Nagano to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park.

Once you arrive in Jigokudani, to reach the monkeys, you will need to walk through the forest for 30 minutes (an easy and paved walk). This park is renowned for its resident Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys, who gracefully navigate the snow-covered landscape and indulge in the park's natural hot springs. You can witness these charming primates soaking in the warm waters, providing an extraordinary and heartwarming spectacle. You’ll typically see them soaking during the autumn and winter seasons, during the hotter season they will usually just be playing around the area). You’ll then walk 30 minutes back through the forest to be picked up by the private bus

You’ll then take a 20 minute private transfer to Yudanaka Onsen Town. Surrounded by picturesque landscapes, this onsen town is perfect for those seeking a rejuvenating escape. Yudanaka is particularly famous for its historic ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) and public baths, where visitors can immerse themselves in the restorative effects of the natural hot springs. You'll have free time to enjoy the foot bath just near the train station or walk up to the Sekai Heiwa Kannon, a 25-meter-tall bronze statue of Kannon, goddess of mercy. Note that if you want to visit an onsen, depending on the onsen, travelers with tattoos are not permitted. You will also need to be naked at the onsen so if you are not comfortable, you can opt for the foot bath and enjoy exploring the town. The onsen might have limited capacity to take the entire group, so shifts might be required.

Take a private transfer from Yudanaka Onsen Town back to the hotel in Nagano.

Overnight in Nagano.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/American, or buffet style. Nagano Metropolitan Hotel offers a buffet menu with a combination of Japanese and Western Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel. Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten, therefore vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

After breakfast, you’ll check out of the hotel and board a Shinkansen bullet train from Nagano back to Tokyo. Once arrive in Tokyo, you’ll take a 15 min metro ride to Shimbashi and a short 5 min walk to the hotel.

You will be walking 10 minutes to the farewell dinner at a local Japanese izakaya. Your meal will typically be a set menu with water included. Additional food and beverages at your own expense. Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten, therefore vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

On our last afternoon I would like to invite you to one more photo-walk in the west of Tokyo where I will show you around some of the more quiet and "normal" places.

Overnight in Tokyo.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/American, or buffet style. Park Hotel Tokyo offers a buffet and a la carte menu with a combination of Japanese and Western Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel. Please note that Japanese cuisine frequently uses ingredients with animal products and/or gluten, therefore vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free diets CANNOT be accommodated.

Some of the group might have to leave us on this day already. Personally I recommend staying a bit longer if possible to extend the trip beyond the pre-planned part that Trovatrip organises. If anyone stays longer, I will be available for any activity in Tokyo on this day - we can make a plan the day prior or even in the morning.