Japan Winter Workshop
30 January - 9 February 2020 (SOLD OUT)
Duration
11 Days / 10 Nights
Start/Finish
Tokyo
Group Size
Max 6 participants
Skill
All skill levels
Fitness Difficulty
Easy / Moderate
Overview
Type of Tour – Small Group
Photographers - Andy Yee and Paul Pichugin
Cost – $8,500 (AUS); €5,250 (EURO); EARLY BIRD BEFORE 31st July 2019
$8,900 (AUS); €5,500 (EURO) From 1st August 2019
From the majestic Mt. Fuji to the adorable Snow Monkeys of Jigokudani and the fantastic festivals in Hokkaido, winter is the perfect season to capture the beauty of Japan.
We will embark on an eleven-day intensive photography workshop covering the most photographic sites, from buzzing cities to the calm atmospheric landscapes, stretching the length of Japan. Lead by landscape award-winning photographer Andy Yee, and accompanied by renown travel photographer Paul Pichigun, this tour will push your photography to the next level. The intimate group size is designed for personal attention to develop your photographic vision.
Highlights
* Tokyo streets and skyline sunset
* Mt Fuji
* Matsumoto Castle
* Takayama + Hida Folk Village
* Snow monkeys
* Sapporo Snow Festival
* Biei landscapes
* Shirogane waterfall
* Otaru Snow Path Festival
* Ebisu Rocks + Nikka Distillery
* The food!
* The culture!
Come and join us on a Japan winter workshop for some of the most rewarding and unique opportunities for any photographer!
Japan Winter Itinerary
Days 1 & 2 — Tokyo
The trip commences in Tokyo and takes in the bustling street life of Japan's very own megalopolis. At this time of year its possible to capture “Diamond Fuji” with the Tokyo skyline that shows the incredible expanse of this modern city. We will also visit some of the picturesque traditional areas and temples at times which suit our goals to shoot without the crowds.
Day 3 — Mt Fuji
A drive to Mt Fuji and the surrounding 5 lakes offer a variety of beautiful lakes and landscapes all under the background of the majestic Fuji-san.
Day 4 — Takayama
We will then head north to Matsomoto where the “Black Castle” resides in the centre of town. With its surrounds covered in snow, its a great opportunity to see one of the best preserved castles in all of Japan.
Days 5 & 6 — Jigokudani
A day with the snow monkeys up in the hills of Jigokudani is something you won’t see anywhere else in the world. Photographing the snow monkeys in their natural winter routine of keeping warm while sitting in hot springs in the snow is something unforgettable. We will then fly to the northern island of Hokkaido.
Days 7 & 8 — Sapporo + Biei
The largest snow festival in Japan lights up in Sapporo at night, we then head out into the winter wilderness of the Biei area and its snow covered landscapes.
Days 9 & 10 — Otaru
The Otaru Snow Path festival is a held in a beautiful small fishing village which lights the canal and decorates areas around the village with ice installations. It really is a very picturesque and a beautiful time to be in Japan with a camera!
We then conclude our tour with a flight returning us from Sapporo to Tokyo on the last day.
The 11 day tour coverages a wide spectrum of photography and will be an unforgettable cultural experience. The trip will allow enough opportunities to capture key moments and also cover editing techniques and processes to help you get the most value out of the trip.
Japanese Cuisine and Accomodation
We understand getting the photo into the card is only half of the battle. During the workshop, there will be time to go over post-processing to help you create images that pack a punch. Our photographers will sit down with you to assist your selection process, Lightroom and Photoshop workflows and techniques, and develop your best images, so you can showcase the finest Japan has to offer.
The trip is suitable for the photographer with basic knowlege through to expert level.
Group size will be maximum 6 people. Cost will cover 10 nights accommodation, domestic flights from Tokyo to Sapporo (return), ground transport, park entrances fees and all breakfast + dinner meals.
Japan is a gastronomic destination in and of itself. With such a wide and varied selection to choose from, you will learn that Japanese food is more than just Sushi. From succulent seafood to giant bowls of Raman, crispy tempura, or Kansai Okonomiyaki, you will come to appreciate all of what Japan has to offer your palate. When we aren't leaving in the dark to shoot sunrise, breakfasts will be provided. All dinners will be offered, but lunch and drinks will be up to you. We will be staying in three-star or greater hotels during our trip. We will spend one night in a Ryokan, a traditional Japanese Inn, which will be quite the experience. Each hotel has been selected for their value and offers a comfortable stay in petite but modern and well-equipped rooms. All rooms on the workshop will be provided as dual occupancy (single occupancy is not available for this tour due to high season with bookings)
For Terms and Conditions click here
Spots are limited and you are advised to book with a deposit as soon as possible to not miss out. Please email for further details andy@andyyee.com
Included
* Two professional photography guides
* Ten nights accommodation
* Dual Occupancy (Single Supplement for additional $1000 available on request)
* Domestic flights to Sapporo and return to Tokyo (Narita Airport)
* All breakfasts
* One additional meal a day (lunch or dinner)
* Transportation in private cars and ferries
* All entrance fees to photography locations
* Post-Processing sessions during the tour
Excluded
* Airfare to/from Japan
* Lunches
* Alcoholic beverages
* Travel insurance
* Equipment and baggage insurance
* Visas (if applicable)
* Gratuities
To reserve your spot for this workshop, a deposit of $1000 (AUD) can be made via Paypal.
Remaining workshop tuition amount will be due 60 days before workshop. A reminder invoice will be sent out 90 days before the workshop commencement
Guides
Tour will be guided by professional photographers Andy Yee and Paul Pichugin.
Andy Yee is a professional photographer who specializes in travel/tourism, architecture and commercial projects. He is the winner of the Sony Alpha Landscape Award. Andy has travelled extensively through Japan in all seasons of the year and worked on projects with Japan Tourism
Paul Pichugin has worked on photographic projects in 16 countries and Antarctica with his photographs being used for marketing and advertising materials as well as international tourism, marketing and social media campaigns.