Date and Time
10am Saturday 21st - 10am Thursday 3rd December 2026
Duration
Twelve Nights
Price
£6,495
(£1,000 deposit, £5,495 balance to be paid by the 21st August 2026. If booking after the 21st August 2026, the full amount is payable)
Workshop Leaders
Francis Ansing
Chris Frost
Maximum Workshop Attendees
9
Meeting Place
10am Saturday 21st November 2026
Grand Sotetsu Fresa Hotel, Osaka
Exertion Level
Easy / Medium – All locations within half a mile from the car, most much closer. Some uphill sections with or without steps will be present. A reasonable level of fitness and mobility is required.
Japan Photography Tour - A Journey Through the Land of the Rising Sun
Embark on an extraordinary 13-day, 12-night photography adventure through Japan with expert guides Francis Ansing and Chris Frost. This exceptional tour offers an unparalleled opportunity to capture the breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage of one of the world's most photogenic destinations.
Personalized Photography Instruction
Your two dedicated instructors provide comprehensive guidance tailored to photographers of all skill levels. Receive hands-on assistance with composition techniques, master manual camera settings, and learn optimal filter usage for various lighting conditions. Expert advice on equipment selection and technical execution ensures you'll maximize every photographic opportunity.
Diverse Photographic Opportunities
Your journey will encompass Japan's most iconic and hidden gems across five magnificent cities: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Himeji, and Hiroshima. From cascading waterfalls and dramatic seascapes to ancient Buddhist temples and historic castles, every day presents new creative possibilities.
Capture the essence of traditional Japanese architecture in preserved historic districts, frame majestic pagodas against mountain backdrops, and photograph serene lakes reflecting seasonal beauty. The tour includes opportunities for striking street photography, architectural studies, and the iconic torii gates that define Japan's spiritual landscape. National parks and mountain vistas complete this comprehensive photographic experience.
Premium Accommodations and Transportation
Experience comfort throughout your journey with eight carefully selected high-quality hotels, each including breakfast. Travel in style aboard our spacious Toyota HiAce Grand Cabin 10-seat minibus, with Francis as your primary driver and Chris operating a second vehicle if required, ensuring optimal access to photography locations.
Small Group Experience
Limited to just nine participants across two expert guides, this intimate setting guarantees personalized attention and extensive one-on-one instruction. This small group format creates lasting friendships while ensuring everyone receives the individual guidance needed to elevate their photography.
Japan awaits to create memories that will inspire your photography for years to come. Join us for this transformative journey through a land where ancient traditions meet stunning natural beauty at every turn.
Here is a detailed itinerary outlining our schedule. Additional locations will also feature where time and weather will allow.
It is advised to arrive 24/48 hours before the start of the tour to allow yourself to become acclimatised to Japanese time.
Detailed itinerary will be posted by the end of November
Chris Frost
Chris discovered his passion for photography later in life, sparked during a honeymoon trip to Japan and cemented in 2012 when he first picked up a landscape camera. Drawn to the genre’s blend of beauty, drama, and creative challenge, he quickly developed a deep appreciation for the natural world and the stories it reveals through light and weather.
Living just moments from Dorset’s iconic Jurassic Coast, Chris initially focused on capturing its wild, untamed seascapes, scenes shaped by dynamic tides, shifting skies, and rugged geology. In more recent years, this love for stormy coastlines has been balanced by an equal fascination with Dorset’s quieter side: its hidden woodlands, delicate seasonal displays, and atmospheric treescapes.
Specialising in evocative images of the South West, Chris brings a unique blend of patience, technical understanding, and artistic intuition to his work. His distinctive style has earned national recognition, including winning UK Landscape Photographer of the Year in 2020 and placing runner-up in the Wildflowers category of the International Garden Photographer of the Year. Today, he shares his knowledge and passion through guiding, helping photographers of all levels capture the landscapes they’ve always dreamed of.
Francis Ansing
Francis Ansing is a full-time landscape photographer and photo tour guide celebrated for capturing the quiet drama, refined minimalism, and emotional depth of Japan’s natural environments. His approach centres on atmosphere, subtlety, and a deep respect for the landscapes and traditions he photographs.
After years of exploring Japan’s diverse regions, Francis has developed extensive knowledge of both iconic and lesser-known photographic locations. From the snowy plains of Hokkaido and the sacred forests of Wakayama to Kyoto’s historic streets and the timeless viewpoints around Mount Fuji, he brings cultural awareness and on-the-ground experience to every tour he leads.
Blending technical precision with a calm, thoughtful shooting style, Francis creates images that invite viewers to slow down, look deeper, and connect with the spirit of Japan. His work has appeared in travel publications and local exhibitions, and he is passionate about helping photographers of all levels discover Japan’s beauty through meaningful, well-crafted experiences.
There are a total of eight quality hotels during our twelve night stay in Japan. This ensures that we are as close to the locations that we will be photographing as possible meaning less time spent travelling in the minibus.
You will each have your own double/twin/large single en-suite room. There is no single occupancy supplement charged.
See below for a list of the hotels and that we will be staying in.
Click on the hotel name to be directed to their website.
Thursday 27th November 2026
APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Chuo, Tokyo
Friday 28th November 2026
Toyoko Inn Fuji Kawaguchiko Ohashi, Fuji
Saturday 29th November 2026
Toyoko Inn Fuji Kawaguchiko Ohashi, Fuji
Sunday 30th November 2026
Toyoko Inn Fuji Kawaguchiko Ohashi, Fuji
Monday 1st December 2026
Richmond Hotel, Matsumoto
Tuesday 2nd December 2026
Route Inn, Ise
Friday 3rd December 2026
Brighton Hotel, Kyoto
Thursday 4th December 2026
Brighton Hotel, Kyoto
Friday 5th December 2026
The Knott, Hiroshima
Saturday 6th December 2026
The Knott, Hiroshima
Sunday 7th December 2026
Hotel Monterey, Himeji
Monday 8th December 2026
Grand Sotetsu Fresa Hotel, Osaka
We reserve the right to change hotels for alternative ones of a similar or higher quality if required
Our mode of transport for this tour will be two vehicles (should all eight places be filled, otherwise a single ten seater minibus shall be used). A ten seat Toyota HiAce Grand Cabin minibus. It will be driven by Francis Ansing and the second vehicle (SUV) will be driven by Chris Frost.
This will ensure that there is plenty of space for us all including luggage, clothing and camera equipment while offering a refined and relaxing drive.
Included
Twelve nights hotel accommodation (double/twin room, en-suite, NO single occupancy fee charged)
Breakfast
Dedicated 1-2-1 photography tuition from two tour leaders
Collection from APA Hotel, Shinjuku, Kabukicho Chuo, Tokyo
Drop off at Grand Sotetsu Fresa Hotel, Osaka
Transport during the workshop in two modern, comfortable vehicles. A ten seat Toyota HiAce Grand Cabin minibus with an experienced driver in Francis Ansing and the second vehicle a large SUV driven by Chris Frost
All national park fees and entrance fees to various shrines, temples and buildings
All toll roads, car parking fees
Excluded
All meals and drinks other than breakfast
Flights to Japan
Travel and camera insurance
