Wedding photoshooting in Osaka castle park!!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

A nice couple came to Osaka castle park for wedding photoshooting with their stylist and makeup artist. They brought gorgeous dresses and suits and we got many special wedding photos at Osaka castle park. Of course it was first time to see them but we got closer easily in this photoshooting. I had some ideas and they had too, So we made and tried many ideas and styles. Osaka castle park is very big and has many good photo spots. I took photos with greens, flowers, the castle and on stairs and street of the park with different clothes. They changed their clothes three times and every styles were so nice for photos and we got some romantic shots, others are cool and happy.
They liked my photo style like angle and posing and I was very happy because they looked very happy when I showed them the photos after taking. It was about 4 hours photoshooting but I was not tired because the photo session with them was very comfortable and fun time. The end of photoshooting, they gave me a coffee at Starbucks in the park and had relaxing time together. And we met in Kyoto again next day. I will write about this on next blog!!:)

Photoshoot at Osaka Umeda sky building!!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

A guy was traveling in Osaka alone contacted me for photoshooting. He wanted to be taken photos at Umeda sky building where we can see whole Osaka city from the top. It has long escalator and some people take photos at this place and post on Instagram.
We met at Umeda sky building at opening time but I tried to take his photos outside of sky building. There are some green wall and I wanted to try to take photos with it. He liked it too and we got nice photos around sky building. After that, we were going to the escalator and took many photos. The photos are beautiful and arches on background looked very cool and futuristic. We were going up and down twice and got great photos. It was first time to take photos at this place and we didn’t need to pay entrance fee because the escalator is before entrance of observatory of sky building. I recommend you if you want to get nice photos in Umeda. Of course observatory is amazing to see Osaka view!! One more thing, you can see retro Osaka town scape in basement floor. This place is restaurants area and you can enjoy lunch and dinner after Umeda sky building. Try to go!!!:)

【2020】Cherry blossoms photoshooting in Osaka, Kyoto and Nara!!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA, KYOTO, NARA, NEWS

In 2020, Cherry blossoms season is coming soon!! Actually early blooming cherry blossoms are blooming in Japan now!!! This kind of Cherry blossoms bloom from the middle of February to March. I already have some photoshoot tours in Kyoto with this cherry blossoms. You can see cherry blossoms if you come to Japan earlier than main cherry blossoms season. Japan will be full of Cherry blossoms in the end of March to the beginning of April. I hope many people come to Japan and I am looking forward to seeing them here! I would like to take your photos with Cherry blossoms in Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Nara!!:)

Morning and Night Photoshooting in Osaka!!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

A girl joined my Morning photoshooting tour and Night time photoshooting for 2 days! She was traveling by herself and took my tour for getting good photos of her travel in Japan. We visited Sumiyoshitaisha first and she has been this place though the shrine is in local area. But she said couldn’t get good photos last time, So I took many photos in this shrine. It was very quiet morning and less tourists, only local people walked and came here for praying. We got many photos with Japanese sceneries such as Sake casks, traditional buildings, bridge and huge trees. She liked everything of this place and it was very easy to take her photos because she knew how to make good pose.
We walked to Sumiyoshi park from Sumiyoshitaisha shrine. This park is quite big and has many natures. Especially Cherry blossoms season, Many local people come and enjoy picnic every year. Unfortunately, There are not Cherry blossoms yet but some flowers bloomed a little and it made us feel that spring in coming soon. It was cold but very nice day and I got photos with blue sky.

The next day, We met again in the city of Namba and Shinsaibashi area at night time. Night time phtooshooting is different as morning time photos totally. Osaka town scapes such as neons, wall arts, buildings and billboards make photos very cool and beautiful. She really like the photos I took with neons and we were so excited when we get great shots. I usually take my guests to narrow traditional path by Dotonbori. Many lanterns are so beautiful and all of my guests like this place and she liked as well. When we are walking, I told and showed her some local good restaurants in Namba area. Many good restaurants are in Osaka and sometimes local one is good for tourists to feel real Japanese life. I recommend my favorite foods during my tour because I love eating and think foods are very important for travel. I hope all tourists have great foods and time in Osaka and enjoy their travel a lot. I would like to keep helping! Anyway I had great time with her for 2 days! See you again!! Thank you!!!:)

【2020 】Family Photoshooting in Arashiyama area, Kyoto!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

I have met nice family in Arashiyama, Kyoto for photoshooting. They rented kimono and I went there early morning to see them. Kimono was very suit of them and a girl was very very cute. She has her own camera and looked like to take photos because she wanted to hold the camera when I take her photos stubbornly. She took my photos when I take photos of her parents from side of them. I tried to get along her and it was very easy because she was so friendly to me gave me great smile:)

She is good photographer, but not only that, she was so good model as well. She was smiling whenever I looked though the finder and photos came very happy thanks to her smile. She made me and her parents happy and comfortable during this tour. I got many nice family photos and her solo photos as well in Kimono forest, along Katsura river, Tenryuji temple and Bamboo forest in Arashiyama. The end of photoshooting, I carried her in my arm and she looked enjoyed walking together. It was great day and I am so glad to see them and hope see again.

Family photoshooting tour in Arahsiyama, Kyoto!!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

The beginning of 2020, I have hold the photoshooting tour in Arashiyama area of Kyoto with happy family. Mother joined night time tour last year and she took her nice sons this time and I took many family photos. We met at Hankyu Arahsiyama stations early morning and walked to Katsura rive first. It was very sunny day and shine made them brighter and photos came up very beautiful. The sons are very very kind to mother and they look so happy during my tour and they are also very friendly to me and easy to have communications. We talked about Japanese Manga and Anime a lot. I like this culture and we are same generations, So we watched same anime when we were young. After that, we got nice ideas for photos and tried to Manga shots in Kimono forest and bamboo forest. Photos are very funny and we enjoyed a lot. I was happy because they are interested in traditional Japanese culture as well when I explained about shrine and temple.
It was very comfortable while I took their photos and talked about many things. I hope see them again soon!!!

Family photoshooting in all famous places of Kyoto!!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

The mom and son joined my tour in Kyoto and we had awesome time again!! It was first time to visit in Kyoto for them and they were very interested in everything of my tour. I took them to Gion area first and showed traditional town scapes along a narrow river and took walking photos. I was able to capture some good moments because they were so natural to walk and see something of scenery. Yasaka pagoda, Yasaka koshindo temple, Maruyama park and walking along Kamo river, everything are good photo spots for them and I was so happy to get many photos in Gion area. We were closed last time already, So it was easy to communicate each other.

After Gion area, we went to Fushimiinari shrine. You know this place is the most popular places in Kyoto and so crowded places as well. But it was less people than usual and very very easy to capture. In January and February are less tourists season I guess but it was the least people this time. Between Fushimiinari shrine and station, many street foods are waiting for us and many tourists got and grab some foods here. We were hungry and they got Wagyu beef and Yakitori for me and we enjoyed quick lunch together. It was yummy!!! We had a lot of energies after lunch and moved to Arashiyama area by Keihan train and JR line.

I think bamboo forest and Kimono forest are the most beautiful photo spots. So I took them to these point and captured many photos. Bamboos and kimono poles made photo beautiful and them happy. They are very energetic after walking for long time and I had really nice time with them. I felt sad when the tour finished but we can see in Australia or Japan again. I am looking forward to seeing them next time!!

Mom & Son’s Photoshooting in Osaka!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

I already have met many people for photoshooting in 2020. A guy booked tour over half years ago and we talked many things of the tour. He took his mother to Japan and wanted me to help to make memories. We met at Morinomiya station to go to Osaka castle park. Mother is very nice and has good smile and the guy was very kind for mom. I tried to take photos with water fountain and greens in the park and It was very nice weather, So took photos with clear blue sky too. They enjoyed photoshooting so much. Lighting was very nice when we got Osaka castle because the tour was started almost sunset time. I got beautiful photos with Osaka castle at some photo spots. They looked very happy and were smiling whenever I took their photos.

After Osaka castle park, we went to Namba area to take photos with neons on back ground. He like Osaka night sceneries and I took them to many popular places such as Dotombori, Americamura and Namba area. Photos came up very beautiful and they liked all photos I took. It was dark when the tour finished and we had Japanese BBQ together after photoshooting. It was awesome time and I felt it’s not first time to see them and a part of their family. We enjoyed to talk each other and cultures with good foods. They booked my tour of Kyoto as well and we met in Kyoto again. I will write about the tour next time!!:)

Night Photoshooting tour in Namba Osaka!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

It is the coldest season in Osaka now but warmer this year than usual. I love winter and cold season, So I like to go out with many clothes. A girl joined my night photoshooting tour last week. I took really nice photos with neons and lights of Osaka city. She like night sceneries and I was very happy to take her photos and she loved them.

We went to America mura area and I capture some moments of her with wall arts. Her hair color is very colorful and suits of America mura sceneries. After that, I took her to river side and walk along the river. It has some neons and we tried to take photos this places too. Glasses she brought made photos very cool and beutiful. We were so excited when got the photos. Her tattoos look so cool as well and I tried to take photos with Japanese traditional buildings which are in narrow street of Dotombori. Nobody known this streets and the photos also became cool. I had fun a lot with her to take photos in Namba and she likes my photos too!! I hope I can take her photos again in other area of Japan!! Thank you!!

Photoshoot in Universal Studios Japan!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in NEWS

I made a great plan to photoshoot in Universal Studios Japan. It is very popular theme park in Osaka and many tourists visit here. I was born and raised in Osaka and I have been USJ many times because I have had an annual pass some times. I got it again last year because I really want to go to Nintendo World where will be opened before the Olympics.

So I made a plan of Photoshooting tour in Universal Studios Japan. I have held this tour a few times before. It was awesome phososhooting and guests were very glad to get nice photos with some cute, cool, funny and beautiful sceneries. I recommend tourists who have kids and birthday because all children love this park and I can capture many great moments when they have fun so much. Nintendo world will be amazing and it must make photos awesome. Let’s go to take photos with Mario and many characters!!!

Family Photoshooting tour twice in Nara!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in NARA

I was looking forward seeing them again the end of 2019! They booked my tour exactly same day of 2018 and we met in 2019 again!!! The family is super kind and friendly. I had great time with them last time and their 2 boys were very very funny and have a lot of energies! This time, they remember me and we had such a great time again! I took their photos in Kyoto last time and met in Nara this time. It was first time Nara for them, So I took them to many spots like Nara machi where have many traditional houses, Sarusawa pond and Kofukuji temple. I capture some moments and walked to Nara park. We could see many deers on the way already and deers were very relaxing because it was early morning. They looked very sleepy and it was easy to close and take photos with them. The boys were afraid first, but they are getting used to deers and looked have fun a lot. Mom and Dad tried feeding and the boys tried as well. Some deers were so excited because they were very hungry and many deers come around them. They looked afraid of deers a little but have fun a lot.

I brought deer’s horns for boys. They were very happy and used it during the photoshooting tour. I was so happy to take some very sweets family photos, jump shots, cute boys photos and mom and dad photos. It was very nice day and great memories for me. I hope we see again when they come to Japan again or I go to Canada. Thank you so much for taking my tour for the two straight years!:)

Surprised proposal Photoshooting tour in Arashiyama Kyoto!!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

I have held surprised proposal photoshooting in a long time the end of the year. I have messaged with a guy about how to proposal, where the best places and something. We decided to do in Bamboo forest in Arashiyama Kyoto and how to meet. I suggest him that I ask them ‘I am looking for couple model?’ in station and we tried to this way.

On that day, I was very nervous when I was waiting for them at the station because his girl friend accept my question or not. They came meeting point on time and I asked them about photo model. She said OK and I and he were relieved. I took them to Kimono forest and took some photos there. I tried to make him relax before proposal while I took their photos and she was enjoying very much. And then, We walked to Bamboo forest and check the best point of bamboo forest. I wanted to take photos nobody on background. Some tourists were there when we got but we could find nice point, So I sent a sign to him. He went behind her and showed a ring. She was very very surprised and crying and said YES!! I captured the moments while they hugged and kissed. He put out ipad and showed her a movie that many message from her friends. It was amazing video and she looked was moved so much. It was very happy time and I was so glad to capture the moment. We still had time and visited river side and took some photos the end of this tour. I was so happy to help them to make awesome memories. Hope see them again!!!:)

The photoshoot tour with very cheerful family in Arashiyama and Gion, Kyoto!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

I met a great and cheerful family in Kyoto for photoshooting. A women joined my tour before recommended me to them and they booked my tour. Some of my guests recommended like this and I really appreciate it because it is hard to share my tour with many people in the world.
Anyway, They joined my tour and we visited at many good spots of Kyoto for a day. We met at Arashiyama station early morning like 8am. Arashiyama area is very crowded area in Kyoto but there are very less people than usual because it was very early morning. I took them to Kimono forest first and there are nobody, So I took their photos a lot! They had big energies and I had fun while I took photos! After Kimono forest, we were going to bamboo forest. I usually take my guests to small bamboo park but it wasn’t opened yet, So I took them to main Bamboo grove and took photos. I don’t go this place because a lot of tourists come this place and hard to take photos but it was less people and easy to take photos this time. I was very happy because they liked bamboo grove and kimono forest. After this, we visited in old temple and take photos with fallen leaves. It was very fun time at temple!!

We took a train from Hankyu Arashiyama station to Hankyu Kyoto Kawaramachi station. Kawaramachi station is one of the nearest station from Gion area. I took them to some spots of Gion area after Arashiyama. Gion area has many popular photo spots such as Gion Shirakawa, Yasaka shrine, Yasaka tower, Konpira shrine, Maruyama park and Yasaka koshindo temple. We walked around Gion area and got many photos. They wore colorful shirts and they made photos come up beautiful even dark color on background. We talked about our work and cultures each other and their stories were very interesting for me. I have been feeling a part of their family during the tour. They were very very warm and kind to me. I want to see them and have good time again. Thank you so much for everything!!

Engagement Couple Photoshooting in Nara with deers!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in NARA

I have some tour in 2019 to write here and I will make a blog about the photoshoot tour in Nara the end of December. A couple took my photoshooting tour and we held in Nara. It was not cold and good weather. Autumn leaves season has gone already but we were able to find a tree has some leaves. I took some photos with the tree in Nara park with deers. They enjoyed feeding deers and it looked like deers were their pets. Hahaha. they have just made proposal, So I took some ring photos and lovely photos with the ring. Also with flower bouquet they brought too.
Nara deer park is very good place for taking photos and not only that, We found nice photo spots and took a lot of many good photos. I gave them some ideas and they did all of them. We had a lot of fun and got many good photos!! There are not Autumn leaves anymore now but Cherry blossoms season is coming soon. Nara deer park and Wakakusa mountain have many Cherry blossoms tree and the best spots to take Engagement photo, surprised proposal, Family photo and couple photo, and of course solo travelers as well. I would like to help you to make memories with Cherry blossoms in Osaka, Kyoto and Nara in March and April. Please contact me feel free if you are interested in my photoshooting tour!!