Family photoshooting in Fushimi inari shrine, Kyoto!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

A family from Singapore joined my tour in Fushimi inari shrine. They found out my tour from their friend who joined my tour twice in Osaka castle park and Ueno park in Tokyo. I was very happy they introduced me and joined my tour. I have heard these two families are very close and it made me want to go and see them in Singapore.

Anyway, It was great day and I was able to get many good family photos! The kids are very cute and good in front of camera. Older sister was used to posing and younger sister as well. Fushimiinari shrine has big power of business and many tourists visit here everyday. It is very crowded even early morning. I took them to less people place and took some pictures. The pictures are took under Torii gates are must be beautiful but we need to wait good timing to get this kind of picture every time. Children can’t wait for long time but they waited, they were good girls. Thanks to them, I got many good pictures under Torii gates. Other photo spots are also beautiful and I was very happy because children looked enjoying my tour and their mother and father liked the pictures I took. They were very nice and friendly family. I hope see them again in Singapore. Thank you for taking my tour!!

Photoshooting tour at Sumiyoshitaisha shrine and Sumiyoshi park in Osaka, Japan!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

Solo travelers have joined my photoshooting tour very often. I know the reason because I love to travel alone and have been many countries by myself. It is very hard to take good pictures by myself even I have a selfy stick. Sometimes I asked someone to take my pictures but it was not great. I knew how hard to take pictures for solo traveler and like to help them to make memories.

This time, A girl joined my tour alone and I took her pictures a lot in local area, Osaka. It is Sumiyoshitaisha shrine and I have written about this place on this blog before. Sumiyoshi taisha shrine has long history and very beautiful place. Local people visit here and pray for health, happy, getting married, baby and something. This shrine has many small shrine as well. That’s why people come here for different reason.

I talked many things with her and she knew about Japan well. Her posing was very natural and nice. I had fun to take her pictures in Sumiyoshitaisha shrine. She liked this place and was interested in everything I explained her. What kind of god and what this place is on some sign but everything in Japanese here. So I needed to explained something of this shrine. I was very happy because she was interested in it and asked me some questions about Japanese culture. I had great time with her and hope see her again in Japan!! Thank you!!

Night photoshooting in Namba area, Osaka with a guy looked like a model!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

Hi!! I have held night photoshooting tour very often recently. I am very happy because I can see many tourists and became close some people. In October, A guy joined my tour. He is very big and looked like a model and was good at posing. I took many pictures with neons of Namba area and A women asked us ‘Is he a model?’ I was very surprised but I agreed about this. He isn’t model but the woman wanted to shake his hands. It was very funny and interesting memory.

We walked Sennichimae area to take pictures with local small Izakaya. They have many lanterns and they are very beautiful for photos. And then visit Takoyaki shop because he like to eat. I took him to good Takoyakai shop I think the best Takoyakai in Namba. Of course I took his pictures with Takoyakai and he ate and made it looks so good. His stories like his work and life were very interesting for me and we talked a lot. It was very nice time and I hope we see again when he come back to Japan. Thank you for taking my tour!!

Family photoshooting in Osaka castle park with a professional photographer!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

We met in Fushimiinari shrine in Kyoto and held the tour before a few days and they joined my tour in Osaka again!! Last time, they wore Japanese kimono and casual were this time. They looked different and I got many pictures in Osaka castle! It was late afternoon and I was worrying about lighting because it was already getting dark. I tried to take quick photo and walked to Osaka castle with them. A girl was shy a little when we met first time in Kyoto but she was much better in Osaka. She liked to be taken pictures and I took her pictures a lot. A father was really nice model and I took his many pictures as well. The end of this tour, Everybody smiled and I was very happy to help them to make memories in Osaka and Kyoto. I hope see you again when they come back to Japan!!:)

Gion area and Fushimiinari shrine are good for taking pictures in Kyoto and Osaka castle park is also good for short photoshooting tour. It will be autumn leave season in Japan. We can see them around the middle in November to December everywhere. Especially Arashiyama in Kyoto is very popular and many people go there to see Autumn leaves. I have some booking already and am looking forward to taking pictures with beautiful Autumn leaves in Kyoto, Osaka and Nara.

Photoshooting tour in Horie area Osaka with a professional photographer

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

A Japanese girl contacted me the beginning of October and she is dancer from Tokyo and want to be taken artist photos. We found good place each before a few days and decided Horie area where we photoshoot. There are many good shops like shoes, street bland clothes and some arts. We met early morning and she was very very cheerful and friendly. I felt like it wasn’t first time to see her.

We went to America-mura area first and took some pictures with pink wall. This back ground we found before a day is very simple and beautiful. I got some nice photos here and moved to Horie area. We checked yellow wall here already and this is also very clean and nice for her artist photos. We talked about photos but not only that, our work, life, Osaka, Tokyo and passion. I really like her way oh thinking and she has big hot passion. She made me want to try many things I want. I would like to see her in Osaka or Tokyo. I am so glad to have met her!:)

Family photoshooting tour in Kyoto Gion area with a professional photographer!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

It is getting cooler in Osaka now and much comfortable than last month. Autumn is big travel season in Japan especially in Kyoto to see Autumn leaves. The beginning of October, very friendly family joined took my tour in Kyoto. The tour is Gion area tour and there are many nice photo spots. They come with very cute girl and she was so good at posing in front of camera. It made us laugh and happy and it was great time thanks of her.

We met at Kimono rental shop first and went to Fushimiinari shrine by taxi. This shrine is the most popular shrine in Japan and it is very crowded every time. Many fox statues are looking us in this shrine and they protect this place from bad things. I took them with many Torii gates and they made from donation. Many Japanese big companies donated and made the Torii gate and then got the power of business, growing company and getting money. Not only tourists, local people and Japanese people come here for praying about that.

After that, We visited in Gion area and took pictures with Yasaka tower. The tower and around this area is very nice places to take pictures. Traditional houses, shrines and many souvenir stores. I got family photos, couple photos, and individual photos as well. It was getting dark and hard to take pictures, So we finished the tour earlier than schedule but I am very happy they like this place and the pictures. We gonna see again in Osaka castle park and hold the photoshooting tour!! I am really looking forward to seeing them again!!

Night photoshooting tour in Namba Osaka, Japan with a professional local photographer!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

Japan is very very excited for the rugby world cup now!! Namba area has many local bar and sports bar and many people went to watch the game and very excited. I went around Namba area last week for Photoshooting and saw many people were excited like that. I am very happy many people come to Japan and become to like Japan and Osaka!

This time was very great photoshooting. The couple joined my tour and they were very funny and super cheerful and I was very surprised because they knew about Japan especially Japanese drama well. We talked about Japanese Dramas and their questions of them were very interesting. Why the couple go to Aquarium in Japanese drama? It seems wired question but a couple in drama usually go to aquarium for dating. I don’t know why but it is very common. I have seen that scenes very often when I watched drama. I think this dating style is Japanese culture Hahaha.

We visited Mandarake where has many Japanese Anime and Manga things in America mura. They like Manga and Anime as well and i like it too. They looked very excited to see some stuffs such as Ultraman and old anime stuffs. We were laughing during the tour and it was really fun. The pictures look very happy and I like their smiles. Photoshooting tour with them was amazing but talking about a lot of things was awesome for me too. I hope see you again and have dinner together next time! Ja-na!!:)

Local area Photoshooting in Osaka with a professional photographer!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

The guy joined my tour yesterday. He is traveling alone and was very polite and friendly and we had great time together. We visited in Sumiyoshi area in Osaka and This area is very local area but I have seen some tourists in last a few years but still not crowded and peaceful area. Sumiyoshi taisha shrine is very large shrine and popular for local Osaka people. A lot of people go there for praying the end of the year and the beginning of the year. We saw many family bring a baby today. It is like a ceremony in Japan when the baby was born.

I took his pictures with Japanese things like Sake casks, couple tree, old buildings, Taikobashi bridge and more. He liked my pictures and I was so happy to hear that. He was very good at posing and his style was really cool. I thought he was like a model whenever I took his pictures. It was very hot morning but very nice day for me. Hope see you again in the future!!

The best friends Photoshooting in Namba, Osaka

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

They are coming from Indonesia and nice characters!! Very friendly and nice guys and girls!! We walked around Namba area in Osaka. I have held Private photo tour in this area many time. It was rain a little but we didn’t care about that and started the tour from Namba station. Usually I holed the tour at night but it is very beautiful day time as well.

We have been Sennichimae and it has many restaurant and Japanese bar Izakaya. Ura-namba area (behind namba area) has many local small Izakaya and workers go there after work often. Many tourists go to Dortobori to have dinner and something but I recommend you Ura-Namba area. We got some pictures with boards of restaurants on narrow street in this area and then went to Hozenji temple. This temple has many lanterns and local people come here and play for health and luck. The big statue has a lot of moss wait for you everytime. You can try to visit when you have time.

Glico sign is Osaka’s landmark and everybody take pictures with. Of course I captured some moments of jumping. They looked very happy and have fun. I really enjoyed with them too. I am looking forward to seeing them again in Osaka!!!:)

Night photoshooting tour in Osaka with nice couples! !

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

They joined my night photo tour last night. It was awesome time and they were super cool and looked like a model while I took their pictures. Someone walked behind us said ‘Kakkoii’ and it means COOL. The pictures was coming very nice and I will show you here some of them.

They are three couples and also long time friends and came from other part of US. Very cheerful and friendly guys made me enjoy and they looked have fun too. I tried to take some kind of pictures like group picture, couple pictures and solo pictures. My favorites are group pictures because they look like a dancing and singer group and very cool. I took them to America-Mura first and it has many wall arts and nice streets. These places are very good for them and I took a lot of pictures there.

I was very happy when I took them to narrow street to Hozenji temple because they looked be interested in it. Many lanterns were waiting for us and this places is very beautiful place and less people than Dotonbori main street. Dotonbori is good place but too crowded for photoshooting.

We enjoyed 90 mins and it was great time. I shared nice bar and restaurants in Namba and hope they enjoy during their travel in Osaka. Thank you so much for taking my tour and see you again!!:)

Surprised proposal Photoshooting tour in Nara park with deers!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in NARA

They were very very nice couple and I had awesome time with them and deers in Nara park!! His name is Deswin and he had a plan to surprise propose to her and told me about that. We talked where and when the best and decided. I suggested Kyoto but he preferred Nara park for photoshooting. I didn’t know why but I was able to know the reason when I met in Nara. His girl friend was so excited to come to Nara because she love animals and that’s why he preferred.

We met at Kintetsu Nara station and visit Naramachi which has many traditional Japanese house and Sarusawa pond. I took their pictures and they practiced how to pose but they didn’t need to practice cause they were already very natural and give their nice smile to lens. They looked can’t wait to feed deers in Nara park. So we got biscuit for deers and walk to deers area. There are a lot of deers and tourists who fed deers already. Deers were so excited because so hungry. We tried feed them but many deers came to them and finished in just a few seconds. I was not able to capture the moment because it was so fast!! We moved to different spot and then see a local guy. He had many nuts for deers and told us how to feed. It was very interesting and I didn’t know how to feed although I have been to Nara park many time. We need to make deers to bow 3 times before feeding. Deers knew they can eat if they bow, So It is not dangerous to feed. After that, Deswin and In in enjoyed to feed and I was able to captures the moments.

Deswin and I was thinking about proposal while we fed deers and we moved to big field area of Nara park. Less people were there than main deers area and it is the best point for proposal I have thought. I made her to turn around and took her back side pictures he prepared a ring during this moment. He called her and she saw the ring and started the happiest time of this Photoshooting tour!! I captured many moments and was very happy to take this big surprised proposal photos!! Deers celebrated them and they looked soooooo happy.

It was very nice day and I am so happy to see them. I hope they come back to Japan and see them again!!! Thank you for taking my tour!!!!! Congratulations!!!

Morning and Night time Photoshooting tour with a professional photographer in Osaka!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

The nice guy booked 2 tours are morning tour and night time tour in Osaka. I met him first time at Sumiyoshitaisha station. This tour is local area tour around Sumiyoshitaisha shrine and it was less people this area because we started early morning. We walked famous bridge which is called Taikobashi. Taiko means drum and Bashi means bridge in Japanese because this bridge reflections on the water and then looks like drum. So this is called Taikobashi for long time around this area.

Sumiyoshitaisha shrine has very very long history and it is over 1,000 years. I was born and raised around here and you know this shrine is my favorite shrine. It has some small shrines, natures, power stones spots and wild animals. I took his photos a lot with big tree, old orange buildings, and it was great time for us!! And we see at night again for photo tour in Namba area.

At 7pm, I was waiting for him and another guy join my tour as well. They were coming on time and the night photoshooting tour was started. We talked about many things along the way to photo spots. Especially we all like K-POP and talked about Blackpink a lot. I took them to Dotonbori, Namba area, Hozenji temple, Glico sign bill board, Sennichimae, Ura-Namba area and Shinsaibashisuji Shopping street. We had nice time and they were very friendly and nice guys!! I recommend them some restaurants I have been very often during this photoshooting tour. I was born and raised in Osaka and love to eat, So I know a lot of good restaurants are not touristy. I will tell you some great restaurants like Tempura, Udon, Ra-men, Sushi, Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki and sweets.

Thank you so much for taking my tour twice and I was very happy he likes the photos I took. Hope see you again!!:)

Night Phtoshooting tour in Dotonbori area in Namba, Osaka with a Professional Photographer!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

It is still hot in Osaka but much better at night time. I have held Night photoshooting tour in Namba area such as Amerika-Mura, Dotonbori, Hozenji temple and Ura-Namba area. Very friendly family joined the tour in August. Parents have been to Japan before but their son and his girl friend have never been. I showed them great Osaka night sceneries and take to some spots.

Mandarake in America-mura has many Manga, character figure and Anime goods. Especially the boy is interested in this shop and he knew about Japanese Manga well. Actually I have read many Manga from when I was child and like it still now. We talked about it and it was great time for us. His girl friend has learned fashion and she was very good at posing. Mom wanted to try colorful cotton candy and they enjoyed it. I captured some of the moment and they looked very fun. Dad was very unique and very friendly. I really liked this family and I had great time with them. I was very happy because they liked all places I took them and all pictures. We promised see again in US and I am looking forward to seeing them!! Thank you for taking my tour and giving me great time!!

Engagement Photoshooting tour in Gion, Kyoto

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

The tour was held the beginning of September, but it was like summer day and so hot and humid. So we were worrying before starting the tour. But we were able to walk around Gion area and got many good pictures.

We met at Kimono rental shop after they changed to Yukata (Summer style Japanese traditional clothes). They chose nice color such as purple, pink and navy. Girls are sisters and younger sister was proposed by her fiance. So this tour was engagement photoshooting tour in Kyoto for them. Actually older sisiter took my tour in Osaka before a week and we already made friends. younger sister and her fiance were very nice couple and very friendly, So we was able to get closer easily.

We visited in Yasui Kompira shrine where has big power of relationship. I explained them about this shrine and why many Japanese girls came here. I would like my guests to know some Japanese culture, Not only taking pictures. After this place, we went to Yasaka tower and Kongoji temple has many colorful wish balls and explained about it too. I was very happy because they were very interested in Japanese cultures. I got many engagement pictures at these places and they were very beautiful. Ninenzaka has many souvenir shops and one of them is Starbucks. This Starbucks looks traditional Japanese house but you can have coffee and some drinks and snacks like other Starbucks. They were interested in it and I took some photos with this Starbucks. Around this shop, they found Studio GHIBLI shop and actually I am big fun of this and they are too. We were very excited and took pictures with big TOTORO. We walked around Ishibekoji and Maruyama park and I took some pictures of engagement ring. It was so beautiful and became one of my favorite picture.

It was very fun time and I would like to see them again!! Thank you for taking my tour!!!