Category: KYOTO

【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!!

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!!

Couple Photoshooting in Autumn Arashiyama, Kyoto!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

A couple booked my photoshooting tour in Arashiyama Kyoto. They wanted to wear Japanese kimono, So I told them some kimono rental shop near from Arashiyama station I recommended. I met them at the shop and they wore special authentic kimono. Kimono is so many patterns and colors. Their kimono were high quality one and looked very very gorgeous!! It was suit of them and good for Japanese sceneries. We have visited in Bamboo grove and Seiryoji temple. There are many people in Bamboo forest but not so many people when we visited. It was easy to take pictures and they liked the photos which bamboo forest on background. They like to take photos as well and they took my photos when I was taking photos. I received the photos from them and it’s amazing!! They are nice models and good photographers as well. We had very nice time and got many beautiful pictures. I was very happy they liked photos and they decided to take my tour again in Nara. I met them in Nara after a few days and held the tour in Nara with deers. I will write about that next time. Anyway they are super nice couple and I was feeling like a part of their family. Thank you so much!!!

Photoshoot with great family and Autumn leaves in Arashiyama, Kyoto!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

Arashiyama is one of the best place to see autumn leaves in Japan. I have been many times this Autumn leaves season in 2019. A awesome family joined my tour and I took great family photos with Autumn leaves at temple, Bamboo forest and more. They were very very friendly family and a boy was super cute. I don’t have any kids but I really like them and like to take their pictures as well. The boy played with Autumn leaves and looked fun so much. Mom and Dad played with him and I captured some moments. They like all of photos I took and I really like them too. They came from US and I have been US a few times every year. We talked about US and Japan. Japan and US are very different but both are beautiful and have nice foods. I like hamburger so much and they like Japanese foods. I have learned difference culture whenever I talk my guests. I am interested in every culture and like that so much.

Autumn leaves are begging to fall and will be over soon. But ground is many colors by Autumn leaves now in Arashiyama and other places in Kyoto and Osaka. It is also beautiful Japanese scenery. I will write other photoshooting tour in Autumn soon. Thank you!!

【2019】The best Autumn leaves season in Kyoto, Japan!!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

Autumn leaves have been changing color from the beginning of this month and they changed to beautiful color totally this week. I took many photos with Autumn leaves and met many great people. I was very glad to show beautiful sceneries in secret spots which aren’t known in Kyoto and Osaka. I will write about one of the tours and show you some photos.

A couple took my tour and we had a plan to go to Arashiyama and Fushimiinari shrine. But we didn’t have much time, So we tried to make rush and take photos many spots. Mountains are super beautiful and changed color to red, orange, yellow, and some parts were still green. I took their photos along Okawa river with Togetsu bridge, Mountains in background. It was nice place and very less people because we started early morning. After this, we walked to Kimono forest. It is usually very crowded places here but we saw just a few people. It was easy to take pictures!:) Tenryuji temple is the most popular places to see Autumn leaves in Arashiyama. A lot of people were heading this place. We went across Tenryuji temple and walked to Bamboo forest (Actually we took some photos around entrance of Tenryuji). Autumn leaves are very beautiful everywhere in Arashiyama. But not only Autumn leaves, Bamboo forest is so beautiful all year. I took them to nice place to see Autumn leaves where away from main street. This place is my favorite place because very peaceful and I am relaxing whenever I visited. Autumn leaves are very red and that great time. They liked this place and pictures with leaves. It was awesome day for me and hope them too. I will write about other tours soon!! Thank you!!

Photoshoot tour in Osaka Kyoto Tokyo Nara | Photoguider-Japan

2019 Autumn leaves photoshooting in Kyoto Gion area!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

Autumn leaves season is one of the best season in Japan. I took many great pictures of a family in Gion area with Autumn leaves!! They joined my tour in Osaka first, and loved the pictures I took, So booked my tour in Kyoto again. I was very glad to see them and take pictures a lot with Autumn leaves. We have been Yasuikonpira temples and Yasaka shrines in Gion area. I explained about these places and how to pray and they were interested in everything of what I explained. It was not so crowded at some photo spots and easy to take photos. In Maruyama park where is close from Yasaka shrine has many Cherry blossoms trees. It is very beautiful in April because Cherry blossoms bloom in this season. But not only April, The trees were beautiful now as well. Leaves have changed from green to red and orange. Autumn leaves make a scene to warm color. It is great to take photos with them. They loved to be taken photos and it was very fun to take their photos because they were so excited when I showed them whenever took their photos. I was very happy that they really liked photos. I was also excited because of them. So it was very happy time for us. I hope they take my tour again in different season.

4 hours Couple photoshoot in two big area of Kyoto, Gion and Arashiyama!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

Hi!! It is autumn season in Japan and it is snowing in Sapporo, Hokkaido already. I like winter and cold weather, So I am getting excited!:) The beginning of Autumn, a couple joined my photoshooting tour in Kyoto. It was 4 hours tour and we were able to visit two area, Gion area and Arashiyama area. It was very fun and these area are the most popular places in Kyoto for tourists.

We started the tour at 8:30am. It was very nice to start early morning because almost nobody even in popular places of Gion area such as Gion shirakawa, Konpira shrine and around Yasaka tower. It is so crowded every time When I hold the tour but It was much less people early morning. Thanks to that, We were able to take many pictures easily! I explained about Japanese culture, Shrine and temple has many colorful balls. They were very interested in these things and asked me many questions about Japan and I was very glad to answer them. At Maruyama park in Gion area, Some trees are changing color from green to yellow, orange and red. They were telling us that Autumn is coming soon. We will be able to see beautiful Japanese maple leaves in Kyoto and Osaka. I am looking forward to taking pictures with them.

We moved to Arashiyama area after Gion area. It was very nice weather and some trees were changing color this place more. Arashiyama bamboo grove is very nice photo spot but it’s very crowded whenever I take pictures. So I took them to smaller and less people bamboo forest. It much easier to take pictures than main one. We are almost same age and talked about many things especially the guy and I are playing Pokemon Go and we traded Pokemon! Hahaha It was so fun! They were super friendly and I was so happy to made a new friends!:) I am looking forward to seeing them again in Japan!! Thank you!!

Surprised proposal Photoshooting in Enkoji temple, Kyoto!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

About 10 days ago, I have held the surprised proposal photoshooting tour in Enkoji temple, Kyoto. I got a message from a guy about surprised proposal photoshooting before a month and he wanted me to capture of the moment. We were making a plan where to do and searched the best place and told each other. Kyoto has many amazing places such as Yasaka shrine, Kiyomizudera temple, Kinkakuji temple (Golden temple), Heian jingu, Kyoto imperial place and more. Everyplace are not same but traditional and authentic place and great for Photoshooting. Some places are very popular and crowded, So we chose Enkoji temple where is not known well by tourists because it is a little far from Kyoto city and we need to take bus from Kyoto station for an hour or take train and walk for 20 mins. Actually I have never been there but checked some pictures on the web, It looked very beautiful. We thought Enkoji temple is the best spot for surprised proposal.

On that day, Unfortunately It was raining… We checked weather report many times but it was not good weather. Enkoji temple open at 9am, So we met there around 8:50am and waited for opening. There are nobody and very quiet and peaceful. Many trees, moss plants, Bamboos, traditional buildings and traditional Japanese rock garden ( Zen Garden), Everything was very very beautiful. I took some pictures with Japanese garden and trees and was looking for good spot for surprised proposal. I found a bridge looked very nice and tried making him to propose there. I and he were very nervous (Of corse he was much more nervous than me Hahaha) but it was succeed!!! I was able to capture some of the moments and it was awesome happy time. They looked so happy and I was happy too!! Thanks to them, I got great new memories. I was so glad to take their pictures in Enkoji temple. Hope they come back in the future and see them again!!:)

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!!

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!!

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!!!