Category: OSAKA

Night Photoshooting tour in Namba and Shinsaibashi area, Osaka!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

I have held the night photoshooting tour three times last week. Many guests joined the tour and I had great time with them. Couple, solo traveler, friends and family, I have seen guests from around the world. I was very glad whenever I took their pictures and they liked the pictures. Namba and Shinsaibashi area are very beautiful at night time and Midosuji main street will be light up soon. I will be able to take photos with beautiful night sceneries in Namba and Dotonbori area.

Not only lighting scene, I took guests to Japanese style narrow path every time. Everybody is surprised when I take them to this place. The pictures were taken here were very nice and look so Japanesy. You can make good memories and pictures with Japanese lanterns and traditional sceneries. It is getting cold in Osaka and Winter is coming soon. I am looking forward to seeing guests in this night photoshooting tour and taking pictures in Winter Osaka.

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

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

A nice family took my tour in this month and they have a boy and a girl. They were very cute and gave me great smile while I took their pictures. We became close easily and they hold my hand and walk together from seeing first time. Mom and dad were also friendly and nice. I felt like it was not first time to see them:)

We stated the photoshooting tour around 4:30pm from Subway Morinomiya station. I was worrying lighting because it is getting dark from 5pm recently. So I took their pictures as quick as possible and walked to Osaka castle. It was fine when we arrived at Osaka castle and took their pictures with it. The boy was very hungry and being fussy, So Dad got some foods for him and then he was able to give us his nice smile again:) I thought he was still cute even fussing. Hahaha There were still many tourists and crowded. I took them to less people photo spots and took some solo photos, family photos and parents couple photos. They liked my pictures and I was very happy to hear that from them. I hope they come back to Osaka and see you again:) Thank you so much for joining 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!:)

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!!:)

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!!

Surprised proposal photoshoot in Osaka castle park

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

It was great day and very big day for them and me. A girl planed to surprise proposal her boyfriend and we made a plan to do it during photoshooting tour in Osaka castle park. I was supposed to capture the moments but they already finished proposal in Tokyo Disney land. Because he had a plan to propose her as well and he did there. That’s awesome!! So I was not able to capture the moment but we had great time in Osaka castle park and got many great shots.

It was very hot day even though it is almost end of summer. It has been raining last sew days and I was worrying about it but it was great sunny day on that day. I saw them at Morinomiya station and started photoshooting tour from there and I took their photos at many spots. They were very very natural in front of the camera and it was easy to capture some moments. They did everything I got some ideas and it was so fun. We got many nice photos like jump shot, she did propose posing, wall of Osaka castle, piggy back and many style.

They looked so happy and made me happy while we talked. We kept talking when we walk to next photo spots and I felt like it isn’t first time to see them. We will be able to see in Osaka or LA for sure. I am very happy to take their pictures and became good friends. Thank you so much for taking my tour and giving me great time!!

Family Photoshooting in Osaka

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

Nice family photoshooting in Osaka castle park in the daytime and Namba area at night.

That was awesome day. I had a reservation for family photoshooting in Osaka and I was so excited for this booking. Because they joined the photoshooting tour in Kyoto last summer and I was so happy to see them in Osaka again!! They were so friendly and nice family and it was very very easy to have communication if my English was not natural. A girl was so cute and I remember that we played with bubble at park in Kyoto during Kyoto tour. I took many good pictures of her and I was so happy because she liked the pictures. After the tour, we had lunch together at Tenka Ippin has good Tonkotsu Ramen and talked about each other more. They came from Hawaii and I love Hawaii soooooo much!! The story they told me about Hawaii life was very interesting for me and it made me want to live there. The girl was learned Hula at school and she showed me it. It was amazing and she was great at dancing!! She made us smile and it was so happy lunch time and Photoshooting day.That’s why I was so excited for Photoshooting in Osaka with them!!!

We had a plan to meet at Morinomiya station is the nearest station to visit Osaka castle and I took subway to Morinomiya station. Someone sat next to me before a few stations from Morinomiya station. I was super surprised because they it was them!! It was miracle!! We were able to see before meeting point and so surprised and glad to see each other again!! They looked very good and the girl has grown up!! It has began great day already in the subway. We walked in Osaka castle park and took a lot of pictures. Cherry blossoms season had done before a month already but we was able to see many Azaleas. Osaka castle park has many Azaleas everywhere and we got many pictures with them. It was so beautiful Japanese scenery in May. After an hour from we arrived in Osaka castle park, we moved to Namba area for Night photoshooting and having dinner together.

I wanted them to eat great foods in Osaka and thought which one is the best for them. I have many recommendations restaurants in Osaka because I LOVE to eat. I decided on what to eat and it was Tempura restaurant Daikichi in Namba. This restaurant is not expensive but they serve us fresh off the kitchen and it is sooooooo delicious. Many Japanese people go there but I haven’t seen tourists so much because it is a little a way from a central of Nmaba I guess. That’s why I thought this restaurant is the best. We were supposed to enjoy and have fresh Tempra together but this restaurant was closed on that day. I was terribly about this for them. And I was thinking 2nd choice and we went Udon restaurant where close from Tempra restaurant. I have been this Udon restaurant very often with my friends. Daddy have never had Udon before and it was good opportunity for him and the girl said she likes Udon. We ordered many Udon and I was glad because we were able to order Tempura as well!! Hahaha!! Please try Tempura Daikichi in Namba if you have time and want to have real fresh tempura.

After having dinner, We were going to Namba area for taking pictures with night sceneries. The city has become changing from a day time and was beautiful. I took them to some nice photo spots and took many photos like family, solo and only parents pictures. It was very crowded in Dotonbori area but they looked enjoy and it made me very happy. Especially they liked bright buildings and I got nice photos with them. It was great time and we enjoyed together.

I really had awesome time with them for Photoshooting. But not only taking pictures, we talked about a lot of things which life in Hawaii, my works, school life of her and more. I was enjoying while I was together with them and they made me want to go to Hawaii. I really want even writing about this tour now hahaha. I will stay their house when I visit Hawaii next time and take their picture with beautiful ocean and sky of Hawaii. I am looking forward to seeing them so much. Thank you very much for giving me great memories!!!:)