Tag: Arashiyama

My first photoshooting tour in Arashiyama Kyoto in 2016

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in Uncategorized

It has been long time since I have written last article. How are you? I am good in Osaka, Japan. It is getting relaxing lockdown here but I think we should to stay home as much as we can. I really want to go out and see my friends and grab some foods honestly but we have to stay home to do these things in near future.
I am trying to make video recently and my video making skill is getting better and It is a lot of fun when I am in front of camera and editing. But seeing tourists who come to Japan and taking photos are much much fun you know. So I will write a thing of first photoshooting tour in 2016.

I made a photoshooting plan in Arashiyama the beginning of 2016 and started preparing to be a photographer for tourists in Kansai area of Japan. I visited Arashiyama over 10 times to check where the best point to take photos and how long it takes to visit some spots and take photos. The plan was perfect for me and I posted this photoshooting tour on the web. I thought it’s very hard to get customer because many people hold many kind of tour in Kyoto but I was so surprised because a guy booked my photoshoting tour in a few days from I posted. I have been Arashiyama area 2 time again from I got a booking and was getting excited to hold the tour.

On that day, I was waiting for him at Arashiyama station and hold a welcome board. My body was shaking because I was very very nervous to see my first guest but was better easily when I saw him. He came from US for work and likes to take photos and Japanese sceneries. I tried to talk to him some questions to keep to talk on the way from photo point to point while I checked question lists I made. My English was not good but he tried to understand what I said. This photoshooting tour is 2 hours tour but it has taken 4 hours LOL. I took his pictures a lot and he took some sceneries of Arashiyama. I really had great time with him and we came back where we met. He said ‘This tour was amazing and he was very happy to be my first guest. I should keep doing this tour’. This words made me to decide to keep holding photoshooting tour and started to make other photoshooting plans. Thanks to him, I can be a Photoguider still now. I have seen many guests from this photoshooting tour and had amazing time with them. I LOVE this work and take photo and help my guests and can’t wait to hold a Photoshooitng tour as soon as possible. Stay safe and healthy everyone and thank you for reading this article:)

[2020] Top 5 best places to see Cherry blossoms in Kyoto!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

Kyoto has many good places to see Cherry blossoms as well. I will write some places where I like to help tourists who come to Japan in Cherry blossoms season.

1, Philosopher’s path
This path is very popular to see Cherry blossoms in Kyoto. It is about 1.8km and has about 450 Cherry blossoms trees. You can walk under a gate of Cherry blossoms along river. Many tourists go there and crowded every day in this season. I recommend you to go early morning, and then you can more relax and feel peaceful Japanese beautiful scenery.

出典：Imases-amazon.com
出典：Nippon.com

2, Keage incline
This incline is about 600m railroad and has so many Cherry blossoms trees. Many people come and take beautiful Cherry blossoms photos here, So it is better you go early morning this place too. You can also visit Nanzenji temple where has Suirokaku water way and this temple is very beautiful and great to take photos. Not only Cherry blossoms season, it is very beautiful in Autumn leaves season as well. This area is east side of Kyoto and not so far from Gion area. I recommend you for people who have a plan to go Gion area.
Please get off Keage station (Kyoto subway) and just a few steps from the station.

出典：Justgola
出典：Kyoto press

3, Arashiyama park (Hankyu Arashiyama side)
I always take photos with Cherry blossoms at this place. Please get off the Hankyu train at Hankyu Arashiyama station and walk to river side for 1 few mins and then you can see so many Cherry blossoms tree on your right. A lot of people come to Arashiyama to visit Bamboo forest and get off JR Saga Arashiyama station where far from this spot. So this place is not known well. Arashiyama has many Cherry blossoms place and I recommend you Seiryoji temple too. A large drooping Cherry tree is in the temple and it is so beautiful. Buildings around the tree are traditional and awesome as well. Please try visiting if you have time.

出典：imamiya
出典：souda.kyoto

4, Kodaiji park
This park is very small but very beautiful when Cherry blossoms are full blooming and the central of Gion are. Some popular temple and shrine are around this park and souvenir shops too. Kodaiji temple, Ninenzaka, Kiyomizudera temple, Yasaka pagoda, Yasaka shrine and Maruyama park, All places are very traditional and beautiful. You should visit Kodaiji park if you have some plans to visit these places. Highly recommend!!

出典：Imamiya
出典：Imamiya

5, Sewaritei
This is not in the central and quite far a way from Kyoto city, it takes about 30 min from Gion Shijyo station by Keihan train and then walk 15 min. It seems hard to visit if you stay in Kyoto city but it is worth to visit. So many Cherry blossoms are along the Yodo river and it’s very long street. You can feel good breeze and a flurry of Cherry blossoms. This place is very popular for local people and quite crowded but not so much than in the city. Sakura tower which you can go up and look down beautiful Cherry blossoms scene.
You need to get off Iwashimizu Hachimangu station (Keihan line) and walk about 15min from the station. Please try checking on google map and visiting if you have time!!

出典：city.yawata.kyoto.jp
出典：kyoto.graphic

Kyoto has a lot of awesome places to see and take photos of Cherry blossoms. I hope this article makes your travel in Kyoto is great. Thank you!!

Continuously, Wedding Photoshoot in Arashiyama Kyoto!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in KYOTO

After a few days, We have taken wedding photos in Arahsiyama, Kyoto. I met them early morning and almost nobody around Arashiyama station and was cold but sky was very beautiful and clouds made blue sky more beautiful. I tried to take their walking photos along the Katsura rive. The makeup artist and stylist are their friends, So I took some individual shots and couple shots as well. Across Togetsu bridge, we went to Kimono forest and enjoy taking photos. They liked this place and I got some great shots here. Of course we have been to Arashiyama bamboo grove they wanted to visit the most. This place is always very beautiful and awesome spot for photoshooting in Japan. I usually take my guests to less people bamboo grove but they wanted to go main bamboo street, So we visited there too. There are many people and it was impossible to take photos nobody on background but also beautiful place to see bamboos and feel Japanese atmosphere. I was very glad they like the photos and It was great time with them for 2 days. I hope we can see again in philippine or Japan!:)

Cherry blossoms are going to bloom in March. All cherry blossoms have buds and it tells us that spring is coming. A kind of cherry blossoms are blooming already in some places of Japan. I am going to take photos there this weekend. I will tell you guys how cherry blossoms bloom and show some photos!:)

【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!!:)

【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

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!!

Autumn leaves Photoshooitng season is coming!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in NEWS

It will be great season for photoshooting in Japan. Leaves are changing color from green to Yellow, Red and Orange now. You can see beautiful Autumn leaves and get great pictures with Autumn sceneries about for a month from the middle of November. Some big park has trees like Osaka castle park in Osaka and Maruyama park in Kyoto. I will take you to secret Autumn leaves place and take your pictures. It is very comfortable in Japan now, not so hot and so cold and easy to sightseeing.

Arashiyama is very popular place to see Autumn leaves because the mountains will be changed color from green to warm color. It is super beautiful and many tourists and Japanese people go there to see. You can get on a boat and be relaxing on wide river and see leaves. Some temples in Arashiyama has Japanese maple trees and this scene is very very Japanesey. You must like it and be memories you don’t forget. Of course, not only Arashiyama, Kyoto has many good point to take pictures with Autumn leaves. I will take you to the best point in Osaka, Kyoto and Nara. Please check TOUR pages and book it if you like! I am looking forward to taking your pictures with Japanese Autumn sceneries!!:)