Tag: solo traveler

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:)

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!!!:)

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!!!:)

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!!

Night Photoshoot in Dotonbori and Americamura, Osaka!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

Many illuminations make Namba area very beautiful in winter. In Midosuji street, A lot of people walk at night time to see lights especially in Christmas season. I took some photos with illuminations in Night time Photoshooting tour.

Two guys joined Night photoshooting tour in the beginning of December. One of them has joined the same tour last year and I was excited to see him again. Another guy was traveling for ling time and has beard so much. It was very easy to have communications with them and we had a lot of fun. I took them to many photo spots but I chose different place because I thought it is better for a guy who joined before. Recently, some wall arts were drown along river and the arts are very nice for Photoshooting. Around this area has some illuminations and we tried to take photos with them. It is very cold now but actually much warmer than usual. Many tourists visit in Osaka and everybody look very happy. I always think all tourists enjoy in Osaka, not only Osaka, in JAPAN. The Olympic will be held in Tokyo next year and Nintendo area will be opened in Universal Studios Japan. I am super excited to these events. I had awesome year in 2019 and hope have great day everyday in 2020. Thank you all joined my tour this year!! 🙂

Autumn Photoshoot in local area of Osaka!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

It is already winter in Osaka now. I don’t feel cold so much a few weeks ago, But it is very very cold at night and morning even daytime as well. Autumn has gone and leaves have been falling and they make ground colorful. We can’t see Autumn leaves on trees but it is also beautiful on the ground.

A girl joined my photoshooting tour in Osaka. She was very very cheerful and friendly. We had such a fun time and talked about many things. She likes Japanese singer Arashi. This group is the most popular group in Japan and I like it too. I was very surprised she like Japanese group and they are very famous in other countries.

I took her pictures at Sumiyoshitaisha shrine and got many great photos because she has awesome smile:) I have written about this shrine many times on this blog. Many local Osaka people go to this Sumiyoshitaisha shrine the end and beginning of year for praying new year. I have been there every year because I was born and raised around the shrine. She liked this places and was interested in Japanese culture and about this shrine. We visited Sumiyoshi park after the Sumiyoshitaisha shrine. This park still had Autumn leaves and we were able to take photos with leaves here. It was very beautiful and nice colors and the pictures came up great too. The one of the best season in Japan almost gone but Winter is very beautiful with snow. I would like to take many photos in this winter 2019-2020. Thank you for taking my tour and see you again!!

Night photoshooting with neons in Namba, Osaka for solo travelers!!

Posted Manu AkamatsuPosted in OSAKA

It is very cold at night in Osaka. I feel it is not Autumn, already winter in the morning and night time. But I am so excited cause my favorite season is winer. I like very cold weather and winter clothes. Autumn leaves is the most beautiful now and it is so crowded in popular places in Kyoto and Osaka such as Arashiyama area, Osaka castle , Mino water fall, and some temples.

Not only autumn leaves, Osaka has many illuminations in this season. My night time tour is very nice to take pictures with many beautiful rights. They are only this season till around Christmas. Many guests joined my night time photoshoot tour. I will show you some of the pictures.

Solo travelers often joined my tour because it is very hard to take pictures theirselves. I know that well because I love to travel alone. They are very nice people and I love to talk about many things like their countries, cultures, Japanese food, how difference between Osaka and Tokyo and something. Everybody is so friendly and I love to see new people and help to make their memories in Osaka. I showed good local restaurants around Namba area in my tour every time. Local restaurants are not so crowded and better sometimes. Sushi, Tempura, Japanese BBQ and Ra-men. I want them to feel real Osaka. I am looking forward to seeing more people in winter!! See you guys!!!

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!!

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!:)

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!!

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!!:)

The first Photoguider tour was held in Febrary, 2016

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I have started to run this Photoguider tour from february in 2016. I was so nervous to see the first guest but didn’t need to be nervous after seeing him because he was super friendly and nice guy. He came to Japan from US and was interested in all of Japanese things. We met at Arashiyama station and went to Arashiyama bamboo forest, Seiryoji temple and Okochisanso garden. I have come to Arashiyama area many times before this tour to check where the best places to take pictures are. I took him to these places and take him pictures a lot and he liked to take pictures with his phone too, So I got many pictures of him when he was taking pictures. We talked about how to take pictures and Photoshooting. He has many knowledges of pictures and told me a lot of thing of it. It was very interesting for me.

I planed to hold this tour for 2 hours but it was over 3 hours and half. I couldn’t hold the tour on time but it was awesome experiences for me and he told me ‘This tour was amazing and he had a lot of fun. You are great Photoguider. You should keep doing this tour!!’. This words have been staying in my heart from that day and I have been holding Guide and Photoshooting tour for 3 year and met many awesome guests and could made great friends all over the world thanks of him. I won’t be able to forget this experience and him.

I will take pictures and give many happy to my guests from all over the world who have never seen yet.

Photoshooting tour in Doutonbori area!!

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The end of March, A guy took my tour in Osaka. We visited Namba area such as Doutonbori, Ame-mura and Houzenji-temple for a hour and could see some cherry blossoms. He was a little nervous but getting used to be taken photos. I was so glad because he was interested in Japanese culture like manners of being at shrine and temple. I had great time with him and so happy he likes photos I took. Hope see you again!!

Solo traveler Photoshooting in Namba area