OVERVIEW & DESTINATIONS

Join world-renowned photographer and instructor Michael Clark and creative director/photographer George Nobechi in an all-new photographic road trip adventure through the mountainous Shinshu (Nagano) and Hida (Gifu) regions of Japan during the glorious autumn, with wildlife, pristine mountains, lakes and rivers, and traditional towns. This special, 10-night journey is limited to a maximum of 7 participants with Michael and George via private van.

Our expedition will begin at Tokyo Station on the morning of Friday, October 20th. (Nobechi Creative’s Japan Association of Travel Agents certified travel desk will help you with Tokyo hotel arrangements conveniently located near Tokyo Station at various price points) There, we will board the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to zip northwest to the mountain resort community of Karuizawa, a little over one hour from Tokyo. Karuizawa is the headquarters for Nobechi Creative and the location for Karuizawa Foto Fest (kff). As a bonus, photographs you make in Karuizawa will be eligible for submission for the free call-for-entry for next year’s festival. Located at 1,000m (3,300ft) above sea level on the southeastern slopes of Mount Asama, Karuizawa is full of hidden waterfalls, reflective ponds, forests, and sweeping vistas. Michael will teach you how to light-paint your subjects as well as photograph mountain landscapes.

Our journey will continue by private van north over the mountains to visit one of the homes of the Japanese macaque “snow monkeys” in surroundings of fall color, and then on to the castle town of Matsumoto.

From Matsumoto, we will drive south to the Kiso Valley, the historic home of the Kiso Kaido / Nakasendo Trail that connected the capital city of Edo (present-day Tokyo) to the old capital of Kyoto. This area is full of the best-preserved “post towns” of the Nakasendo Trail, retaining the ambience of the good old days of the Edo period. In addition to photographing the beautiful towns, we will work on portraiture here with natural and artificial light.

Our next stop takes us into Kamikochi, a stunning, high-elevation area within the Japanese Alps known for its alpen color, but also for its spiritual ponds with shinto shrines. Kamikochi does not allow private vehicles of any kind, making it a very quiet, beautiful slice of mountain paradise.

Our final destination will be to neighboring Gifu Prefecture and the quaint town of Takayama. With our many local friends and connections there, we will be spending a fun few days making environmental portraits of martial artists (including swordsmen), sake brewers, miso makers, ceramicists and Buddhist monks.

On October 29th, we will return back to Tokyo by bullet train and head out to a digital art museum in Tokyo with LED projections and more before our farewell dinner.

On the morning of October 30th, breakfast is included before we disperse.

For sample location images, please refer to the carousel above as well as this location video of Kamikochi:

GROUP SIZE

Minimum of 5 participants. Limited to 7 participants

INCLUDED

10 nights accommodations: 2 nights at a hotel in Central Karuizawa, 1 night at a high end hotel in Matsumoto, 2 nights at a luxurious hot spring resort in Kiso, 1 night at a 5-star alpine hotel in Kamikochi, 3 nights at a brand new hotel in the heart of Takayama, 1 night at a high-end art hotel in Central Tokyo.

All domestic transportation from the start of the expedition until the end, including trains and private van.

All breakfasts and all dinners including: welcome dinner in Karuizawa, a special Hida Beef A5 Wagyu dinner (seafood/vegetarian option available) in Takayama, farewell dinner in Tokyo

Some lunches

Admissions to museums, gardens, etc., national park fees, model fees

Guidance on photography, lighting and more from Michael Clark

Cultural guidance and trip planning from George Nobechi

Detailed Information Package and Itinerary

Additional bilingual support staff

NOT INCLUDED

International Airfare

Travel Insurance (strongly recommended)

Airport Transfers

Some lunches (budget $10~$15 per day - cheapest meal of the day in Japan)

Meals not mentioned above

Alcohol

Incidentals

THIS workshop is now full. TO BE ADDED TO the waitlist, please fill out the form below.