Kyoto: Portrait of a City Workshop w/ Michael Turek | March 1-8, 2026
$9,995 ($2,495 Deposit)
Workshop at a Glance
Physical Activity
Photographic Intensity
Classroom Instruction
Climate/Weather Severity Food and Accommodations Cultural Immersion
Good for Non-photographers-
We invite you to join photographer Michael Turek for an immersive week of documentary photography in Japan’s cultural heart, Kyoto. This all-inclusive workshop is designed not only to strengthen your technical and artistic skills, but also to deepen your ability to tell meaningful visual stories. Joining Michael on this workshop will be Founder of Curated Kyoto, Sara Aiko. Sara will be our host, translator and Kyoto expert during our stay. She will provide the group with rare access to artisans, sacred spaces, and centuries-old traditions, allowing you to photograph a side of Kyoto few visitors ever see.
Why Kyoto?
In Kyoto, every detail is intentional: a stone placed in a temple garden, a brushstroke in calligraphy, the choreography of a tea ceremony. Nothing is accidental. This makes the city an extraordinary setting for a photography workshop focused on slowing down, observing deeply, and creating images infused with meaning. You’ll leave not only with a portfolio of striking photographs, but also with a renewed sense of purpose in your creative practice—an approach to photography, and to life, grounded in intentionality.
About the Workshop
What does it mean to create modern travel photography? How can an image move beyond cliché to capture the spirit of a place? Over the course of this workshop, Michael will guide participants in exploring these questions through discussion, assignments, and one-on-one coaching. Together, we’ll create a supportive space that encourages curiosity, risk-taking, and discovery—helping you hone a more intentional photographic voice.
In Kyoto, beauty often resides behind closed doors: in the workshop of a master craftsman, in the precise ritual of a tea ceremony, or in the fleeting interplay of light across a tatami mat. This workshop opens those doors. With private access to artisans, cultural practitioners, and sacred properties, you’ll work side by side with Michael to document the rhythms of a city that balances deep tradition with modern life.
Michael is a long-time Leica film camera shooter (M3 and M-A) and has developed a Blended Exposure technique that is specific to Leica film cameras. These images are all created in-camera (in a Leica M3 from 1962), on film and the pairings between the left and right side of each frame are completely random. For those interested, Michael will also share this technique and guide you through the process.
Participants are welcome to bring their own film cameras (with a limited number of loaners available) or work digitally. The emphasis is less on tools than on cultivating presence, deliberation, and intent.
Your hosts
About Michael Turek: Michael Turek is a British-American photographer based in New York. He received his B.A. from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2004. He is an analog photographer who focuses on documentary assignments for clients including The Financial Times, The Guardian, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. His book, CONTRAIL, published by Roman Nvmerals, is included in the MoMA Archives and Library. His first photographic monograph, SIBERIA was published by Damiani in 2020. He is a Kodak Ambassador and has won numerous industry awards.
About Sara Aiko: I created Curated Kyoto after working in a media department and noticing a gap in how the city was represented—while tourist sites were well covered, little conveyed Kyoto’s quiet beauty, layered culture, and the details that make it truly special. Kyoto has been my greatest teacher: its craftspeople, their pursuit of excellence, and the community’s devotion to heritage have shaped me personally and creatively, revealing a depth that transforms how one sees the world. Alongside curating experiences for Curated Kyoto, I work as a creative director on media and cultural projects, a dual role that connects me deeply to the city’s creative community and allows me to share its spirit in both grounded and elevated ways. At the heart of my perspective is gratitude to my Japanese mother, who raised me fiercely in two languages and two cultures: an East–West duality that remains the foundation of everything I do.
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Dates:
Sunday, March 1 - Sunday, March 8, 2026
Cost:
$9,995 - Double occupancy lodging (Single room - $1600)
Size:
Limited to 7 attendees
Included in the cost of the trip:
- Double occupancy lodging at the Ace Hotel Kyoto (Single room - $1600)
- All meals and non-alcoholic beverages
- A local English speaking tour guide/host accompanying the group
- Day trip to Nara
- Behind the scenes access to photograph artisans, craftspeople, monks, etc.
- Any museum & conservancy entrance fees
- Gratuities for our guide Sara
- In-the-field and classroom photography instruction by Michael Turek
- 1-on-1 critique/review/post processing sessions
Not included in the cost of the trip:
- International flights to and from Japan
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Additional hotel nights before or after the trip should you require them
- Alcohol and snacks
- Items of a personal nature
- Visa if necessary
Getting There / Flight Recommendations
For participants traveling from the United States, we recommend two convenient options for reaching Kyoto:
Option 1: Fly into Osaka
The closest international gateway to Kyoto is Kansai International Airport (KIX), located just outside Osaka. From KIX, Kyoto is about 90 minutes away by taxi or private transfer, which we can help arrange. This is the most direct and seamless route into the city.
Option 1: Fly into Tokyo
Alternatively, you may fly into Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) or Narita Airport (NRT). From Tokyo, the famous Shinkansen bullet train connects you to Kyoto in roughly 2.5–3 hours. Trains are frequent, comfortable, and provide a chance to see the Japanese countryside along the way.
Where we'll stay
Throughout the workshop, we’ll stay at the Ace Hotel Kyoto, a stylish and contemporary property designed in collaboration with architect Kengo Kuma. Located in the city center, the Ace blends modern comfort with nods to Kyoto’s heritage, making it an ideal home base for our explorations. Its welcoming common spaces, acclaimed dining, and thoughtful design will give us a relaxed yet inspiring setting to return to after each day’s photographic work.
Getting around / Transportation
Kyoto is a very walkable city and as with any city based workshop, we find that walking is the best way to get to know and photograph the place. Be prepared for a lot of walking with your camera equipment. Of course, we'll also utilize taxis and subway where appropriate. We'll have private transportation for our day trip to Nara.
Signing UpTo sign up for this photo adventure, checkout here on our website, call 305-921-4433 or email us (workshops@leicastoremiami.com). We are happy to answer any questions you may have. A $2495 deposit, along with the single room supplement fee should you choose it, is required to hold your spot. The balance will be due on December 1, 2025.
We look forward to seeing you in Kyoto!
- Double occupancy lodging at the Ace Hotel Kyoto (Single room - $1600)
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Itinerary (A more detailed schedule will be delivered prior to the workshop)
Day 1 - Sunday, March 1: Arrival in Kyoto & Welcome Dinnner
Arrive at the Ace Hotel Kyoto
Welcome dinner and orientation with Michael Turek and Sara Aiko
Day 2 - Monday, March 2: The Spirit of Calligraphy
Private studio visit with a master calligrapher
Photograph performance, tools, and intimate portraits
Evening discussion: visual storytelling and narrative structure
Day 3 - Tuesday, March 3: Tea Ceremony
Exclusive access to a tea master’s home
Document ritual preparation, studio details, and portraits
Afternoon critique and guided editing session
Day 4 - Wednesday, March 4: Intentional Kyoto
Guided walk through traditional neighborhoods
Workshop on composing images with purpose
Night photography at a World Heritage temple with private access
Day 5 - Thursday, March 5: Day Trip to Nara
Visit the oldest ink manufacturer in Japan (behind-the-scenes documentation of craft process)
Explore ancient temples and shrines of Nara
Return to Kyoto for dinner and reflection
Day 6 - Friday, March 6: Sacred Spaces
Special access to one of Kyoto’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Portrait session with a temple monk
Texture and detail studies of historic architecture
Day 7 - Saturday, March 7: Synthesis & Portfolio Review
Morning free for self-directed photography
Afternoon one-on-one coaching sessions with Michael
Final group slideshow and closing celebration dinner
Day 8 - Sunday, March 8: Departure
After breakfast, if you're not extending your stay in Japan, check out and transfer to Kansai International Airport or the rail station.
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Payment
A $2495 deposit, along with the single supplement room fee if you choose it, is due at the time of registration. The balance will be due on December 1, 2025.
Withdrawal and Refund Policy
Enrollment is limited to 7 participants, and once you sign up, we are counting on your attendance. If you need to withdraw from this workshop, please notify us in writing (email is acceptable) as soon as possible. This is our refund policy:
If you cancel and we find someone to fill your seat, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $250 service charge. If you cancel and we cannot find someone to fill your seat, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule:
At least 90 days before the start of the workshop: Full refund minus $250 service fee.
Between 89 and 60 days before the start of the workshop: 75% refund
Between 59 and 45 days before the start of the workshop: 50% refund
Less than 45 days from the start of the workshop: No refundCourse Cancellation and Other Terms
Leica Store Miami reserves the right to cancel a reservation if full payment has not been received by 90 days prior to the start of the workshop.
In the event that this workshop must be canceled due to inadequate enrollment, all fees and deposits will be refunded in full or may be transferred to another workshop within 24 months.
In the unlikely event of illness, accident or injury to one of the instructors, Leica Store Miami reserves the right to replace that instructor with a comparable instructor.
In the event of a natural disaster or severe weather event, Leica Store Miami reserves the right to postpone or cancel the workshop.Travel Insurance (recommended)
It is a requirement of booking that guests provide evidence of medical travel insurance on our international trips, but we always recommend comprehensive travel insurance to cover cancellation and curtailment, medical and emergency expenses, personal accident, injury and death in addition to loss of/damage to luggage and possessions, personal possessions and flight cancellations/delays. Companies like Travelex and Allianz Global Assistance are reputable but you can choose any vendor you like. Leica Store Miami is not responsible for reimbursement of non-refundable airline tickets in the event of a workshop cancellation, nor are we responsible for trip cancellations due to medical emergencies, personal emergencies or other unforeseen events.
Camera Gear Insurance (STRONGLY recommended)
We advise all of our workshop attendees to insure their camera gear against damage, theft, loss, etc. If your gear is not already insured, check with your home owner's insurance to see if they offer coverage. There are several photo specific insurance policies out there as well.
Communicable Illness Protocols
Our main goal on all of our tours is to keep everyone safe. To that end, we ask that everyone do their best to avoid exposure to communicable diseases like Covid-19, influenza, RSV, etc before and during our trip. If someone in our group becomes ill on the trip and we deem it to be harmful to the group, we reserve the right to remove them from group activities where social distancing is not possible.
Single Room Policy
If you sign-up for double occupancy room sharing and there are no other attendees to pair you with, you will be responsible for paying the single room supplement.Transfers
If for any reason you wish to transfer your deposit or workshop fee, please notify us by email. You must register and complete a new workshop within 24 months of the withdrawal. We reserve the right to accept or deny any transfer.There are no exceptions to our Cancellation and Transfer Policy.
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