Wednesday, November 8th - Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya

Ohayou gozaimasu (good morning)! After breakfast, we'll gather in the lobby of our hotel at 8:00am and set off to explore Tokyo.

Our time in Japan begins in the endlessly fascinating modern capital. Over the next couple of days, we'll be experiencing a carefully curated selection of important highlights and hidden gems, led by our expert guide Sara Aiko. To complement the city's ultramodern elements, we'll also be focusing on quiet, charming districts where we'll encounter fewer tourists and  character to spare.

While in Tokyo, we'll be navigating the city primarily on foot and via Tokyo's clean and efficient rail network. For convenience, each guest will receive a local transport card (known as an IC card) pre-filled with 5,000 JPY. Along with enabling seamless travels, IC cards can also be used at many of Japan's ubiquitous vending machines and colorful conbini (convenience stores).

This morning, we'll travel by rail to the expansive grounds of Meiji Jingu Shrine, one of the city's most spacious and peaceful green spaces. From the imposing wooden torii gate marking the entrance to Meiji Jingu, it is about a 15-minute walk to the shrine itself. This is one of Tokyo's prettiest spots, and a relaxing way to begin our time in the city.

From Meiji Jingu, we'll walk into the neighboring Harajuku  neighborhood, where teens are known for expressing themselves through creative, flamboyant style. Passing through Harajuku we'll arrive in the upscale Omotesando and Aoyama neighborhoods, where we'll find a delightful mix of quiet side streets complemented by the most impressive and eye-catching modern architecture in the city. After lunch, we'll  continue to nearby Shibuya, home to Tokyo's famous "scramble" crossing, where huge numbers of pedestrians cross day and night. You'll have time to capture this iconic scene and then we'll have lunch. Next, we'll proceed to one of the most laid-back neighborhoods in all of Tokyo, Naka-Meguro. As we take a break from the pace of the city, and stroll along the area's picturesque tree-lined canal, you may forget we're in one of the world's largest metropolises.

Throughout the trip, Leica Store Miami hosts and our guide will ensure there is plenty of time for unhurried photography, and to break up our explorations we'll enjoy a variety of excellent, casual lunches, along with optional tea and coffee breaks when appropriate.

Our tour will conclude at 3:30 pm and we'll head back to the hotel by rail for downtime before dinner. If you wish to keep exploring on your own, our guide Sara will be happy to help point you in the right direction.



This evening we'll gather in the lobby at 5:45 pm and head out to a fantastic restaurant near the hotel for an izakaya experience. An izakaya is a lively Japanese restaurant that offers a variety of Japanese dishes (sometimes referred to as "Japanese tapas") complemented by sake in a spirited environment. Eating and drinking at an izakaya is an unforgettable experience, with the chance to sample various delicious dishes and mingle with locals in a relaxed atmosphere.

After dinner, we'll have an optional night shoot Ginza and Shimbashi/Yurakucho. If you're not up for that, you can head back to the hotel or stay out explore the neighborhood. Ginza is one of the city's premier nightlife centers, and our guide can help point you in the right direction whether you're seeking whisky, cocktails, sake, or karaoke.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (plus one welcome drink)
Hotel: Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel at your leisure. At 9:00 am, we'll gather in the lobby and head out to explore Tsukiji, where we'll have the chance to photograph the gritty and historic Tsukiji Outer Market. While wholesale operations have relocated to out-of-theway Toyosu, Tsukiji's atmospheric lanes and generations-old shops remain an essential stop.



After lunch, we'll head by rail to Yanaka, one of Tokyo's best-preserved historical districts. The area was mostly spared during the Second World War, and today boasts old-fashioned charm along with contemporary creativity. As we wander through Yanaka's quiet streets, we'll encounter beautiful old buildings, small neighborhood shrines and temples, quaint mom-and-pop shops, and a smattering of tiny cafes and galleries.

Our tour will conclude here at 4:30 pm. For those who would like to keep exploring, our guide will help point the way depending on where you'd like to go. The rest of us will return to our hotel by rail for some downtime before dinner.



This evening at 5:45 pm we'll meet in the lobby and head out to a casual dinner in Ginza. After dinner, we'll have an optional night shoot in Shinjuku and Shibuya.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Hotel: Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo

You'll never run out of things to see and do in Tokyo, but the city also serves as an ideal jumping-off point for the one-and-only Mount Fuji.

Our private transport will pick us up from the hotel at 11:00 am as we leave the city bound for the Mount Fuji area (travel time is approximately 2 hours). We'll have lunch near Lake Kawaguchi and then visit a selection of vantage points designed to give us the best possible chance of getting great shots of this legendary mountain. Please keep in mind that views of Mount Fuji cannot be guaranteed, and Fujisan photography is truly weather-dependent. It is not uncommon for the mountain to be fully obscured by cloud cover, though conditions in fall are typically good on the whole relative to spring and summer.

At about 3:00 pm, we'll check-in to our hotel and then explore the Kawaguchiko Momiji Corridor on foot. After sunset, we'll head back to the hotel for dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Hotel: Kumonoue Hotel Kawaguchiko

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November 11-13, 2023: Ryokan Hanafubuki
Set among the trees of a woodland grove, and a short hike from the stunning coastline, Hanafubuki is renowned for its warm service and variety of delightful private onsen (hot spring) baths. In addition to relaxing in your traditional Japanese-style room, Hanafubuki offers guests the unique chance to sample several soothing onsen, some open-air, all on a private basis. In the evening, enjoy kaiseki in a Japanese-style room overlooking the lantern-lit trees and pathways of the ryokan.

Saturday, November 11th - Sunrise Chureito Pagoda and Journey to Izu Peninsula
We'll have the early morning sunrise shoot at Chureito Pagoda, departing at 5:45 am. After a morning of amazing photography, we'll head back to the hotel for breakfast and then depart to the Izu Peninsula at 9:30 am. On the way, we'll stop at the Ichiku Kubota Museum, Mt. Omuro and Lake Ippeki.

At about 3:00 pm we'll arrive into lush Izu. On arrival, it's a pleasant walk from the rural station to our traditional ryokan. We'll arrive in good time to settle into our lovely surroundings, relax in our Japanese-style rooms, soak in the healing onsen (hot springs), and tonight enjoy an incredible kaiseki dinner featuring local and seasonal ingredients.

Ryokan: Hanafubuki

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Sunday, November 12th - Izu Peninsula, Jogasaki Coast



In between our explorations of the modern and ancient capitals, we'll have a full day to enjoy the atmosphere and beauty of rural Japan. A day at a traditional ryokan begins with an early-morning soak in one of the property's private onsen (optional of course). Then it's time for a splendid and slow-paced Japanese breakfast, an experience in and of itself.

Following a leisurely morning, we'll gather in the lobby and embark on a walk to the nearby Jogasaki Coast. One of the most beautiful stretches of the Izu Peninsula's coastline, the rugged Jogasaki Coast is renowned for its picturesque cliffs and sweeping ocean views. After a chance to take photographs together, some can continue along the scenic coastal path, while others may choose to walk back to the ryokan.

Before dinner this evening we'll have the remainder of the day free. A quintessential part of the ryokan experience is slowing down, and we'll have time today to decompress in our rural, Japanese-style surroundings.

Lunch today is free and there are plenty of options near the ryokan and around the nearby Izu-Kogen Station. However, you may want to eat light as we'll be enjoying another magnificent multi-course dinner this evening!

Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner
Ryokan: Hanafubuki

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November 13-17, 2022: Ace Hotel Kyoto
Our base in the ancient capital will be the stylish Ace Hotel Kyoto. Boasting the collaboration of Japanese architecture legend Kengo Kuma, the attractive and well-located Ace Hotel Kyoto features lovely design throughout its accommodations, common areas, and dining spaces.