Memoirs of Kyoto

(10 customer reviews)

¥28,000per session

Times are in Asia/Tokyo

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Hotel pick-up *

Hotel pick-up is NOT included in this photo adventure. Include it for an extra ¥6,000.

Gift Card

Have any questions? Contact us!

Adventure Type

Private Photo Workshop

Max Size

4 people

Duration

2.5 Hours

Locations

Kiyomizu-dera
Ninenzaka
Gion

Language

English

Includes

• Professional photo instructor

Excludes

• Camera
• Hotel Pickup
• Train Fare (~¥170)

Minimum Required Gear

• A comfy pair of shoes
• Smarphone or entry-level camera
• No tripod needed

Candid

Street Photography

Tradition

What’s the Story?

Kyoto—a city of quaint streets and picturesque avenues line with wooden houses from a time gone by. The denizens of the city still embody this old-fashioned existence. Their passion for their own heritage is embodies in their fashion and mannerisms. The city’s temples are not mere mausoleums to something long gone, but are living, breathing monuments to the spirit of the city that is Kyoto.

What We’ll Shoot

We will learn how to photograph humanity and life in the famed old streets of Kyoto. You will learn the most effective camera settings and techniques for capturing moments on the fly. We will also practice approaching people and asking them to pose for our cameras, in particular those wearing beautiful kimono, bright splashes of color and elegant patterns.

Where We’ll Explore

We will begin our journey at a quiet temple not too far from Kiyomizu-dera. The road to the famed temple atop the hill we will take us through a quiet but sprawling cemetery, filled with somber stone monoliths, a silent city testament to Kyoto’s past. This will serve as a poetic contrast to the bustling streets of Ninenzaka, filled with life. Finally, we will end our journey into the past on the calm back streets of Gion.

Instructors for this Photo Adventure

10 reviews for Memoirs of Kyoto

  1. Elisha990

    Thank you to Paul for his invaluable tips on this afternoon tour walking around Gion. Paul worked hard to challenge me to see things through news eyes and a different perspective. He gave me tips from both an aesthetic and technical perspective and enhanced my understanding of the capabilities of the camera. At the same time I learnt about his experience of living in Kyoto and history of the city. He encouraged and challenged me to approach strangers to see if I could take their photo – which definitely was a helpful strategy to improve my photos. I would really recommend this tour. Thank you also to Lukasz who helped with behind the scenes logistics.

  2. ron132014

    It was a wonderful experience photo documenting Kyoto with Axel. He was very helpful and provided useful tips for taking different perspectives. Axel is well versed with finer details of photography and his critics were useful in pushing my limit and coming out of my comfort zone and trying new ideas.

  3. Joanne M

    A “must do” in Kyoto! Axel is an extremely strong teacher and Kyoto guide who works with the spontaneity of the environment, people and culture along the walking tour while critically providing tips for use of the camera settings. He shows you the best angles, composition, lighting, subject matter and overall emotion the photos can evoke. In the few hours we were together, I was so pleased with the walk around Gion and the improvements I made with my own photography. I truly value the learning experience and highly recommend this walking tour of Kyoto!

  4. samirmishra

    We went to the back alleys of Gion and were able to photograph a real Geisha. The instructors are very helpful and you can see they are very passionate about photography.

  5. Avi

    I did the Tokyo night tour with Lukasz and Memoirs of Kyoto with Axel. It was a lot of fun, informative, and there were some great pictures (still processing the pictures from the trip). Thank you Lukasz and Axel

  6. Alessa106

    This is my second session with axel (the first was memories of Kyoto) learned a lot and took some amazing shots. Axel knows his way around the city and with the locals very well, which made it really easy for me to just focus on what I wanted to do.

  7. TG119

    I booked the Kyoto Photo walk after doing one of EyExplore’s Tokyo workshops. As a fairly new photographer, I learned so much and have a wonderful portfolio of photos from Kyoto that I never would have taken on my own. Don’t hesitate to book any of EyExplore’s Photo Adventures. I’ve now done 4 of them and they were all equally amazing.

  8. Bianca V

    Amazing two hours in Kyoto with a guide willing to give the best tips for street photography. Axel seems relentless with the light, the different angles, the observation of the decisive instant. I highly recommend this photowalk.

  9. Donna P

    Had a great time on this tour with Axel as my guide. I learned a lot about composition and subject framing, and different ways of looking at the photos I intend to take, so as to end up with something unique to my visit. Some of the photos were of other visitors who were dressed in gorgeous authentic kimonos, and Axel was able to ask them if they were willing to be the subject my photos, while also getting a unique perspective for their own photos. Thoroughly enjoyable for us all. Wasn’t quite fast enough to get many photos of the traditional Geiko in the Gion district, but certainly not for the lack of trying on Axel’s part! I had a great time on this tour, and learned so much! I would definitely recommend this for learners wanting to know a bit more about photography or for those just wanting to brush up on some skills, or even to see more of the less touristy parts of Kyoto.

  10. Javeer P

    I had a very special time on the EYExplore Kyoto tour where we went to Kiyomizu Dera and Fushimi Inari. My host Axel was able to share a really fresh perspective of capturing these historic places on camera in ways that I hadn’t thought about before and took me to many spots I’d likely have missed on my own. It was so fun to capture other visitors dressed in their stunning kimonos after Axel had politely asked them permission. On this tour I also learned about using light trails in my photography and it’s something I’m going to enjoy doing much more of in the future. Thoroughly enjoyable for anyone interested in photography. Thanks EYExplore!

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We meet at the entrance to Otani Hombyō at the beginning of the bridge leading in side. There is a bus stop and taxi stand right in front, on the street. Please be aware that during the peak seasons in April and November traffic can be heavy so please give yourself extra time if you are arriving by taxi or bus.

Meeting Point Photo

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Meeting Point Map

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