Japan Winter Wilderness
Winter Wilderness - Feb 2025
Visit Sapporo, Biei, Kushiro, Nagano, Shirakawago, Nagoya and Takayama
Step into a winter wonderland and embark on an extraordinary photographic journey through Japan's enchanting landscapes, where the beauty of nature and the allure of wildlife come together in perfect harmony. Join us on an exclusive two-week winter photography tour that unveils the country's captivating beauty like never before.
With your camera in hand, immerse yourself in the magic of Japan's colourful winter landscapes, from snow-capped mountains to serene forests, capturing the symphony of nature in every frame. Explore picturesque regions teeming with wildlife, where elusive creatures roam freely, presenting unique opportunities to capture their grace and raw beauty through your lens.
As a passionate photographer, you'll witness the harmonious blend of tradition and modernity. From the vibrant energy of Tokyo's neon cityscape to the serene tranquility of Japan's ancient temples and expansive naturescapes, each frame tells a captivating story. Marvel at majestic mountains that tower over spiritual forests, preserving the ancestral connection to wildlife and nature.
Our journey goes beyond visual delights as we delve into the heart of Japanese culture. Witness the mastery of traditional art forms, a testament to the enduring legacy of the ancestors. Immerse yourself in the Sapporo Winter ice sculpture festival, dive deep into the practices and rituals of the traditional Ainu, enriching your photographic narrative with deep cultural significance. And when the day's adventures call for rejuvenation, surrender to the soothing embrace of an onsen, letting the warm waters melt away your worries amidst the backdrop of snow-kissed landscapes.
Join us on this unforgettable winter expedition, where your lens will capture the essence of true Japan, preserving soulful moments and treasured encounters with wildlife. Unleash your creativity, connect with fellow photography enthusiasts, and discover a side of Japan that will forever linger in your heart and photographs. This is a journey where the wonders of nature and wildlife converge, offering a unique perspective that will inspire and captivate your artistic soul.
Tour Highlights
Visit Japan during the most magical and rewarding time of the year, our main goal is seeking out the raw and effortless beauty of Japan’s nature and capturing the most photogenic side of Japan with our cameras in hand.
This tour is dynamically tailored for the photographer and your photographic host Scott Stramyk has meticulously designed this tour along with the shoot-schedule to maximise your peak shooting time in picturesque locations around Japan. Alligning the experiences at each location with a creative learning outcome to challenge and flex your creative muscle all while having access to some one on one tuition throughout the two week photo tour.
Roam through tranquil temples and royal castles built in the Edo period
Capture the grandeur of mountains and volcanos
Discover the art of true craftsmanship as we witness master artisans creating ancient tangible art pieces
Feel a sense of time-travel as we explore through the pilgrim trails dating back to the Edo period
Immerse yourself in the culture and capture amazing images of traditional Japanese festivals
Explore regional prefectures, rural homesteads and ancient spiritual forests amongst the mountains and soak in the volcanic minerals of the Japanese onsen.
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The dates are subject to change as we optimise the tour to incorporate other cultural experiences
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Limited to 12 guests; (to provide the best photographic experience and tuition during the tour).
14 nights accomodation in a mixture of traditional and modern style rooms Twin or Single occupancy (price dependant)
All Breakfast and some dinners
Transport throughout your stay (excluding airport transfers)
Local Japanese/English speaking guide
Professional photographic tour host (Scott Stramyk) who will guide and mentor you through all areas of Japan and genres of photography
Commencing in and finishing in Tokyo
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Flights
Travel insurance
Laundry
Billable phone calls and wifi
Personal shopping
Evening and alcoholic beverages
Snacks
*Comprehensive travel insurance is Compulsory
Previous Japan tour gallery
What previous guests are saying.
“My trip to Japan with Scott Stramyk in late 2018 was an amazing experience.
I have been to Japan numerous times but this trip remains one of the most memorable. From the accommodation, the food and the day to day experiences it was unforgettable.
Despite Scott's great experience to catering for the needs of the individual photographer, when one is out of Australia and in a country as culturally different as Japan, it presents even greater challenges.
Any concerns I held dissipated as morning to night, day after day our arrangements were executed as reliably as a mechanical watch.
Not just that, on the occasion where unexpected opportunities presented
themselves, we flexed the itinerary to take advantage of the new circumstances.
I still look back at those two weeks and recount stories of the trip. The photos also remind me of what a wonderful time we all had.
I would unreservedly recommend Scott as an expedition organiser and
leader and hope that I can travel with him again some time soon.”
— Danny May
“What a blast! The two weeks with Scott Stramyk and our fellow travellers in late 2018 was a wonderful blend of iconic sights and unexpected off-beat surprises.
We spent time travelling how the locals travel via trains, subway and Shinkansen transport rather than the tourist coaches which provided an overall richer cultural experience.
Scott was a wonderful organiser, unflappable, and an excellent photography tutor.
One of the best photography trips I have experienced!.”
— Georgina Wilson
“I had the pleasure of joining Scott on a 14 day photographic tour of Japan in 2018. That trip still stands outs as one of the most memorable and enjoyable I’ve ever been on. A must do for any keen photographer.
Scott and our friendly local guide Kumi were fantastic. It was quite obvious the time and effort Scott spent researching locations, working out logistics, as well as his know-how to capture those “postcard” moments.
I would highly recommend taking a photographic trip with Scott”
— Jason Ahyong
“When someone ask me what my favourite photo is, my answer is I don’t really have one but I do have favourite moments. The Japan Photography Tour in November of 2018 lead by Scott Stramyk is by far the best photography tour I’ve ever been to!
It was an amazing and a well organised 14 day tour covering key destinations in Japan. From the city lights of Tokyo, the mighty Mount Fuji in Yamanashi, the snow monkeys in Nagano, the colourful town of Kyoto to the historic Hiroshima.
We have certainly covered some ground and mostly aboard the famous Shinkansen (bullet train). We shot from sunrise to sunset. There were the famous pagodas, castles, lakes, you name it we shot it!
Yes, Japan is probably most picturesque country in the world but I certainly loved its people, culture and food! It was definitely a tour to remember for me and it was great doing it with a bunch of my photo buddies. I will definitely come back for more!”
— Eddy Agcaoili
“My trip to Japan with Scott Stramyk in 2018 was beyond amazing, It has been the best destination trip I've experienced. I would highly recommend a destination trip with Scott. His expertise teaching camera techniques on site at beautiful destinations especially Japan which he is so passionate about helped me become the photographer I am today.
It created a whole new travel experience for me that has unsurpassed any trips to date. During the 14 days the trip was well organised and attention to detail was meticulous.
The itinerary was jam packed with all the scenery and activities you could hope for each day at every location. From photographing a Samurai swordsmith honing his craft, enjoying a personalised night of Sake tasting or shooting Japan's most beautiful waterfalls and bamboo forests, we did it all!
Everything went like clockwork, we were early at sunrise shoots and out shooting stars at night. I was constantly surprised and mesmerised with the little extras at each location, the restaurants, the locals we met and accomodation we stayed at. Meals were delicious and plentiful and beds were extra comfy. I would love to experience this yet again.”
— Alfia Rapicano
FAQs
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it is recommended to have a moderate fitness level. This is a photographic tour where we will be moving around quite frequently throughout the days. It is normal during our tour to walk any where between 6,000 - 18,000 steps a day. Some days are more strenuous than others.
As this tour is situated during the winter months we will have lots of walking in and around snowy areas.
Snow cleats are recommended to have for areas of our tour.
We will have a session of Snow shoeing through areas of Hokkaido.We will be using public transport for some locations but the beauty of this country is all in the details as we move through the towns and environments by foot.
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It is best to pack for cold/snow weather conditions. Warm clothing is essential, in addition waterproof shoes are a must to keep your feet warm and dry.
We will have some early mornings, late evenings and we will be heading into the mountain ranges where temperatures are subzero and snow is all around us.
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All skill levels are welcome to join this photographic tour.
There is no brand preference or camera type restriction on this tour.
Tuition and guidance is provided by your photographic host, Scott Stramyk, throughout the tour.
A basic understanding of your camera and settings is recommended prior to joining this tour. If you are unsure you can contact Scott via email. hello@scottstramyk.com
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I recommend packing sensibly, without going over the top with your backpack and equipment.
Cold weather essentials:
Beanie
Gloves
Waterproof shoes
Comfortable camera bag
Headtorch
Tripod
Spare batteries
Memory cards
Timer remote
Filters (Circular Polariser + Neutral Density)
Camera body (with cleaning equipment)
Wide lens (16-35mm)
Standard zoom lens (24-70mm / 24-105mm)
Telephoto lens (70-200mm / 100-400mm)
Laptop w/ storage for processing and backing up your footage on the trip
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Yes. If you are comfortable sharing a room with someone, the tour operator will arrange to contact another single occupancy attendee to see if they are interested in sharing. If there isn’t anyone available to share, the single supplement payment is required.
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All flights are to be arranged by yourself. This way if you are joining from another photo tour or a different destination you can arrange your flights accordingly.
If you wish to arrive or leave from a different airport than the one organised on the tour you can do so at your own expense. Please arrange with the tour operator.
