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Itinerary

Highlights of Trip - 10 days Tokyo | Kyoto | Japan Alps

• Traditional & Modern Accomodation
• Japanese Food & Drink
• Bullet Train (Shinkansen)
• Making your own coffee table book
• Learning survival Japanese
• Discovering back streets
• Getting lost a little
• Castles & Temples
• Geishas & Sumo Wrestlers
• Craftsmen & Modern Architecture
• Night Photography & Yakitori stands
• Post trip mini exhibition & book launch

Tokyo Highlights

• Quirky, Crazy, Sexy & Strange
• Back streets
• Asakusa (Old downtown)
• Shibamata (small version of Asakusa)
• Tsukiji (Fish Market)
• Daikanyama (Rich area)
• Shibuya (Funky area)
• Shinjuku (Entertainment & Red light area)
• Akihabara (Electric Town)

Kyoto Highlights

• Kinkaku-Ji (Golden Temple)
• Kiyomizu-Dera (Temple overlooking Kyoto)
• Heian-Jingu (Orange Shrine & garden)
• Gion (Geisha District)

Japan Alps: Tsumago, Narai & Matsumoto Highlights

• Traditional Inn & Country life
• Bush walk from Magome - Tsumago
• Nature Photography
• Local Food
• Matsumoto Castle

Costs

The tour will cost (from 2-4 pax) $AUD5,500

Included in your price

• All Accomodation (Price based on Twin Share)
• 7 Dinners
• All Breakfasts
• All Transport on Japan Rail only
• All Tour Leader Fees
• All Tuition Fees
• Japanese Lessons
• Post trip session

Not included in your price

• Airfare and Airport Taxes
• Travel Insurance (from $100)
• 3 dinners (~$50 x 3 = $150)
• All lunches & drinks (~$10 x 10 = $100)
• All Entry Fees (~$10 x 10 = $100)
• All Train Station - Hotel transfer fees (~$10 x 5 = $50.00)
• Your Amazing Book (in your own time - edit, design and print post trip)

What you need to take

• Up to 7kg of camera gear (hand carry)
• Add an extra 2kg personal (hand carry)
• Up to 20 kg one piece luggage (Wheels)
• External Drive
• Digital SLR & laptop

About Alfonso Calero

In 2001 I graduated with a Diploma in Photography from the Sydney Institute of Photography. I first got my break in travel photography shooting for Vogue Entertaining & Travel magazine. I have since specialised in food, still-life, portrait and travel photography. Some recent clients include: German Business Weekly, Japan Cuisine magazine, West NSW country councils, Notre Dame University, Travel & Living magazine, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and Big 4 caravan resorts. I regularly take keen photographers on workshops through the Rocks, Chinese Gardens and overseas.

Teaching experience

Alfonso currently teaches 6 hours of photography at the the Sydney Institute of Technology at Ultimo TAFE campus in Sydney. Aside from his own regular photography workshops in Sydney and Melbourne you can also enroll for a private session before going on a trip overseas to Japan, Spain or the Philippines.

Testimonials

My wife, Merrilyn and I went on a photographic tour of Japan in November of 2008 organised by Alfonso Calero, a professional photographer from Lane Cove, Sydney Australia.

Alfonso had lived in Japan and speaks fluent Japanese. We both used Pentax Digital SLR cameras on manual settings with Alfonso instructing.

The beauty of having someone as knowledgable as Alfonso was wonderful as he was able to assist us in how to look for the best shots possible.

The other great asset of travelling with Alfonso was his knowledge of spoken Japanese and ability to talk to the average person in the street.

We also met a number of Alfonso's friends who took great delight in taking us to their local area, bars and eating establishments that the average tourist would never find.

I would recommend anyone to join Alfonso's Japan Photography Tour.

David & Merrilyn Caswell

I recently went with Alfonso on a Spring journey to Japan. Although we spent a lot of time shooting around every street corner I also felt that I was able to use the camera to relax and meet people so it didn’t feel like I was under pressure.

The pace in which he took me around was perfect. The days itinerary was very flexible depending on the weather and what I felt like doing on the day.

I learnt quite a lot in the ten days and have come back with some amazing photos which would have been difficult to get on my own.

Alfonso’s assistance and relentless working hours, along with his ability to speak the language fluently and know where to go and where not to waste time, is a great asset in any trip you decide to do with him.

Vic Cinc