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In my more than twenty-eight years of leading photography tours in Japan, I have only organized a handful of rainy-season photography tours on Japan's main island. Hokkaido, however, is a different story, as it doesn't experience the rainy season. For a long time, I believed that the rainy season was a terrible time to visit and photograph south of Hokkaido. However, I spend about four months a year leading photo tours in Hokkaido. While I wasn't entirely wrong, I will never lead another Mt. Fuji photography workshop during the rainy season. I once made an exception for a lovely mother and her two daughters from Europe, who could only schedule their trip and time together during that period. Unfortunately, they never got to view the sacred peak fujisan ("No surprise there; I cautioned the mother the rainy season was the worst time to attempt to view and photograph Mt. Fuji.") However, when I reflect and look back on the images from that Japan private photo workshop, I realize we had a treasure trove of other subjects to photograph, and several of those images I took on that trip in the Aokigahara Jukuai forest (sea of trees) ended up in galleries and sold well.

In April 2025, I received a request to host a one-week private photography workshop in mid-June from a couple from Wisconsin, USA. And I first thought, here we go again😳‼️ My reply was a courtesy, as usual. And I had mentioned that this was the rainy season. Following negotiations via email and FaceTime about what the client wanted to photograph, the experiences they wished for, and how much they were willing to spend. We came to an agreement, and I accepted the booking. Fast forward to June, and we embarked on an exhilarating journey through captivating Authentic Japan, exploring the stunning and ancient pilgrimage routes of Gunma, Niigata, Yamagata, and Akita prefectures. Our route, which I have been scouting for over eight years, was the third private client to journey on parts of the route along the Sea of Japan. Some parts of our route I use on my annual Essence of Autumn and Essence of Cherry Blossom photo workshops. I am launching new workshops that span from Niigata to Aomori, as the region is mainly off the beaten path and offers a more authentic Japanese experience compared to my once-loved routes in Kyoto, Kanazawa, Seki Giju, and other areas, where I no longer run workshops due to tourist overcrowding.

Outline June 2025 Rainly Season Japan Private Photography Tour

My assistant and I met our clients in Gunma and then set off from Gunma Prefecture for Niigata Prefecture, immersing ourselves in the beauty of Authentic Japan. We visited a sacred Shinto shrine, a powerful spot revered for its water deities. In the Shinto tradition, water is revered as a symbol of various deities, especially those associated with mountains and agriculture. "Suijin," the water god, is often enshrined at springs and irrigation points, while "Yama-no-Kami," the mountain god, connects deeply to the life-giving water for farming. The river god, "Kawa-no-Kami," along with agriculture deities like "Inari," play essential roles in nourishing our crops.
After this enriching experience, we departed for our 4- to 5-star lodging, where a delightful dinner awaited us, capping off a day filled with wonder and exploration.

That night, torrential rains fell, and I had planned for us to photograph the sea of clouds the following morning. However, due to the weather, we did not go out in the early hours, as there was no sunrise, and it was raining heavily and foggy. Instead, we enjoyed breakfast and departed for a day of photography before 8 am. Our first stop was the rice terraces for photography, and then we moved on to a location with what looked like giant flower pots on a hillside, built to prevent landslides. This location is a bit of a mystery for me, as I have never encountered another place like it. At this point, we spotted a road and took an image of it using the zoom lens effect. Additionally, at the exact location, we captured images of wildflowers and plants. 

Our following location was supposed to be an enchanted ancient forest, and on the way, I spotted a pond with water lilies. We stopped and took images for over an hour.

On our way to the forest, we all realized we were a little hungry, as it was just past lunchtime. We visited a small, charming hamlet and ate lunch at a historic Kominka. This village is very laid-back, and its residents are on a mission to attract both local and international visitors. The location is 138° 37' 32.022" E, 37° 11' 56.826" N. After lunch, we took images of the cafe and an abandoned house in the village.

We finally made it to the enchanted ancient power spot forest, which I had never visited during the rainy season. I was surprised at the silence in the forest and the lack of people. The photography in the forest was superb, and I will visit again in the rainy season. 
After departing the forest, I had more locations to visit, but it was an hour to our lodgings, and we arrived just in time for our dinner reservation. We ate a lovely dinner, and afterwards, I wandered off to our lodgings, Onsen and slept early.

We kicked off our day bright and early at 4:00 am, setting off for the breathtaking valley of the Dragons in the Niigata highlands to capture the stunning Sea of Clouds. Mudslides blocked our usual route up the mountain, but as locals with extensive scouting experience, we knew the region well; we found an alternative back route that led us up the mountain. Just as we reached the top and our photography location, a thick fog bank rolled in, but I confidently said, "It's going to be sunny today!" After about ten minutes of waiting, the clouds magically lifted, revealing an ancient village below in the Yuzawa Niigata region, famous across Japan for its rice production. It is especially stunning, with its foggy mornings and spectacular scenery. The area is also home to a healthy bear population; I carry bear spray just in case, but honestly, wearing a bell has always been enough for me. I have never used bear spray, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
This morning turned out to be incredible, with a magical display of fog and clouds mixing with mountain peaks and landmasses peeking through like ocean stacks. The village below also provided perfect photo opportunities. After this fantastic experience, we returned to our lodgings for a cozy breakfast and a little break before checking out to continue our adventure.

Our next stop was the Koi Ponds, where we had the unique opportunity to feed some beautiful breeding Koi—what a treat! Niigata is world-famous for its Koi fish auctions, where they sell from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Then, we visited a small waterfall surrounded by vibrant spring-red Japanese Maple trees, which made for some gorgeous photos.

We stopped for lunch in Sanjo and enjoyed delicious Soba Noodles with seaweed— a special dish exclusive to Niigata, Japan.
Next, we explored the Sanjo industrial area, renowned worldwide for its high-quality stainless steel products, including Katana knives and double-walled, gold-plated cups. My new friends were thrilled to visit one of Japan's most famous destinations, where master artisans of metallurgy have been crafting their works for over 400 years.
An hour away, close to the coastline on the Sea of Japan, we checked into an exclusive 5-star lodging, with suite rooms complete with private onsen baths. Dinner didn't disappoint either, featuring some delightful local sake.
Plus, the men's only Onsen at the lodgings were fantastic. I
felt as if I were on the mountainside, enjoying my favourite hot springs and Shinrin Yoku while camping.

Shibata Castle is worth visiting in any season.

For the past week, I had been watching closely as Japan's first typhoon of the season was forecasted to hit us that day. And as if the heavens opened, the typhoon stalled, and we had sunny skies for the second half of this Japan private photography journey.
After visiting Shibata Castle, we stopped in Murakami and explored a fish market where hundreds of dried salmon are hung to dry for one to two years. Unfortunately, due to the season, we were not allowed upstairs to view the fish because of concerns about heatstroke. In autumn, fish viewing and photography are permitted inside the market, as it is the high season for salmon fishing and purchasing last year's catch, along with daily catches, and the temperatures are cooler.

After departing Murakami, we quickly dropped off our luggage at our 4-star suite accommodations in Yamagata, Japan, of course, with en-suite onsen facilities. With still plenty of daylight, we stopped at an old-fashioned salt-making shop that boils seawater to evaporate the salt. The region is rich in seaweed, and the salt produced here is quite special. Since first sampling this salt ten years ago, it has become my go-to at home. Then, with some much-needed R&R, we headed to a beach for an hour of picking agates, jaspers, and other semi-precious stones before shifting our focus to photography. The rest of the day, until after sunset, was dedicated to capturing images of ocean stacks and coastline photography.

The next couple of mornings were for Birding, as we were staying smack in the middle of Japan's busiest birding route, where I had previously photographed the ruby kingfisher. We never got to photograph kingfishers, and the highlight for me was spotting a jungle crow, Corvus macrorhynchos. I managed to capture some stunning photos of the crow in its breeding season, munching on berries and seeds—such a natural scene!

Later, we stopped at Zenpoji Temple, an ancient Buddhist Sanctuary from the Heian period 794-1185). The place was serene, with monks leading daily prayers and meditations in the Zen tradition. I was feeling wiped out from dealing with the varicella-zoster virus since the start of the workshop, so I took a quick nap in the vehicle while my assistant kindly showed our participants around the temple.
My assistant, Manami, woke me by cell phone, and after chatting, we decided to leave the Buddhist Sanctuary. However, before they arrived back at the vehicle, I took a short walk to stretch my legs, and while out and about, I stumbled upon an abandoned train, which turned out to be a fantastic photo opportunity!

After spending quality time with my new clients, who are now like friends, I decided to introduce a noteworthy Shinto Shrine in Akita Prefecture, which took us extremely off the beaten path. This Shinto sanctuary is unique as it features dragon carvings on its pillars, which is pretty rare in Japan! Legend has it that one of Japan's most famous wood carvers, who created the carvings in Nikko for the Shogun, hailed from this village.


While we were about to wrap it up at the Shrinto shrine, the head townsperson showed up and granted us special access inside the Shinto Sanctuary, which is a rare treat! We spent 90 minutes photographing this simple yet powerful building—it was an honour. And I made sure to leave ¥10,000 in the donations box, as I always do at these sacred places. I know how much appreciation matters.

We headed back to Yamagata Prefecture along the stunning Sea of Japan coastline for our sunset spot. We arrived a couple of hours before sunset to check out our location, but as we drove down a dirt road, we spotted a Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cioides) just a few feet away in a tree! We exclaimed, "Of course, we didn't have our cameras ready!" So we jumped out to set up our gear, but of course, the bird flew away. However, we took the chance to do some birding in the area, where my participant got incredible shots of Eastern spot-billed ducks flying out of the rice paddies—water droplets sparkling off their feet!
On our way back to the sunset spot, we were lucky enough to see the Meadow Bunting sitting on the same branch again! It was a sign of good luck; in truth, there was a vine on the tree, which kept the birds safe, and this little one seemed to know we were just there taking pictures of it until 18:30 pm. I had to pull us away as sunset was at 19:02; we arrived at our sunset location by 18:47. This is where it gets tantalizing and very ZEN. One of the most important lessons I learned, taught, and use in my daily life is "Shoshin," Beginner's Mind." It is a concept from Zen Buddhism that emphasizes an attitude of openness, eagerness, and a lack of preconceptions when approaching any subject; even if one is already advanced, even a master will have the transparency of a beginner. One will have openness and eagerness to view, touch, and visualize the subject as fresh and as a daisy as if they had first laid eyes upon it. "Shunryu Suzuki, a Zen Buddhist Master, quote: 'In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few." This quote is from his book, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind," and encapsulates the idea that a beginner's mind, characterized by openness and a lack of preconceptions, allows for more potential and learning than an expert's mind, which may be burdened by rigid ideas and fixed perspectives may burden. "
We commenced taking images of the sunset, and Ocean stacks at 18:47, and our last picture was taken at 19:06. IN MY MIND and Heart, it felt as if we were on the beach for a good hour or two, not mere minutes. The beginner's mind and perception are powerful and fantastic tools, and I bring them to all assignments and daily life.

I will 100% set aside time again for a private photography workshop in Japan during the rainy season in June.

Contact me to start planning your DREAM Japan photo workshop. Or join one of my fully inclusive business class photo workshops.
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