JAPAN
Discover the colours, quiet beauty and extraordinary light of Japan in autumn.
Join landscape photographer Timothy Poulton for a 12-day photography journey from Tokyo to the shores of Mount Fuji and the gardens of Kyoto.
Explore a landscape of crimson maples, golden foliage, mist-covered lakes and traditional architecture. From the first light on Mount Fuji to Kyoto’s intimate temple gardens, autumn offers remarkable opportunities to look, learn and create.
With just five guests, private rooms throughout and a flexible approach to daily locations, this journey gives us time to follow the colour and respond to the changing light.
ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHTS
PRIVATE ROOMS & LOCAL HOSPITALITY
Enjoy eleven nights in comfortable, carefully selected accommodation, with a private room for every guest. Our bases in Tokyo, Kawaguchiko and Kyoto provide time to settle in, explore and relax between photographic outings.
SUNRISE & CHANGING LIGHT
Seek out the gentle light of early morning, reflections on quiet lakes and autumn leaves illuminated against darker landscapes. Our daily plans respond to weather, mountain visibility and the developing seasonal colour.
MOUNT FUJI & THE FIVE LAKES
Spend three nights in Kawaguchiko, exploring lakeshores, maple-lined viewpoints and compositions around Japan’s iconic mountain. Multiple mornings give us opportunities to return when the light and conditions are most promising.
KYOTO’S AUTUMN GARDENS
Explore temple gardens, wooded paths and traditional streets during six nights in Kyoto. Potential highlights include Arashiyama, Nanzenji and Eikando, with quieter locations selected according to foliage and access.
PERSONAL GUIDANCE & IMAGE REVIEWS
Develop your photography with individual guidance on composition, exposure and working with natural light. Two image-review and editing sessions provide an opportunity to discuss your photographs, refine your approach and develop images that reflect your own experience of Japan.
A JOURNEY THROUGH LIGHT & COLOUR
Designed for photographers of all experience levels, this journey combines time in the landscape with the atmosphere, culture and everyday beauty of Japan. Explore remarkable places and share the experience with a small group of like-minded travellers.
With personalised guidance and a flexible approach, we can revisit a lakeshore, explore another garden or wait for the mountain to emerge. Each day is shaped by the conditions and the opportunities in front of us.
Expect early starts, walking, steps and some uneven paths. Photography access varies between locations, and some gardens and temples restrict tripods. Autumn colour and clear views of Mount Fuji depend on seasonal conditions.
TWELVE DAYS IN JAPAN
WELCOME TO TOKYO
Arrive in Tokyo and settle into the hotel. Meet the group over a welcome dinner and discuss the photographic journey ahead. One night in Tokyo.
THE FUJI FIVE LAKES
Travel to Kawaguchiko for three nights. Explore autumn lakeshores, seek out sunrise views of Mount Fuji and visit promising maple locations, with time to adapt to weather and visibility.
ONWARD TO KYOTO
Transfer to Mishima and travel by Shinkansen to Kyoto. Settle into our base for the next six nights before a relaxed introduction to the city.
FOLLOW THE AUTUMN COLOUR
Five full days to explore Kyoto’s gardens, temple grounds and surrounding districts. Locations may include Arashiyama, eastern Kyoto and Ohara. Revisit favourite compositions, enjoy image reviews and share a farewell dinner on our final Kyoto evening.
BULLET TRAIN TO TOKYO & DEPARTURE
Enjoy a final morning opportunity before returning to Tokyo by Shinkansen on 24 November. Stay overnight in Tokyo before departing on 25 November, or extend your stay independently.
This is a proposed itinerary. Daily locations, photography sessions and illumination visits depend on conditions, opening schedules and photography access.
FIVE GUESTS. YOUR OWN ROOM.
PER PERSON / PRIVATE ROOM
Twelve days and eleven nights, starting and finishing in Tokyo. A maximum of five paying guests, accompanied by Timothy Poulton. Private accommodation is included throughout.
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
Guests book their own international flights. Plan to arrive in Tokyo on 14 November and depart on 25 November 2027. Meeting details, airport transfer arrangements and the confirmed itinerary will be supplied before travel.
WHAT’S COVERED
- Eleven nights of accommodation in a private room.
- Breakfasts where included in the confirmed hotel package.
- Scheduled ground transport between itinerary locations.
- Reserved Shinkansen travel from Mishima to Kyoto and Kyoto to Tokyo.
- Admissions included in the final itinerary.
- Welcome and farewell dinners.
- Photographic guidance with Timothy Poulton.
- Two image-review and editing sessions.
WHAT YOU ARRANGE
- International flights.
- Meals other than those specified as included.
- Alcohol and personal purchases.
- Personal travel insurance.
- Optional activities.
- Additional accommodation before or after the journey.
- Transport outside the scheduled group arrangements.
Proposed dates and price are subject to final accommodation and transport confirmation. The departure is planned on the basis of five paying guests. Enquire for availability and booking details.
TWELVE DAYS. EXTRAORDINARY COLOUR. ENDLESS INSPIRATION.
Join me in Japan and discover the autumn gardens, changing light and quiet beauty of Mount Fuji and Kyoto.
ENQUIRE ABOUT THIS ADVENTURETOUR INFORMATION
Everything you need to know about your Patagonia autumn photography adventure, from accommodation and inclusions to fitness requirements and weather conditions.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 11 nights of luxury twin-share accommodation
- Single supplement available at additional cost
- Ground transportation throughout the tour
- Experienced local guides
- Transfers from Punta Arenas Airport
- Photography guidance from Timothy Poulton
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Flights to and from Punta Arenas
- Personal expenses and purchases
- Snacks and beverages
- Personal clothing and equipment
- Travel and medical insurance
WHAT TO BRING
Patagonia's autumn conditions can change rapidly, so appropriate clothing and footwear are essential.
- Sturdy waterproof hiking boots
- Warm alpine clothing and thermal layers
- Waterproof and windproof outerwear
- Gloves, beanie and warm accessories
- Photography equipment suited to the conditions
EXERTION LEVEL
This adventure welcomes photographers of varying experience and fitness levels. Our approach allows flexibility so guests can enjoy the landscapes at a comfortable pace.
Some locations require walking over uneven ground, while others are accessible with minimal exertion. More demanding excursions may be optional, depending on the itinerary and conditions.
CLIMATE & COMFORT
Autumn is one of Patagonia's most spectacular seasons, with forests transforming into brilliant shades of gold, orange and red beneath snow-dusted mountain peaks.
Expect crisp mornings, cool days and potentially freezing conditions at higher elevations. Our climate-controlled vehicles provide comfortable transportation between photographic locations, while carefully selected accommodation offers a welcoming retreat after each day's adventure.
The combination of dramatic autumn colour, changing weather and extraordinary mountain scenery creates exceptional opportunities for landscape photography.
WEATHER & FLEXIBILITY
Patagonia is famous for its dramatic and unpredictable weather. Sunshine, rain, snow and strong winds can all occur within a single day, often creating the atmospheric conditions that make this region so extraordinary to photograph.
Our itinerary is designed with flexibility in mind. Photography sessions and excursions may be adjusted to take advantage of changing light, weather and accessibility, while prioritising the safety and comfort of every guest.
The Grey Glacier cruise is particularly weather-dependent and may be cancelled by its operator if conditions are unsuitable. Where possible, alternative photographic opportunities or activities will be arranged.
While specific locations and activities cannot be guaranteed, our aim is always to deliver an exceptional photographic experience regardless of the conditions.