A trip to Japan is an unforgetable experience. Join acclaimed photographer Marc Koegel for this exclusive small group workshop to the land of the rising sun.

This workshop is not a tour, it is a workshop. Marc will be working with you closely in the field, discussing techniques, composition and creative opportunities that each location visited together affords. You and your unique personal photographs created are the focus of this workshop, and you control just how much support and help you desire. Marc will be there for you, not to make his own photographs!

This will be a very small group workshop with a maximum of 6 participants only.

There are 2 workshop itineraries to choose from. A 9 day itinerary that begins and finishes in Osaka, and an 8 day itinerary that begins in Tokyo and finishes in Osaka (with an option to return to Tokyo as well).

Both itineraries include famous sites such as Meoto Iwa (Wedded Rocks), as well as the Kyoto area and Lake Biwa.

THIS workshop listing is for the 8 day itinerary that begins in Tokyo and ends in Kyoto, with an option to return back to Tokyo (Shinkansen high speed train and Narita airport shuttle bus journey will take about 3.5 hours total).

If you're looking for the workshop that begins and ends in Osaka, please visit this link

For this workshop, we will meet at the Hotel Nikko Narita, which provides a free shuttle from Narita international airport.

The route for this workshop will allow us to visit several torii in the Chiba Perfecture, and there is also an incredible curved ocean bridge we can photograph from underneath (see the photograph posted below on this page). We will also be photographing the incredible Mount Fuji from several vantage points.

Our journey continues to the Futamiokitama Shrine and its famous Meoto Iwa (wedded rocks), passing by several oppotunities to photograph seaweed farms. We will stay closeby so as to have the opportunity to photograph for both sunset and sunrise. Traveling to Kyoto we will spend 2 nights photographing at various locations including the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Shirahige Shrine, Ukimido (floating hall) and several other stops along Lake Biwa.

The small group will allow us to be extremely flexible and quick to move around.

You will be encouraged to work on a personal body of work, created with the help of Marc. Frequent reviews of our work provide encouragement and time relevant feedback that wil help you create your best work.

This workshop is geared for you to create personally meaningful work using whatever techniques suitable and *not* limited to black and white and / or long exposure photography.

This workshop is offered as a (almost) fully inclusive experience. Single occupancy rooms, and all transportation including ferry service is included. Meals are not included.

Please contact Marc Koegel directly with any questions / comments.

Japan is a vast and unforgettable visual playground for photographers - A perfect location for an in-depth workshop!

Marc Koegel is a fine-art photographer working exclusively in black and white. His landscapes, and architectural photographs have earned numerous international awards and have also been widely exhibited internationally.

Born in Germany, Marc first came to Canada in 1996 to earn an Economics degree. He has been seriously involved with photography ever since he was given his father's camera and darkroom setup at the age of 12. Marc has worked with many internationally acclaimed photographers and leads numerous workshops and tours, both in Canada and internationally. 

Visit Marc's website for more information and to see his beautiful photography:

www.marckoegel.com

Workshop Itinerary:

Please keep in mind that in order to maximize photographic opportunties, our itinerary may be adjusted and/or changed. You're very welcome to ask any specific questions you might have...just email Marc directly.

Included in the Photo Tour Fee:

* Tuition for photo tour
* Expert leadership by Marc Koegel
* 7 nights single-occupancy accomodation (you'll have your own private room)
* All ground transportation including ferry crossings
* Entrance fees and permits

What is not included:

* Airfare to Japan
* Travel Insurance, including health and trip cancellation insurance (highly recommended)
* Meals and drinks
* Visas (if necessary)
* Excess baggage charges, airport taxes and other service charges
* Personal items (alcoholic beverages, laundry, film, batteries, etc)

A deposit of $2000 is required to reserve your seat in this workshop The balance is due by August 1, 2023. This is also the latest day the workshop will be confirmed. Your deposit is non-refundable unless we have to cancel or postpone the workshop, in which case you will receive a full refund of all monies paid.

How to Register:

You can register online by follwoing the link below, or you can contact Marc Koegel directly for registration assistance.

If you must withdraw for any reason please be aware of our refund policy as follows:

For our Local Lectures, Seminars, and Workshops valued at or under $100, VPW is unable to provide a cash refund. Transfers are limited to one transfer to either the same event at a later date, or a different event of equal value. VPW requires 48 hours written notice in order to make such a transfer (email notice is acceptable). The event you are transferring to must occur within 6 months of the original event you registered for. A $15 fee will be applied to all transfers.

For our Local Workshops, 1 to 5 days in length and our Local 4 to 10 Week Courses, VPW requires 30 days written notice (before the event start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. (Email notice is acceptable.)

For our Master Photographer Series workshops, 1 to 5 days in length, VPW requires 60 days written notice (before the workshop start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. VPW may retain 15% of fees paid or $150 minimum in processing your refund. If the tuition is less than $500 the minimum fee drops to $75.

For our Photo Tours (both in Canada and abroad), 1 to 10 days in length, VPW requires 60 days written notice (before the event start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. VPW may retain 15% of fees paid or $150 minimum in processing your refund. If the tuition is less than $500 the minimum fee drops to $75.

Transfers (for all events over $100): If you wish to transfer to a different workshop date, VPW requires a minimum of 30 days written (email) notice. All transfers are based on availaibility, and subject to approval by VPW staff. For courses/workshops with tuition above $101, the transfer fee is $35.

Transfer Fees as based on event pricing:
Tuition of $100 and below, the transfer fee is $15
Tuition of $101 and above, the transfer fee is $35

VPW can give no refunds:

If you registered for any event valued at or under $100
If you do not show up for your registered course.
If you register for a course beyond or below your skill or ability level.

Refunds for all events valued at $101 and above (excluding Master Series Workshops):
If a student wishes to cancel their registration for any of VPW's events, and has provided written notice within the appropriate timeframe, a refund less a $50 administration fee will be provided.

Course Cancellation:

Occasionally, we may have to cancel a course due to low enrollment. In this case, we will issue a full refund of all monies paid to VPW up to that time.

Read complete refund and liability policy