At 9:00 a.m., gather at Aomori airport and meet your guide.

Recommended flight from Tokyo
JAL-141 Dep Tokyo, Haneda 07:15 Arr Aomori 08:30

By private vehicle, proceed to Lake Towada, a vast caldera lake located on the border of Aomori and Akita Prefectures. Capture the autumn scenery along the lakeshore and the beech trees of the surrounding outer rim mountains, glowing in vibrant fall colors. Afterwards, continue to the Oirase Gorge, designated both a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and a Natural Monument of Japan. Enjoy photographing moss-covered rocks and trees, the clear flow of the Oirase River, and the forest adorned with autumn foliage.

**Stay for two consecutive nights at a hotel in the Oirase Gorge.

Early in the morning, visit Tsutanuma Pond, renowned as one of Japan’s most spectacular autumn foliage spots. As the sunrise reflects on the water, the fiery red colors of the trees create what is often called a “miraculous view.”

**Please note: entry to Tsutanuma requires advance reservation, so the visit will be arranged for either the second or third morning of the tour.

After returning to the hotel for breakfast, spend the entire day photographing around Mt. Hakkoda. At this time of year, the foothill areas will be at their peak for autumn colors, with beech, rowan, maple, and birch trees glowing in vivid hues. You will also ride the Hakkoda Ropeway, offering breathtaking aerial views of the mountains blanketed in autumn foliage—an unforgettable opportunity for photography from above.

Travel by private vehicle to Aomori City, where you will visit the Nebuta House “Wa-Rasse,” showcasing the enormous lantern floats used in Aomori’s famous summer festival, the Nebuta Festival. Afterwards, take the Bullet train into Iwate Prefecture, arriving at Ichinoseki—the gateway to Hiraizumi, renowned for Chūson-ji Temple’s Golden Hall. This evening, stay at a hotel with hot spring baths, and enjoy a traditional kaiseki dinner prepared with local ingredients, followed by a relaxing soak in the onsen.

In the morning, enjoy a photography session in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hiraizumi was established in the 12th century by the Northern Fujiwara clan as an ideal land intended to represent the Buddhist Pure Land in this world, where temples, gardens, and historic sites together convey the grandeur of its past. At Chūson-ji Temple, the solemn Golden Hall and the quiet cedar-lined approach evoke both historical weight and a mystical atmosphere. At Mōtsū-ji Temple, the expansive Pure Land garden from the Heian period offers a beautiful backdrop harmonized with the changing seasons. The interplay of temple architecture and serene gardens embodies the unique charm of Hiraizumi.

After the photography session, travel by private vehicle to Tsuruoka in Yamagata Prefecture, once a flourishing castle town that still preserves its rich history and culture today.

On this day, enjoy photography at Mt. Haguro and Mt. Yudono, two of the sacred peaks of the Dewa Sanzan, long revered as centers of Shugendō mountain worship. The approach to Mt. Haguro, lined with centuries-old cedar trees, creates a mystical atmosphere when combined with the vivid reds and yellows of autumn foliage. The National Treasure Five-Story Pagoda and the stone stairway, bathed in autumn light, are truly exceptional photo spots. At Mt. Yudono, known as the inner sanctuary of the Dewa Sanzan, you will have the opportunity to photograph Yudono Shrine’s main sanctuary and the Dainichibō Temple. It will be a day of capturing landscapes where history of mountain faith and the harmony of nature and culture come vividly together.

In the morning, enjoy photographing in Sakata, a merchant town that prospered as a hub for Shōnai rice. Sakata flourished through the Kitamaebune trading routes, and the townscape and culture built by wealthy merchants still remain vividly today. Historic storehouses, traditional townhouses, and the lively atmosphere unique to a port town provide an ideal stage for photography. Iconic sites such as the Sankyo Warehouses and the elegant architecture of former merchant residences offer diverse shooting opportunities. Afterwards, travel to Yamagata while taking in views of the rural Shōnai Plain and the distant Dewa Sanzan mountains.

In the morning, we will visit Risshaku-ji Temple, widely known as “Yamadera.” This historic temple features a stone stairway of over a thousand steps and halls scattered along the mountainside, creating a solemn yet harmonious landscape with nature. The temple grounds, adorned with autumn foliage, provide an ideal setting that conveys both history and poetic charm. After the photography session, travel by private vehicle to Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture. Along the way, we will stop for photographing the autumn colors of Mt. Zao, where beech and rowan trees glow vividly against the majestic backdrop of the Zao mountain range. The tour concludes around 5:00 p.m. at Sendai Station.