Ease into Osaka with a relaxed morning focused on gear, light checks and neighborhood scouting: grab coffee and quick breakfast at LiLo Coffee Roasters before a gentle walk through the nearby streets of Nakazakicho to photograph retro storefronts, staircases and textured alleyways. Spend a couple of hours testing lenses and sound on the pedestrian bridges along the Tsurumi River and capture slow, observational b-roll of commuters-an unobtrusive way to assemble establishing shots and get comfortable filming without rushing into bright locations.
Spend a leisurely afternoon getting oriented and capturing the city's textures: wander the arcades of Shinsekai to film neon signage, retro storefronts and candid street portraits, then head to Tennoji Park for quieter wide shots and glide-camera takes under late winter trees. As the light softens, move up to the observation deck at Abeno Harukas for sweeping skyline timelapses and golden-hour silhouettes - an easy, gear-friendly scouting loop that keeps you local and ready for evening shoots.
As the city lights warm up, head to Hozenji Yokocho for intimate alleyway takes-wet stone, lanterns and steaming street food stalls make for atmospheric close-ups and sound beds. After that, walk toward the neon pulse of Dotonbori Riverfront (focus on reflections and gondola-like river traffic) and finish with handheld golden-hour portraits from the pedestrian bridge by Ebisubashi, capturing layered b-roll of crowds, signage and river reflections without early-morning shoots.
Start the day by capturing clean morning light and commuter rhythms around Osaka Station City-use the glass walkways and rooftop garden for layered skyline-to-street transitions and time-lapses. Move on to Grand Front Osaka for architectural detail shots, then grab a quick local breakfast at Bread, Espresso & to film barista close-ups and natural sound before heading to the nearby Umeda Sky Building's Floating Garden Observatory for wide cinematic establishing shots that set up the day's vertical-to-street contrast.
Wander the retro-modern lanes of America-Mura (Ame-mura) to capture indie storefronts, impromptu street performances and skateboarders for lively mid-day B-roll, then move to the quieter riverside stretch at Nakanoshima Park for controlled slow-motion takes of pedal boats, sculptural bridges and the contrast between green space and surrounding architecture. Finish the afternoon with golden-hour prep and equipment checks at the photo-friendly terraces of Osaka Central Public Hall, where ornate façades and riverside reflections give you cinematic establishing shots that lead smoothly into evening lights.
As twilight deepens, head to Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street to capture kinetic walk-and-pan sequences of shoppers, illuminated storefronts and detailed signage before slipping into the quieter lanes of Kitsunezaka for atmospheric, lantern-lit alley portraits and close-ups of evening food prep. Finish the night with rooftop bar shots and long-exposure cityscapes from The Mosaic Terraces at Namba Parks, where layered neon, tree-lined terraces and distant skyline lights give you cinematic B-roll to bridge the day's daylight footage with Osaka's nocturnal energy.
Catch soft morning light in the quieter side of Nara by starting at Isuien Garden for layered pond reflections and slow pans through mossy paths, then walk to the nearby Kofuku-ji Eastern Golden Hall to film detailed woodwork and courtyard rhythms before the crowds arrive. Finish the session with a relaxed stroll through Nara Park's lesser-used north paths to capture graceful deer interactions, leaf-litter close-ups and gentle dolly moves that provide intimate nature B-roll tying Osaka's urban textures to the calmer, historical mood of Nara.
After a tranquil morning, wander the temple-lined lanes toward Todai-ji's Nigatsudo Hall to capture mid-day light streaming across wooden beams and distant bell-swing reverbs for sound design; its elevated views also offer framed panoramas of Nara Park for slow, cinematic crane or gimbal moves. From there, slip into the quieter precincts around Kasuga Taisha's lantern paths-shoot low, rhythmic dolly passes of mossy stones and hanging lanterns, then head to the shaded streams at Sarusawa-ike Pond for reflective close-ups and gentle water-ripple slow motion that bridge the day's sacred atmosphere with intimate nature B-roll.
As dusk settles, wander into the quiet lanes around Naramachi to film wooden merchant houses, narrow machiya alleyways and shopfronts glowing with warm paper-lantern light; capture close-up sound beds of sliding doors and footsteps for atmospheric texture. Then head to the elevated terraces near Mount Wakakusa for a low-angle sunset silhouette over the city and slow, revealing crane or gimbal pulls that bridge the day's temple calm with expansive twilight vistas; finish with night-owl b-roll of local izakayas around Sanjo-dori to record intimate food prep and candid street scenes.
Arrive early in Kyoto and ease into the day with a cinematic sunrise scout along the quiet lanes of Pontocho Alley, capturing warm paper-lantern glows and riverside reflections before shops open; follow with intimate detail work at Shirakawa Canal-slow gimbal passes of willow-lined waterways, stone bridges and shopfront eaves that echo the urban-to-historical shift from Osaka. Finish the session with a peaceful gear-check and character portraits at Nishiki Market's quieter stalls, recording food-prep close-ups, vendor interactions and ambient sound beds that will stitch together your city's transition from Osaka's neon texture to Kyoto's traditional rhythms.
After arrival, ease into Kyoto's quieter rhythms by wandering the historic lanes around Gion Shirakawa-capture shallow-focus portraits of tea-house facades, willow-lined canal reflections and careful slow gimbal pushes beneath overhanging eaves. Continue to the nearby serene grounds of Yasaka Shrine for medium-format detail shots of vermilion gates and worshipper rituals, then cross over to Maruyama Park for relaxed dolly work among winter-bare trees and candid picnic scenes that bridge the morning's intimate market footage with the evening's planned shrine and lantern-lit sequences.
As twilight deepens, wander the lantern-lit lanes around Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka to capture gliding gimbal passes of wooden machiya, tea-house doorways and quiet street performers, then pause for intimate food-prep close-ups at a cozy yudofu spot near Kiyomizu-gojo. Later, head to the riverside promenade by Kamo River (Kamo-gawa) for long-exposure reflections, ambient river sounds and low-angle silhouettes of locals strolling-perfect transitional B-roll that ties Kyoto's evening hush back to the urban textures you filmed in Osaka.
Begin with a pre-dawn scout at Fushimi Inari's early side trails to capture the orange torii receding into mist and quiet pilgrim rituals, then move to the nearby atmospheric lanes of Sannen-zaka West Path for slow gimbal pushes past wooden storefronts and shuttered tea houses; these intimate morning takes build on your arrival-day shrine work while avoiding the busiest approaches. Finish the session with breakfast and candid vendor close-ups at Kodai-ji Omotesando-film steaming bowls, chopstick motion and the temple garden views for sound beds and close-up texture to stitch into your daytime shrine sequences.
Spend a relaxed afternoon drifting through Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge area-capture slow gimbal pushes along the riverbank, bamboo-lined side paths and canoeists passing beneath the bridge for layered foreground motion. Then move to the quieter corners of Okochi Sanso Garden for contemplative portraiture among moss gardens and teahouse vistas, finishing with golden-hour reflections at Sagano Scenic Railway (Saga Torokko) viewpoint for sweeping, train-pass timelapses that tie the day's shrine-focused morning to Kyoto's natural, cinematic textures.
As dusk falls, wander the calm lanes of Pontocho Alley for narrow, riverside lantern-lit tracking shots and intimate yakitori counter portraits at a tucked-away izakaya; record close-up sizzle and chatter to build rich sound beds. Then cross to the quieter riverside stretch around Demachiyanagi to film low-angle long exposures of passing riverboats and silhouette frames of commuters on the bridge, finishing with a rooftop aperitif at Kawaramachi Sky Terrace for layered skyline-to-street b-roll that ties Kyoto's temple mornings and Arashiyama's natural textures into a cohesive evening mood.
Depart Kyoto with a relaxed rail-and-cable-car transfer, arriving mid-morning to film arrival sequences at Gokurakubashi Station and the ropeway ascent for dramatic reveal shots; use the moving-car window for rhythmic travel b-roll that links Kyoto's temples to Koyasan's mountain pilgrimage mood. Once on the plateau, wander the lantern-shadowed approach to Okunoin Cemetery-capture slow dolly pushes along mossy stone paths, incense smoke close-ups and reverent wide frames of towering cedar trees for atmospheric time-lapse studies that set the tone for the day's spiritual, contemplative footage.
After the reverent morning at Okunoin Cemetery, take a slow walk toward the atmospheric approaches of Danjo Garan-capture medium-wide shots of vermilion pagodas, quiet monk routines and ritual bell rings for rhythmic sound beds. Then drift up the trail to the lesser-known mossy gardens around Kongobu-ji's rock garden and the shaded lanes near Ichinohashi Bridge, recording close-up texture shots of moss, prayer plaques and weathered wood that bridge your arrival sequences with an evening of temple stays and candlelit time-lapses.
As twilight falls, wander the serene approach to Kongobu-ji's outer gardens and film low-light close-ups of stone lanterns and wooden prayer plaques for intimate texture shots, then capture candlelit procession rehearsals and temple courtyard atmospheres at Shojoshin-in for warm, human-scale b-roll. Finish with a rooftop or veranda time-lapse from your shukubo at Ekoin Temple, recording incense smoke, distant cedar silhouettes and the slow glow of lanterns to create a contemplative night sequence that bridges the day's ropeway reveal with tomorrow's dawn rituals.
After an early shukubo breakfast and a contemplative dawn departure from Koyasan, travel into Hiroshima and begin with arrival shots at Hiroshima Station, using the station plaza and moving commuter flows for rhythmic travel transitions. Head straight to the nearby Hiroshima Castle grounds to capture refreshed morning light on the moat and reconstructed keep-slow gimbal reveals of the stone walls and surrounding gardens will bridge your temple-focused Koyasan footage into Hiroshima's urban-historical fabric.
Arrive midday and ease into Hiroshima's quieter, reflective side by exploring Shukkeien Garden-capture layered pond reflections, teahouse close-ups and slow gimbal passes through manicured paths to bridge your Koyasan mossy textures with urban green space. From there, walk toward Hiroshima Museum of Art for controlled interior shots of light on canvas and candid street portraits in the adjacent Hondori Arcade, using its covered pedestrian flow and storefront details to gather lively mid-day B-roll before an evening harbor scouting session.
As dusk deepens, head to Peace Memorial Park's riverside promenades to capture reflective slow pans of the illuminated memorials and quiet local rituals, then cross toward Motoyasu Bridge for layered compositions of the Atomic Bomb Dome framed against warm sky tones. Finish the night at Hiroshima Port's waterfront promenade-film long-exposure ferry movements, moored boats and neon reflections, and record ambient harbor soundscapes at a waterside bench to weave a contemplative, cinematic close to the day's journey from Koyasan.
Catch the first ferry over and begin with low-angle shoreline framing of the floating Itsukushima Torii from the west beach at low tide, then walk the quieter coastal path toward Daisho-in to film incense-filled courtyards, painted halls and the steep stone stairways lined with guardian statues for intimate close-ups and reverent ambient sound. After that, take the scenic Miyajima Ropeway up to Mount Misen and follow the shaded summit trails-capture slow-motion pans of cedar groves, mossy steps and the dramatic inland-sea vistas from the observatory to bridge your Koyasan cedar textures into coastal, panoramic footage.
After the summit, drift back down to explore the village's quieter creative corners: film artisans at work and close-up texture shots of lacquerware and calligraphy at Omotesando Shopping Street, then capture slow gimbal pushes through the shaded approach to Senjokaku (Toyokuni Shrine Hall) for broad wooden-beam framing and people-in-space compositions. Finish the afternoon with tide-dependent shoreline sequences at Daishoin-mae Beach, shooting low-angle reflections of the island against the incoming tide and candid portraits of local oyster stalls to stitch coastal seascapes into your Miyajima narrative.
As sunset deepens, stroll the quieter west-side promenades near Momijidani Park to capture warm backlit maple silhouettes and low-angle river-reflection shots that contrast the day's summit panoramas; pause for intimate handheld portraits of locals feeding birds and for close-up sound beds of rustling leaves. Then head to the sheltered boardwalk by Hiroshima Bay Observatory to film long-exposure water movement, silhouetted fishing boats and the island's shoreline lights, finishing with a relaxed night-cafe sequence at Miyajima Brewery & Taproom - recording ambient chatter, craft-pour close-ups and a calm, coastal evening atmosphere that ties your mountain and temple footage into a finished coastal vignette.
Catch an early mid-commute train to Himeji and begin with detailed exterior and architectural coverage of Himeji Castle from the south slope-wide gimbal reveals of the layered roofs, close macro passes on plasterwork and a slow crane-style approach across the castle moat to establish scale. Afterward, wander the peaceful paths of Koko-en Garden for intimate pond reflections, teahouse steam close-ups and composed foreground-to-background shots of manicured hedges that tie your earlier temple moss textures into refined castle-era landscapes before returning to Osaka for afternoon edits and scouting.
After morning castle and garden coverage, take a relaxed walk through the nearby historic streets of Yumesaki-gawa Riverside for reflective river b-roll and low-angle shots of local fishing boats, then head to the charming merchant quarter around Otemae-dori to film textured storefronts, bicycle traffic and candid café scenes at Cafe Gidon for intimate interior-to-street transitions. Finish the afternoon with a short tram ride to Shikama Shrine to capture quiet vermilion gates, ritual washbasin close-ups and a slow, reverent gimbal pull up the stairway that bridges your castle-scale exteriors with human-scale, historic neighborhood life before returning to Osaka for evening edits.
Return to Osaka and unwind your castle story with intimate, low-light sequences at Tennōji Temple Gardens-capture pond reflections, lantern-lit pathways and close-ups of wet stone surfaces to echo the day's historic textures. After that, head to Kuromon Ichiba Market for warm handheld portraits of late-night vendors, sizzling takoyaki close-ups and ambient crowd sound beds, then finish on a rooftop near Namba Parks for layered neon-to-skyline time-lapses that stitch Himeji's monumental scale back into Osaka's nocturnal energy.
Start the morning with a sensory-focused shoot at Tengachaya Shotengai, filming morning market vendors unloading fresh produce, yakitori stalls firing up and close-ups of textured storefront signage for authentic neighborhood B-roll. Afterward, head to the quieter creative hub around Nishinari's Shin-Imamiya Art Alley to capture mural details, local barista portraits at Cafe New Chitose, and slow gimbal passes through community workshops-these scenes will bridge your earlier trip's temple and coastal textures into Osaka's grassroots creative pulse.
Wander the arty lanes around Sennichimae Doguyasuji and film textured close-ups of vintage cookware shops and artisans restoring knives, then cross into Tachibana-suji Shopping Street to capture candid café scenes and slow gimbal passes of local craftsmen at work for intimate neighborhood portraits. Finish with a rooftop scout at Utsubo Park Rooftop Terrace-shoot layered skyline-to-greenery establishing shots and gather ambient park sound beds to bridge your morning market energy with the evening rooftop time-lapses planned for Osaka's skyline.
As dusk falls, wander the lantern-lit alleys of Hozenji Yokocho for intimate close-ups of steaming kushikatsu skewers, wet stone textures and whispered storefront conversations, then slip into the nearby indie dining rooms of Takoyaki Museum Street to capture sizzling takoyaki pours and candid chef portraits for rich food-sound beds. Finish the night with layered rooftop time-lapses and neon-to-street transition shots from Umeda Sky Building's rooftop terraces, recording distant skyline silhouettes, rooftop chatter and long-exposure car trails that tie your market and daytime rooftop scouting into a polished nocturnal vignette.
Spend a calm morning consolidating footage and capturing last-minute intimate city details: set up a controlled audio check and rapid color-pass at Nakanoshima Library's historic reading room, then film portrait inserts and natural-light close-ups of street vendors at the nearby Temma Market for final human-scale B-roll. Finish with a relaxed gear-organize and interview spot at Cafe Bibliotic Hello!, using its warm interior for wrap interviews and behind-the-scenes capture that bridge your trip's cinematic arc from Osaka neon and Kyoto shrines to a composed farewell sequence.
Spend a relaxed afternoon polishing final shots and wrapping narratives with a focused studio-style session at Nakanoshima Rose Garden Pavilion-capture controlled portrait inserts, lens tests among sculpted beds and tidy tabletop product/gear B-roll for your credits sequence. Then move to Osaka Bay Tempozan Harbor Village to film sweeping seaside establishing shots, slow gimbal passes along the promenade and candid café interviews at Tempozan Marketplace; end with a short golden-hour scout on the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel platform for elevated sunset silhouettes that tie together your city's urban-to-coastal visual arc.
Wind down your final evening with intimate, low-light captures at Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine-film lantern-lit stairways, prayer-plate close-ups and quiet worshipper silhouettes to add a reflective coda to your journey. After that, head to the waterfront promenade at Nagai Botanical Garden's canal-side path for long-exposure reflections and gentle river soundbeds, then finish with a golden-hour rooftop toast and skyline time-lapse from Osaka Tenmangu Shrine's nearby terrace café, recording relaxed interview inserts and final B-roll that tie together the trip's temple, coastal and urban narratives.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| LiLo Coffee Roasters (coffee & breakfast) | ¥800 |
| Nakazakicho (street photography) | Free |
| Tsurumi River pedestrian bridges (scouting) | Free |
| Shinsekai (arcades & street food) | ¥1,200 |
| Tennoji Park | Free |
| Abeno Harukas observation deck | ¥1,600 |
| Hozenji Yokocho (alleyway & street food) | ¥1,000 |
| Dotonbori Riverfront (scouting & gondola-like boats) | Free |
| Ebisubashi pedestrian bridge (shooting) | Free |
| Osaka Station City (scouting) | Free |
| Grand Front Osaka (architecture & cafes) | Free |
| Bread, Espresso & (breakfast) | ¥900 |
| Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory | ¥1,500 |
| America-Mura (Ame-mura) | Free |
| Nakanoshima Park | Free |
| Osaka Central Public Hall (exterior/terrace shooting) | Free |
| Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street | Free |
| Kitsunezaka (lanes & alleys) | Free |
| The Mosaic Terraces at Namba Parks (rooftop shots) | Free |
| Isuien Garden (Nara) | ¥900 |
| Kofuku-ji Eastern Golden Hall | ¥300 |
| Nara Park (deer & scouting) | Free |
| Todai-ji's Nigatsudo Hall | ¥300 |
| Kasuga Taisha (lantern paths) | ¥500 |
| Sarusawa-ike Pond | Free |
| Naramachi (historic district) | Free |
| Mount Wakakusa (terrace sunset) | ¥200 |
| Sanjo-dori izakaya area (food B-roll) | ¥1,500 |
| Pontocho Alley (Kyoto sunrise scouting) | Free |
| Shirakawa Canal | Free |
| Nishiki Market (vendors & food-prep) | ¥1,500 |
| Osaka Station to Kyoto transfer (train fare, local JR/non-reserved) | ¥1,420 |
| Gion Shirakawa | Free |
| Yasaka Shrine | Free |
| Maruyama Park | Free |
| Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka (lanes) | Free |
| Yudofu meal near Kiyomizu-gojo | ¥1,800 |
| Kamo River (Kamo-gawa) promenade | Free |
| Fushimi Inari Taisha (early trails) | Free |
| Sannen-zaka West Path | Free |
| Kodai-ji Omotesando (breakfast/vendors) | ¥1,000 |
| Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge area | Free |
| Okochi Sanso Garden | ¥1,000 |
| Sagano Scenic Railway (Saga Torokko) viewpoint (train fare optional) | ¥620 |
| Pontocho Alley (evening) | Free |
| Kawaramachi Sky Terrace (rooftop) | Free |
| Transfer Kyoto to Koyasan (rail + cable car approx.) | ¥4,000 |
| Gokurakubashi Station & ropeway (Koyasan cable car) | ¥780 |
| Okunoin Cemetery (scouting) | Free |
| Danjo Garan (temple complex) | Free |
| Kongobu-ji (rock garden area) | Free |
| Ichinohashi Bridge (Koyasan lanes) | Free |
| Shojoshin-in (temple activities / candlelight) - possible donation | ¥1,000 |
| Shukubo stay (Ekoin Temple simple room & access to time-lapse spots) | ¥8,000 |
| Koyasan to Hiroshima transfer (shinkansen + local, estimated) | ¥14,000 |
| Hiroshima Station (arrival shots) | Free |
| Hiroshima Castle (grounds) | ¥370 |
| Shukkeien Garden | ¥260 |
| Hiroshima Museum of Art (exterior/interior visit) | ¥1,000 |
| Hondori Arcade (street B-roll) | Free |
| Peace Memorial Park & Atomic Bomb Dome (scouting & reflection) | Free |
| Motoyasu Bridge (shooting) | Free |
| Hiroshima Port waterfront promenade | Free |
| Miyajima ferry (round-trip local ferry) | ¥360 |
| Itsukushima Torii (shoreline low-tide framing) | Free |
| Daisho-in (temple) | ¥300 |
| Miyajima Ropeway (to Mount Misen) | ¥2,000 |
| Omotesando Shopping Street (artisan shops) | Free |
| Senjokaku (Toyokuni Shrine Hall) | ¥300 |
| Daishoin-mae Beach (shoreline sequences) | Free |
| Momijidani Park (sunset promenades) | Free |
| Hiroshima Bay Observatory (boardwalk) | Free |
| Miyajima Brewery & Taproom (evening cafe) | ¥1,200 |
| Himeji Castle (entrance fee) | ¥1,000 |
| Koko-en Garden | ¥310 |
| Yumesaki-gawa Riverside (historic streets) | Free |
| Otemae-dori merchant quarter / Cafe Gidon (cafe cost) | ¥800 |
| Shikama Shrine | Free |
| Tennōji Temple Gardens | Free |
| Kuromon Ichiba Market (food B-roll / snack) | ¥1,200 |
| Namba Parks rooftop (evening time-lapse) | Free |
| Tengachaya Shotengai (market shoot) | Free |
| Shin-Imamiya Art Alley / Cafe New Chitose (coffee) | ¥700 |
| Sennichimae Doguyasuji (artisanal shops) | Free |
| Tachibana-suji Shopping Street | Free |
| Utsubo Park Rooftop Terrace | Free |
| Takoyaki Museum Street (food capture/snack) | ¥800 |
| Umeda Sky Building rooftop terraces (evening revisit) | ¥1,500 |
| Nakanoshima Library (historic reading room access) | Free |
| Temma Market (vendors & close-ups) | Free |
| Cafe Bibliotic Hello! (wrap interview, coffee) | ¥900 |
| Nakanoshima Rose Garden Pavilion (studio-style session) | Free |
| Tempozan Harbor Village / Tempozan Marketplace (seaside B-roll) | Free |
| Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel (platform/golden-hour view, ticket) | ¥900 |
| Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine | Free |
| Nagai Botanical Garden canal-side path | ¥200 |
| Osaka Tenmangu Shrine nearby terrace cafe (final rooftop) | ¥800 |
| Estimated Total (per person) | ¥64,440 |