After arriving and checking into your base, head to Namba Parks to set up camera gear and capture dynamic architecture-to-green transitions while testing gimbals on its terraced walkways. Pause for a caffeine and quick file-backup at LiLo Coffee Roasters nearby, then walk the nearby arcade of Shinsaibashi-suji to scout tight street-cinema angles, neon reflections, and candid crowd moments that will shape the day's shooting plan.
Wander south to Dotonbori to capture canal-side tracking shots, neon reflections, and the theatrical façades of street vendors-try low-angle slow pans to emphasize scale. Swing by nearby Hozenji Yokocho, a narrow, lantern-lit alley, for intimate handheld portraits and texture-rich b-roll of mossy stone and local eateries, then top off the afternoon with rooftop scouting at Umeda Sky Building's Floating Garden for wide panoramic compositions as you plan golden-hour positions.
As twilight deepens, wander toward Amerikamura (America-mura) to capture youth culture, colorful mural walls, and kinetic slow-motion street portraits under neon signs; scout narrow side streets for candid motion and music-driven montages. Finish with a relaxed handheld run along Tsuruhashi Korean Town, tasting street-side skewers while filming close-up food portraits and ambient night-soundroom takes to round out your first-night b-roll.
Begin with a cinematic wander through Kuromon Ichiba Market, capturing close-up food prep, vendor portraits, and the tactile sounds of a working market for authentic culinary B-roll. From there, take a short walk to the atmospheric streets around Hoenzaka and film layered street scenes - shopfronts, delivery bikes, and commuters - before finishing at Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street to gather long tracking shots of local life and dynamic motion through Japan's longest covered arcade.
In the afternoon, head to Sumiyoshi-taisha to film the temple's striking vermilion bridge and serene approach paths-use slow crane reveals and intimate detail shots of wooden carvings and worshippers' rituals. Afterward, wander the nearby retro shopping street of Kamagasaki (Shinsekai area) to capture gritty, character-driven portraits, steam-filled kushikatsu stalls, and low-angle street textures before scouting composition lines for the evening's neon transition at Tsutenkaku Tower.
As night falls, head to Nipponbashi (Den Den Town) to film neon-lit storefronts, retro electronics aisles, and cosplay-filled streets for energetic, color-drenched B-roll; use short dolly moves through arcades to capture layered depth. Then move toward Tenma for quieter izakaya alleyways-shoot intimate handheld interviews with bartenders, tight food-prep close-ups at counter seats, and ambient soundtakes of chuckling patrons, finishing with long-exposure canal reflections along Ogimachi River to bridge your daytime market work with atmospheric nocturnes.
Start before golden hour with a quiet scout around Osaka Castle Park's Nishinomaru Garden, capturing low-angle wide reveals of the castle framed by early sakura or plum blossoms and gentle fog over the moat for cinematic foreground interest. Continue to nearby Nakanoshima Park for riverside slow pans, artisan coffee at Li Lo Coffee (Nakanoshima branch) and tight handheld portraits of morning joggers, then wander the winding lanes of Temma's backstreets to film textured shopfronts, bicycle motion, and layered neighborhood life that contrasts your grand castle vistas.
After a morning at Nishinomaru and Nakanoshima, move into the lively nearby neighborhoods: capture layered street-life and artisanal shopfronts in Kyobashi-film commuter flows at Keihan Kyobashi Station and intimate cafe interiors at Trunk Coffee Kyobashi for natural light portraits. Then head toward Temma Park Market and the riverside stretch by Dojima River for slow tracking shots of cyclists and riverside vendors as the light softens, finishing with rooftop perspective frames from the pedestrian deck at Osaka Business Park to tie neighborhood texture back to your castle golden-hour vistas.
As dusk settles, head to Kema Sakuranomiya Park for riverfront tracking shots of cherry-lined paths and commuter ferries-use slow crane reveals from the pedestrian bridge to catch warm reflections and local runners. Then move into the atmospheric alleys of Nakazakicho to film indie galleries, vintage storefronts, and lantern-lit cafés for intimate character B-roll; finish with night-time rooftop frames at TEMMA Rooftop Garden to stitch the castle's golden-hour glow into textured neighborhood nocturnes.
After a short JR ride to Kyoto, drop your bags at a central station locker or your ryokan, then head to Fushimi Inari Taisha (outer approaches) earlier than most visitors to film the quieter lower torii rows, vendor stalls opening, and close-ups of prayer ribbons for textured audio-visual layers. From there, stroll up to the peaceful lanes around Tetsugaku-no-michi (Philosopher's Path) to capture reflective water surfaces, slow-motion pedaling cyclists and sakura-framed temple gates, finishing with a scouting stop at Nanzen-ji's Sanmon gate for high-contrast vertical reveals and a few timed gimbal runs to establish temple scale before afternoon golden-hour rehearsals.
After dropping gear at your ryokan, wander into the atmospheric lanes around Nishiki Market to capture tactile close-ups of craft food stalls and slow handheld portraits of artisans prepping regional snacks; use shallow depth to isolate steam, hands, and textured packaging for intimate food-vendor B-roll. From there, cross toward the quieter side streets near Gion Shirakawa to film tea-house facades, willow-lined canals, and kimono-clad passersby in soft side-light-favor long lens compression and measured tracking to frame historic textures that bridge your morning temple rehearsals to the evening's planned golden-hour temple shots.
As twilight falls, head to the atmospheric lanes around Pontocho Alley for narrow, lantern-lit tracking shots of riverside eateries and discreet long-lens portraits of diners, then cross to the nearby Kawaramachi bridges to capture warm storefront reflections on the Kamo River with glide-cam sweeps. Finish with a quiet night visit to Yasaka Shrine's outer precincts to record incense-lit rituals and close-up slow pans of ema plaques and stone lanterns, stitching evening texture into the day's temple-focused visual language.
Begin with quiet, cinematic light along the lesser-known river paths of Katsura Riverside (Katsura-gawa)-capture low-angle tracking shots of fishermen, river reflections, and commuter boats as morning mist lifts. Move to nearby Otagi Nenbutsu-ji for textured close-ups of hundreds of carved rakan statues and slow, contemplative pans through mossy stone steps, then finish the block at Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street to film traditional machiya facades, early-morning shopkeepers arranging bamboo crafts, and measured tracking shots that bridge your urban temple work into the bamboo grove's serene mid-day rhythm.
After a tranquil morning, cross to central Arashiyama and film layered riverside compositions at Togetsukyo Bridge, using slow tracking shots from the embankment to capture commuter boats and mountain reflections. Move into the lively Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama for dynamic high-angle city-overlook timelapses and candid close-ups of caretakers interacting with macaques, then wander the artisan alley by Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street (southern approach) to capture textured machiya storefronts, hand-crafted souvenir shops, and café interior details that connect your morning temple studies to the bamboo grove's upcoming golden-hour serenity.
As twilight deepens, wander into the atmospheric lanes of Gion to capture geisha-era silhouettes beneath paper lanterns and film slow, long-lens portraits along Hanamikoji Street where wooden machiya glow in warm window light; pause for a short seated sequence at Ishibei-koji Alley to record intimate step-and-shawl details. Finish with riverfront reflections and ambient soundscapes along the Kamo River (Kamo-gawa) near Pontocho Alley, using glidecam sweeps of lantern-lit restaurants and moored boats to stitch evening warmth into your day's temple-and-bamboo visual narrative.
Begin your morning with a slow, cinematic breakfast ritual at a traditional ryokan-film the delicate pour of green tea and the textured choreography of a kaiseki tray in the tatami room at Ryokan Yachiyo or a similar machiya stay. Then wander the nearby stone lanes to capture intimate slow-motion details at Nishi Hongan-ji's quieter gardens and the mossy approach to Shoren-in, using tight macro lenses on temple roof tiles, wooden joinery, and falling water to build a contemplative, tactile sequence that continues the previous days' temple studies but in a softer, domestic register.
After a meditative ryokan lunch, slip into the hushed lanes toward Kurama-dera's outer approaches to film textured mossy stairs and incense smoke in slow motion, then descend to the nearby woodland stretch of Kifune Shrine's Oku-no-in for intimate close-ups of flowing spring water and votive lanterns. Finish the afternoon with a relaxed café session at % Arabica Higashiyama-capture shallow-depth portraits of coffee rituals and light through paper lanterns while planning a gentle golden-hour scout along lesser-known canals to the north, keeping the day's quiet, tactile visual language intact.
As night settles, wander the lantern-lit backstreets of Sannen-zAKA and Ninen-zAKA to film slow, textured handheld passages past wooden teahouses and kimono boutiques, using shallow depth to isolate lantern glow and paper-window silhouettes. Finish with a quiet riverside sequence at Kamo Ohashi-capture reflective long exposures of passing cyclists, distant shrine bells and a tea-shop counter scene at Ippodo Tea Salon (Sanjo branch) for intimate sound-rich close-ups that continue the day's contemplative, domestic visual language.
Depart Kyoto with an early highway bus or JR shinkansen + local train and, after dropping gear at your Kawaguchiko lodging, head straight to the tranquil northern shore of Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchiko Northern Promenade) to set up long-lens, low-angle tracking shots of Mount Fuji reflected in still water and time-lapse sequences of cloud motion. From there, scout the photogenic red bridge at Kawaguchiko Ohashi for layered compositions-capture fishermen silhouettes, passing pleasure boats, and measured glidecam reveals toward the mountain as you test dynamic exposure blends for the golden-hour approach.
After morning scouting at Lake Kawaguchi, head to Oishi Park for layered foregrounds of lakeside flowers and pine groves-set up slider and wide-to-telephoto pushes to capture changing cloud formations over Mount Fuji while local fishermen and rental boats provide motion interest. Then move to the quieter Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum gardens and terraces to film architectural reflections, mechanical music box close-ups, and measured dolly-ins framed against the mountain, finishing with a short drive to the elevated viewpoints at Arakurayama Sengen Park for rehearsed golden-hour reveals and composition tests that bridge your lakeside reflections to tomorrow's sunrise shoot.
As the sun dips, wander the quieter western shore to film warm, low-angle reflections from Nagasaki Park (Kawaguchiko West Shore)-set up gradual slider pushes from reeds to the distant peak and capture fishermen packing up for natural motion. Then head to the atmospheric hillside terraces of Lake Sai Panorama (Saiko Iyashi no Sato nearby outlooks) to record golden-hour silhouettes of traditional thatched houses, do a few slow aerial passes above the settlement for layered scale against Mount Fuji, and finish with handheld close-ups of local sake at Kikugawa Riverside Izakaya to add intimate nightfall texture that links your lakeside morning scouting to tomorrow's sunrise compositions.
Rise before dawn and position yourself at Misaka Pass (Misaka Touge) for layered pre-sunrise timelapses and wide telephoto pushes that compress low clouds against Mount Fuji's silhouette, then descend to the quiet east shore of Lake Shoji (Shojiko) to capture mirror-like reflections and fishermen launching boats in soft blue light-perfect for combining drone reveals with low-angle slider foregrounds. Wrap the block with a short drive to Motosuko (Lake Motosu) viewpoint near the northern shore to film crystal-clear reflection plates and practice exposure bracketing for sunrise HDR reveals, while grabbing close-up ambient sound of lapping water and early birdcalls to anchor your mountain sequences.
After the intense sunrise runs, move into mid-day shooting at Fujikawaguchiko Herb Festival grounds and the adjacent lakeside promenades to capture close-up floral foregrounds, slow slider pushes through lavender beds (or early-season blooms), and interview-style micro-portraits of local vendors for human-interest inserts. Next, film the dramatic shorelines and boat traffic from Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center-use its terraces for telephoto compressions of Mount Fuji framed behind fishermen and rental boats, then finish with controlled aerial passes above Sengen Shrine (Kawaguchi coast approach) to get wood-and-water textures that bridge your sunrise reflections to the evening's golden-hour compositions.
As the day cools, head to Yamanakako Panorama-dai for layered sunset silhouettes of lakeside fishermen and distant mountain contours-use slow crane reveals from reed beds into the pastel sky and capture intimate ambient audio of oars and water. Then move to Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nemba (the thatched farmhouse village) to film warm golden-hour portraits inside restored houses, glidecam passes along earthen lanes, and close-up shots of local craftspeople pouring evening tea, stitching a human-scale, textural coda to your sunrise-and-reflection sequences.
Catch an early shinkansen into Tokyo and, after storing luggage at Tokyo Station coin lockers, head to the elevated walkways around Marunouchi Brick Square to film wide approach shots of the glass-and-steel skyline contrasted with restored red-brick architecture; use timed gimbal passes to bridge your Mount Fuji lakeside panoramas with urban geometry. Continue to nearby Kanda Myojin for textured close-ups of ritual motion and shrine lanterns, then ride the Ginza Line one stop to Hibiya Park's northern terrace for layered foregrounds of park trees against Tokyo Tower and measured slider reveals that set up the day's progression from scenic transfer to dense metropolitan rhythm.
After dropping gear at your lodging, head to Ueno Park's museum quarter to film measured tracking shots between cherry trees and the classical façades of the Tokyo National Museum, then catch the ride up to Ueno Toshogu Shrine for textured close-ups of gilded carvings and shrine lanterns that add historic scale to your mountain-to-city narrative. Finish the block with a late-afternoon scout of Akihabara Electric Town's multi-level rooftops and backstreets-capture layered vendor stalls, retro storefront signage, and kinetic crowd montages from elevated vantage points that set up evening neon approach shots.
As twilight settles, wander the retro-chic alleys of Kagurazaka to film narrow lantern-lit streets, traditional ryotei facades, and shadowed stairwells for intimate, film-noir style portraits; pause at a local kissaten for low-light coffee rituals and shallow-depth close-ups. Then head to the riverfront promenades around Kachidoki Bridge for long-exposure river reflections and glidecam sweeps that reveal layered high-rises, finishing with rooftop skyline frames from Tsukishima's rooftop parks to stitch your Mount Fuji reflections into Tokyo's glittering night approach.
Start the day in the cinematic crossroads of Shibuya Crossing, capturing rhythmic pedestrian waves with slow-motion gimbal pushes from the second-floor windows of Magnet by Shibuya 109 and breakfast close-ups at Streamer Coffee Company for high-contrast urban ritual shots. From there, ride to nearby Cat Street (Ura-Harajuku) to film fashion-driven B-roll-measured tracking of skateboarders, boutique window details, and textured alleyway portraits-then pause at Nezu Museum Garden for tranquil mossy pathways and sculptural composition studies that bridge your Mount Fuji landscapes with Tokyo's dense, layered cityscapes.
Slip into the layered streets of Harajuku's Takeshita Street for colorful portrait sequences of fashion crowds and close-up texture shots of crepe stalls, then move to the quieter side lanes around Omotesando Hills to film architectural glidecam passes and cafe-interior b-roll at Bills Omotesando. Finish the block with a rooftop scouting session at Shinjuku Nomura Building's Sky Lobby to rehearse wide city-to-mountain approach shots and capture late-afternoon light transitioning into neon-ready exposures for the night's planned sequences.
As night deepens, drift into the electric backstreets of Kabukicho to capture neon-drenched alleyways, late-night ramen counters at Memory Lane (Omoide Yokocho) for close-up steam and hand-to-mouth food portraits, and moody wide shots from the pedestrian plaza outside Shinjuku Southern Terrace; favor handheld low-light takes and quick interviews with shop owners for texture. Finish with a rooftop dusk-to-night timelapse from Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden's adjacent viewing decks or the pedestrian overpasses near Takashimaya Times Square, stitching shimmering high-rise reflections and passing trains into the day's urban-to-nocturne visual arc.
Begin the day in a compact creative sprint at a rentable edit suite in Shinagawa's creative hub (Pasona or Loftwork studios) to color-grade last night's neon plates and assemble a rough cut while logging select sound takes; use nearby cafe light at Blue Bottle Coffee Shinagawa for quiet interview pickups and VO recording. After a focused edit block, stroll the adjacent canals of Tennozu Isle to capture final drone-friendly approach shots of waterfront reflections, designer bridges and studio exteriors for use as opening/closing b-roll before returning to Tokyo Station to collect luggage for the Shinkansen back to Osaka.
After a morning edit sprint, spend the afternoon capturing final B-roll and pickup interviews at Kouenji's craft studios and record shops, where textured vinyl aisles and vintage storefronts offer intimate cutaway material; record short VO or artist soundbites at a quiet booth in Sangenjaya's small production house to add human-interest closure. Finish with a relaxed scouting loop through Setagaya Park's waterfront paths and the adjacent Gotokuji approach for serene slow-motion foliage, shrine-lantern details, and steady long-lens shots to bridge your Tokyo sequences with the quieter tonalities you filmed around Mount Fuji before catching an evening shinkansen back to Osaka.
Wind down your Tokyo chapter with a focused pickup session at neutral studio (Shibuya Crepe Works neighborhood studio) to finalize color grades and mix ambient tracks, then head out for last-minute atmospheric B-roll along the illuminated canals of Meguro River (southern stretch)-capture lantern reflections, late-night cyclists and intimate café windows for closing montages. Finish with a relaxed farewell dinner and quick on-camera outro at Ebisu Yokocho to film energetic night-eat sequences and candid vendor interactions before catching a late shinkansen back to Osaka.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Namba Parks | Free |
| LiLo Coffee Roasters (Namba area) | $6 |
| Shinsaibashi-suji | Free |
| Dotonbori | Free |
| Hozenji Yokocho | Free |
| Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory | $12 |
| Amerikamura (America-mura) | Free |
| Tsuruhashi Korean Town | Free |
| Kuromon Ichiba Market | Free |
| Hoenzaka (streets around Hoenzaka) | Free |
| Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street | Free |
| Sumiyoshi-taisha | Free |
| Kamagasaki / Shinsekai area | Free |
| Tsutenkaku Tower | $6 |
| Nipponbashi (Den Den Town) | Free |
| Tenma (izakaya alleys) | Free |
| Ogimachi River (canal reflections) | Free |
| Osaka Castle Park / Nishinomaru Garden | $3 |
| Nakanoshima Park | Free |
| LiLo Coffee (Nakanoshima branch) | $6 |
| Temma backstreets / Temma Park Market | Free |
| Keihan Kyobashi Station (commuter flows) | Free |
| Trunk Coffee Kyobashi | $5 |
| Dojima River riverside | Free |
| Osaka Business Park pedestrian deck / rooftop | Free |
| Kema Sakuranomiya Park | Free |
| Nakazakicho | Free |
| TEMMA Rooftop Garden | Free |
| Ryokan / luggage storage or station locker (Osaka→Kyoto transfer) | $6 |
| JR train / Shinkansen short ride Osaka→Kyoto (per person, local fare) | $15 |
| Fushimi Inari Taisha (outer approaches) | Free |
| Tetsugaku-no-michi (Philosopher's Path) | Free |
| Nanzen-ji Sanmon gate | $4 |
| Ryokan drop/central station locker (Kyoto) | $6 |
| Nishiki Market | Free |
| Gion Shirakawa | Free |
| Pontocho Alley | Free |
| Kawaramachi bridges / Kamo River reflections | Free |
| Yasaka Shrine outer precincts | Free |
| Katsura Riverside (Katsura-gawa) | Free |
| Otagi Nenbutsu-ji | $4 |
| Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street | Free |
| Togetsukyo Bridge (Arashiyama) | Free |
| Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama | $6 |
| Gion / Hanamikoji Street | Free |
| Ishibei-koji Alley | Free |
| Kamo River (Pontocho area) | Free |
| Ryokan Yachiyo (or similar) breakfast / entry for filming inside ryokan | $20 |
| Nishi Hongan-ji (gardens) | Free |
| Shoren-in approach / gardens | $3 |
| Kurama-dera outer approaches / travel (to Kurama) | $6 |
| Kifune Shrine Oku-no-in | Free |
| % Arabica Higashiyama | $5 |
| Sannen-zaka / Ninen-zaka | Free |
| Ippodo Tea Salon (Sanjo branch) - tea + small order | $8 |
| Kawaguchiko lodging / baggage drop (Mount Fuji area) | $8 |
| Lake Kawaguchi (Kawaguchiko Northern Promenade) | Free |
| Kawaguchiko Ohashi (red bridge) | Free |
| Oishi Park (Lake Kawaguchi) | Free |
| Kawaguchiko Music Forest Museum (gardens & museum entry) | $12 |
| Arakurayama Sengen Park (Chureito Pagoda viewpoint) | Free |
| Nagasaki Park (Kawaguchiko West Shore) | Free |
| Lake Sai Panorama / Saiko Iyashi no Sato (thatched village) entry | $4 |
| Local izakaya meal (e.g., Kikugawa Riverside Izakaya) | $20 |
| Misaka Pass (Misaka Touge) viewpoint | Free |
| Lake Shoji (Shojiko) | Free |
| Lake Motosu viewpoint (Motosuko) | Free |
| Fujikawaguchiko Herb Festival grounds (seasonal / entry free) | Free |
| Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center (terraces, gardens) | Free |
| Sengen Shrine (Kawaguchi coast approach) | Free |
| Yamanakako Panorama-dai | Free |
| Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nemba (thatched farmhouse village entry) | $4 |
| Shinkansen / transfer Kawaguchiko→Tokyo (bus + shinkansen typical per person) | $70 |
| Tokyo Station coin lockers (luggage storage) | $6 |
| Marunouchi Brick Square / walkways | Free |
| Kanda Myojin | Free |
| Hibiya Park northern terrace | Free |
| Ueno Park / Tokyo National Museum (outdoor tracking) | Free |
| Tokyo National Museum entry (if entering) | $7 |
| Ueno Toshogu Shrine | $2 |
| Akihabara Electric Town (rooftops/backstreets) | Free |
| Kagurazaka alleys / kissaten | Free |
| Streamer Coffee Company (Shibuya) / similar (breakfast) | $6 |
| Shibuya Crossing / Magnet by Shibuya 109 viewing (public access) | Free |
| Cat Street (Ura-Harajuku) | Free |
| Nezu Museum Garden (entrance) | $10 |
| Takeshita Street (Harajuku) | Free |
| Bills Omotesando (cafe interior / meal) | $25 |
| Shinjuku Nomura Building Sky Lobby (rooftop scouting) | Free |
| Kabukicho / Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) food | $15 |
| Shinjuku Southern Terrace / Takashimaya Times Square (plaza shoots) | Free |
| Tokyo edit suite rental (half-day, Shinagawa creative hub) | $35 |
| Blue Bottle Coffee Shinagawa | $6 |
| Tennozu Isle (canals / drone-friendly approaches subject to rules) | Free |
| Kouenji craft studios / Sangenjaya small production booth (rental / session) | $25 |
| Setagaya Park / Gotokuji approach | Free |
| Neutral studio / small post studio (Shibuya area) - short session | $30 |
| Meguro River (southern stretch) | Free |
| Ebisu Yokocho (farewell dinner, per person) | $25 |
| Shinkansen Tokyo→Osaka (evening return, per person) | $120 |
| Estimated Total (per person) | $811 |