November 16–23, 2026: Passionate Japan: Exploring Northern Kyushu Fukuoka • Kumamoto • Nagasaki

Workshop Overview

Japan reveals itself slowly. The deeper you go, the more interesting it becomes.

After many successful workshops in Tokyo and Kyoto, we’re excited to introduce a new chapter of our Japan experiences — Northern Kyushu. This region offers a rich mix of urban life, history, port culture, and volcanic landscape. It’s visually diverse yet compact enough that we can move efficiently and spend meaningful time photographing rather than traveling.

Kyushu offers contrast without distraction. It’s Japan, but not over-photographed Japan. That matters for photographers. It encourages observation rather than imitation. Most importantly, it allows us to build a body of work across several locations that still feel connected—port, rail, market, commuter, ritual.

Over eight days we will photograph three distinct cities, each with its own rhythm and visual character.

Kyushu feels like Japan turned slightly away from the spotlight. The pace is a little slower, the streets a little quieter, and the everyday life of the city unfolds more openly. Ports, tram lines, markets, ferry crossings, castle towns, and the presence of an active volcano all exist within a relatively small region. For photographers, that mix creates something special. You’re not chasing iconic scenes that everyone has already photographed—you’re observing moments as they reveal themselves. Kyushu rewards patience. Stay with a place long enough and the layers begin to show.

Fukuoka — Urban Energy & Night Streets 3 nights

Fukuoka is Kyushu’s largest city and a vibrant gateway to the island. It has the energy of Tokyo but on a more human scale.

We’ll photograph lively street scenes, markets, temples, and some of the most atmospheric night streets in Japan. Fukuoka is also famous for its yatai—small open-air food stalls that line the river and side streets after dark.

Photographic opportunities include:

• Street life in Tenjin and Kawabata districts

• Traditional shrines including nearby Dazaifu

• Ohori Park and everyday local life

• Night photography at the yatai food stalls

• The famous November Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka

And of course we’ll sample the city’s famous Tonkotsu ramen, which originated here.

Our hotel base in Fukuoka is centrally located near Hakata Station, allowing easy access to trains and shooting locations.

Kumamoto — Castle Town & Volcanic Landscape 2 nights

Kumamoto offers a slower pace and a deep sense of history.

The city is anchored by Kumamoto Castle, one of Japan’s most impressive historic castles. Around it are neighborhoods of small shops, arcades, and quiet streets that reveal everyday Japanese life.

Possible excursions include the extraordinary volcanic landscape of Mt. Aso, whose caldera is among the largest in the world. Depending on weather and conditions, we may explore rural areas surrounding the volcano or focus on the rich photographic opportunities within the city itself.

This contrast between urban life and dramatic landscape gives photographers a very different palette of images from our time in Fukuoka.

Nagasaki — Port City with a Unique History 2 nights

Nagasaki is one of Japan’s most historically fascinating cities.

As an important port city for centuries, it has long been a gateway between Japan and the outside world. Its layered history—trade, cultural exchange, and post-war memory—creates a city with a unique atmosphere.

We will photograph:

• Harbor and waterfront neighborhoods

• Narrow hillside streets overlooking the port

• Island landscapes and coastal scenes

• Traditional food culture including Nagasaki champon noodles and Goto udon

To fully explore the region, we will travel around Nagasaki in a private vehicle with driver. This allows us to reach locations that would be difficult to access by public transport alone. One highlight will include crossing part of the harbor by car ferry, offering beautiful views and additional photographic opportunities.

Optional Tokyo Add-On (May 29–30)

For those who want to stay longer, we’re planning a 2-day structured Tokyo add-on. This extension focuses on working specific neighborhoods, refining your Tokyo portfolio, and pushing deeper into complex, layered street scenes. Details and hotel options (including our favorite Century Southern Tower) will be shared closer to final confirmation.

Travel & Logistics

We will limit our geographic range to Northern Kyushu, allowing us to keep travel times short while still experiencing a variety of locations and cultures.

Transportation will include:

• Kyushu Shinkansen (bullet train)

• Local trains and transit

• Private vehicle with driver in Nagasaki

• Car ferry crossing

This combination allows us to move efficiently while maintaining flexibility for photography. It is recommended that you book your flight from home to and from Tokyo, arriving a little early and maybe staying for the Tokyo extension afterwards. Flights to Fukuoka International Airport are inexpensive and plentiful.

Accommodations

We plan to stay in comfortable, well-located hotels that allow easy access to shooting locations and transportation.

Proposed hotels include:

Fukuoka: The Blossom Hakata Premier

Kumamoto: Options currently under review including Candeo Hotels, One Station Hotel Kumamoto, or OMO5 Kumamoto.

Nagasaki:

We are exploring a modern ryokan-style hotel offering Japanese atmosphere with Western beds for comfort.

Final hotel selections will be confirmed once group room blocks are secured.

Our hotel in Tokyo: The Century Southern Tower

The Century Southern Tower has long been one of our favorite Tokyo bases. Just steps from Shinjuku Station, the hotel sits high above the city with sweeping views in every direction—an ideal launch point for photographing Tokyo’s energy and rhythm. The rooms are bright and well designed, the service is consistently excellent, and the location makes it effortless to move between neighborhoods. And then there’s the breakfast buffet: generous, beautifully prepared, and the perfect start to full shooting days in the city. It’s a comfortable, reliable home in the middle of one of the world’s most dynamic urban environments.

Shinjuku is one of the most populated and diverse downtowns in all of Tokyo, with endless photo opportunities 24-7 and home for many of Tokyo best new and used camera shops. Shinjuku is well known for its neon lights and active night life, as well as the many scenes from the film Lost in Translation. It is a major commercial and administrative centre, housing the busiest railway station in the world, Shinjuku Station. The area surrounding the station is a major economic hub of Tokyo with many companies choosing this district for their head offices.

Street Philosophies

This is a hands-on photographic workshop with plenty of time in the field. We will shoot early and late when the light is best, and take breaks during the midday hours for rest, editing, and discussion.

Our small group size allows for personal attention and informal critiques throughout the week.

Expect to work on:

• Seeing layered street moments

• Anticipation and timing

• Composition in busy environments

• Photographing people respectfully in public spaces

• Editing and selecting stronger images

Our goal is not simply to collect images but to help you create a cohesive set of photographs that reflect your personal experience of Japan.

Schedule (Rough Itinerary)

Nov 16 — Arrival in Fukuoka

Arrival, orientation meeting, sunset shoot, welcome dinner.

Nov 17 — Fukuoka

Full day of street photography exploring markets, parks, shrines, and night street scenes.

Nov 18 — Fukuoka

Morning class and editing session. Afternoon visit to the Grand Sumo Tournament.

Nov 19 — Bullet Train to Kumamoto

Photograph Kumamoto Castle and surrounding streets at sunset and night.

Nov 20 — Kumamoto

Full shooting day in the city or optional excursion to Mt. Aso depending on conditions.

Nov 21 — Travel to Nagasaki

Scenic drive and ferry crossing. Afternoon shoot in Nagasaki.

Nov 22 — Nagasaki

Sunrise island landscapes, midday critique session, sunset shooting, and wrap-up dinner.

Nov 23 — Return to Fukuoka & Departure

Morning drive back to Fukuoka Airport with optional photo stops along the way.

Nov 23, 24 Tokyo Extension

Shooting Locations

Soichi Hayashi, my long-time friend has traveled the world and is an accomplished Japanese photographer whose work is beautiful and very different from mine, which will makes for a great and complimentary teaching team.

In the Passionate Passionate Japan: Exploring Northern Kyushu Fukuoka • Kumamoto • Nagasaki, you will wander and explore vibrant, visually rich places and neighborhoods chosen for their visual potential. Steve & Soichi have scouted locations and are working out the final detailed itinerary and though the schedule seems packed, flexibility and independence are encouraged among participants–if you fall in love with an area and want to work further their– you are encourage to do so.

 In the lectures, assignments designed to get you out of your comfort zone and push you forward in your work will be given.

This intensive workshop will help you find your own unique vision and street style through assignments created to get you past photographic fears and cliches to capturing lyrical, poetic and decisive moments that communicate the energy of the streets. But mostly you will be shooting the theatre that is the street; sometimes together, often on your own.

You’ll learn about the “rhythm of place” and we will discuss the laws and ethics of street photography as well as dealing with difficult situations that might pop up. We  will help define a strategy for capturing the rich daily life in Japan; overcoming fears and shyness, approaching strangers, framing, juxtaposition, layering your compositions, letting the image come to you and whether color or black and white best suits your vision. And you will have fun!

Street Tech

You will talk street-tech and Steve and Soichi will give you their minimalist views on gear along with a simplified shooting process to maximizing your response time to capture decisive moments. Their street tools include Nikon cameras with a carefully curated selection of lenses; but they are also familiar with a wide range of equipment to help you maximize your mirror-less, compact, rangefinder, DSLR or even your camera phone for compelling street images.

We will talk lenses, auto focus, zone focusing, shooting form the hip, using live view, flash and a host of other tips, tricks, distractions and ideas that will improve your work dramatically. It’s a street photography workshop but the lessons learned will benefit you in all genres of image-making.

We also know that photography doesn't end when you push the shutter button; in some ways that is where it begins. It is paramount that you find a consistent way to deal with the thousands upon thousands of images you will take in your life time. 

Steve and Soichi will walk you through their processes of organizing, editing, processing and archiving their huge library of images. You'll learn how they work with programs like Lightroom Classic to cull their best work out of every shoot. They will discuss all aspects of the process, from memory cards through archiving onto drives and in the cloud. 

In class, you will look at a selection of your best work from the previous day. These daily critiques are of crucial importance, where you share ideas and constructive criticism as you look through each others’ images. The workshop will be a “safe place” for group discussions with suggestions and new ideas put forward.

Testimonials

Anna Blanco, New York City

“Best workshop I’ve ever taken! Steve is not only a great photographer, he is also a terrific teacher. He is patient and very hands- on. In some workshops the instructor sends students out to shoot after a short lecture–Steve goes out with his students, coaching them throughout the process. His course is well organized and covers diverse topics. He is funny and engaging and generous with his time and knowledge. I had SO MUCH fun and am ready to sign up for the next one. Highly recommended!”

Anne Dunford, Ithaca, New York

"My week in Steve’s Street Shooting workshop challenged me tremendously. There’s nothing like taking your work apart and putting it back together with new vision to make you a better photographer. If you take this workshop, I guarantee you will see the world differently at the end."

Gary Niederpruem, Chicago

“What a fabulous experience. I learned more about photography in one week than I had in 5 years. Steve is very knowledgable about the technical side as well as composition. He is very patient, gives excellent feedback and will work one on one with you on any photography subject you want. I asked him for help on night photography and at 10 PM he was out on the streets of Havana with me with step by step instructions on how to take the shot. 5 star plus rating!!”

Paul Lavergne, San Juan, PR

"Steve’s passion for photography is contagious and his teaching abilities and knowledge extraordinary! I highly recommend this workshop to anyone interested in photography."

Chapman Solomon, Mountain View, CA

“Participating in the NYC Street Photography Workshop was an enriching and exhilarating experience. It challenged me to step out of my comfort zone to improve my skills. Steve’s curriculum and hands on approach offered me an opportunity to learn new techniques, add some creativity and visualize subject matter from another perspective. Each day presented abundant photo opportunities, resulting with the capture of some amazing images, exceeding my greatest expectations.”

Stephen Sholl, New York City

"Not only is Steve a great photographer, he is also a caring, compassionate person as well. He is constantly trying to help participants achieve their photographic goals in a gentle, caring, and sincere manner. Sadly, the critiques of my work were very helpful. Steve was right-on in terms of his suggestions to better my work. The totality of the workshop was terrific, primarily because the parts were all excellent as well. Choice of shooting locations, image reviews, suggestions, videos shown, and galleries visited were all great. Steve also promoted wonderful interactions among the participants. The venue was perfect for the workshop. We could spread out, leave your things there, use the facilities, and eat the goodies provided. You know you’re in good hands with Steve! An outstanding workshop!!"

Steve Lavelle, London

"This is an outstanding workshop, led by a world-class photographer. It is impossible to spend time in a room with Steve Simon and not be inspired to get out there and make great images …I had high expectations and you exceeded them…Steve is very personable, articulate and passionate about photography, very welcoming with a warm, engaging personality. Steve’s style is outstanding. I knew of Steve from the TWiP podcast and would have attended if he was talking about how to watch paint dry…”

Oscar Piñeyro, Dallas

"I just spent the last three days with Steve Simon, What a wonderful experience, the best time spent in a workshop ever. Steve is a perfectionist, every presentation not only had spectacular photography but also the perfect music to enhance the mood, a roller coaster of emotions. He cannot hide his journalistic background every single image tells a story. His technique is flawless; his teaching patience unparalleled. I am eager to start a new chapter of my photography applying what Steve taught me in the last few days."