Workshop Overview
Japan rewards the photographer who slows down, pays attention, and embraces curiosity. This new workshop—crafted with my longtime collaborator Soichi Hayashi—takes you deeper into the country’s cultural rhythm.
From the quiet waterfront of Yokohama to the timeless streets of Kyoto and the raw power of Tokyo’s Grand Sumo Tournament, you’ll experience three distinct Japans and build a meaningful body of work along the way.
This is an intimate, thoughtfully paced masterclass for photographers who want to see more, feel more, and grow in ways that stay with them long after they return home.
Three-Part Journey Through Japan
1. Yokohama & Kanagawa – Coastal Calm, First Impressions
We begin in Yokohama, staying at the beautiful InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8, an elegant hotel sitting right on the harbor.
From this waterfront base, we’ll photograph:
• Harbor-front neighborhoods and quiet backstreets
• Yokohama’s Chinatown with its density of color and life
• Night cityscapes along the bay
• A day trip to Kamakura and Hakone for shrines, coastal scenes, and the possibility of Mt. Fuji if conditions align
This first chapter gives you time to land, reset, and reconnect with your way of seeing.
2. Tokyo – The Power and Ritual of Sumo
We time our days in Tokyo to coincide with the period of the May Grand Sumo Tournament, when the city carries a heightened sense of ritual and tradition. We are actively trying to secure tickets to attend the tournament as spectators, but like the World Cup or other major international sporting events, access is limited and never guaranteed. If we’re able to attend, we’ll photograph from our seats, paying attention to the atmosphere, ceremonies, and the rhythm of waiting and sudden action that defines the sport. With limited access a zoom lens may be the most practical tool.
If we’re not able to get inside the arena, there are still rich photographic opportunities in and around the venue and surrounding neighborhoods during the tournament—wrestlers, fans, rituals, and everyday life intersecting in quiet, revealing ways. Either way, Tokyo itself is the reason we’re here. Soichi and I have been photographing Tokyo for more than fifteen years, and we build each day around what we know works. Tokyo rewards photographers who don’t rush—who stay put, work a scene, and let the picture come to them.
For those who want more time and structure in Tokyo, the optional two-day add-on will offer a deeper, more curated street-shooting experience with two nights accommodation at Hotel Century Southern Tower, and one group dinner.
3. Kyoto – Tradition, Portraits, and Everyday Life
Kyoto is the anchor for the second half of the workshop—not just the postcard version, but the deeper, more intimate one.
With Soichi’s local connections (including collaborators you may have met on previous workshops), we’re working to secure:
• Portrait sessions with craftspeople and local characters
• Access to people and places most visitors never get close to
• Time in quieter, more rural areas around Kyoto to escape the tourist crush
We’ll explore:
• Gion, with its layered history and complex twilight atmosphere
• Arashiyama, with its temples and wooded paths
• A day trip to a nearby city such as Nara, Shiga, Osaka, or Kobe, each offering a different take on daily life
By the end of Kyoto, you’ll have the raw material for a serious, cohesive body of work.
Tentative Itinerary
5/20 – Arrival in Yokohama, check in at InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8
5/21 – Yokohama + surrounding neighborhoods
5/22 – Day trip to Kamakura/Hakone
5/23 – Yokohama + Sumo Tournament (day before the final)
5/24 – Travel to Kyoto
5/25 – Kyoto: Gion and surrounding areas
5/26 – Kyoto: Arashiyama
5/27 – Kyoto: Day trip to Nara / Shiga / Osaka / Kobe (TBD)
5/28 – Check-out; depart from Kansai Airport or return to Tokyo
5/29-5/30 Optional Tokyo Add-On Century Southern Tower Hotel.
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.
Accommodations
Our hotel in Yokohama: InterContinental Pier 8
The InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8 is a beautifully designed waterfront hotel that gives us a quiet, refined base right on the harbor. A direct limousine bus from Haneda makes arrival effortless, and once you step inside, the calm of the space sets the tone for the start of our workshop. The rooms are generous, with views that open onto the water, and the surrounding Minato Mirai district offers a mix of modern architecture, walkable boardwalks, and evening light that’s perfect for photography. The hotel also has comfortable lounge areas we can use for meetings or informal editing sessions as we ease into the week.
Our hotel in Kyoto: Solaria Hotel Kyoto (or similar)
The Solaria Kyoto Hotel Premier offers a quieter, grounded experience of the city—one that feels distinctly Kyoto. Set directly along the Kamo River, the hotel places us in the daily flow of local life, where walkers, cyclists, couples, and chance encounters unfold from morning through dusk. It’s the kind of place where stories reveal themselves naturally, without effort. The hotel delivers exactly what matters: quality, atmosphere, and a refined sense of calm. The rooms are comfortable and thoughtfully designed, the service is excellent, and the food reflects the care and attention you expect here. Being just slightly removed from the intensity of Gion makes a real difference with more space to breathe, observe, and work—yet Gion remains an easy walk away when we want it. The neighborhood is rich with small shops and restaurants, and we’re still close to Soichi’s favorite Kenninji Temple, with its beautiful garden and interiors that offer great photo opportunities. It’s an ideal base close to the heart of Kyoto.
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
Steve and Soichi will be teaching you new and powerful street photography techniques guaranteed to push you from your comfort zone to new heights in your work and share their street-shooting philosophies gleaned from a lifetime of wandering urban places, camera in hand.
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.
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 Street Photography Workshop Tokyo/Kyoto, 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.
Soichi will provide photography-driven maps for each of the districts you visit along with tips and suggested shooting positions giving you a head start on getting great images. In the lectures, assignments designed to get you out of your comfort zone and push you forward in your work will be given.
Schedule
We are working out our final itinerary but we will spend the first nights in Tokyo before taking the bullet train to Kyoto. Workshop attendees in the past have arrived early and have continued their travels in Japan after the workshop and we can assist you in making those arrangements.
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."
Steve Simon
Steve Simon is an award-winning documentary photographer and the author of five critically acclaimed books, including The Passionate Photographer, selected as one of Amazon’s “Top Ten Art and Photography Books.” He has photographed in over 40 countries on assignment, with work appearing in publications such as The New York Times Magazine, Time, Mother Jones, Le Monde, Colors, Life, Harpers, Macleans, and The Walrus.
Best known for his humanistic approach, Steve’s photography explores the complexity and beauty of the human condition—capturing authentic, unscripted moments in real time. His images have been exhibited in solo shows in New York, Toronto, Montreal, and Buenos Aires, and three times at Visa Pour L’Image in Perpignan, France. An excerpt from Empty Sky, his photographic tribute to the aftermath of 9/11, was published by Life Books. The 9/11 Memorial Museum later acquired the complete set of prints for its permanent collection—recognizing the work as both witness and memorial.
A passionate educator, Steve has taught at the International Center of Photography (ICP) and the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York, and continues to lead workshops around the world. He is currently working on two new books—one on the art of photographic critique, and another exploring the American political convention.
Read More about Steve Simon hereSoichi Hayashi
Born in 1973, Soichi Hayashi is a freelance photographer and director based in Tokyo. After serving as a creative director for the ad agency, he became independent in photography business. For many years he has been privileged to work alongside the world’s finest photographers with their diverse backgrounds and genres, infusing him with the ability to capture evocative imagery from both a creative and technical perspective.
His photographic interest began early, influenced and nurtured by his father and grandfather – both professional photographers. His skills allow him to shoot nearly any subject whether on location or in the studio but his longstanding passion lies in natural landscape. He travels the world and is available for assignments.
Pricing
Total Cost: USD Tuition: $8,000 A $500 deposit secures your place. The remaining balance may be paid by bank transfer, wire, ACH, or credit card (3% processing fee applies to credit card payments). An optional two-day Tokyo extension offering additional shooting time, curated locations, continued instruction, two nights accommodation at Hotel Century Southern Tower, and one group dinner: $1600.
Deposit: USD $500.00
What’s Included: your workshop fee covers all photographic instruction, group outings, on-the-ground support, and scheduled activities throughout the workshop. We’ll share full details on lodging, local transportation, and included meals once the itinerary is finalized, but our goal remains the same: to provide a seamless, supportive experience so you can stay focused on making your strongest work. We know that all breakfast and three special dinners will be covered.
Participants are responsible for booking their own international flights and getting themselves to our first hotel via the inexpensive and very convenient Limousine Bus. Once you’ve checked in, we’ll handle the workshop logistics from there, with clear guidance before and during the trip.
Deposit & Cancellation Policy
A deposit is required to secure your spot and, like most international photography workshops, it is non-refundable. (If for any reason WE need to cancel the workshop, deposit will be refunded). Group size will be kept intentionally small, so we encourage early registration. (8 People)
If you need to withdraw from the workshop:
• More than 90 days before the start date: Tuition (minus the deposit) will be refunded once we receive your cancellation in writing. • Less than 90 days before the start date: Refunds are only possible if we can fill your spot from the waitlist. In that case, your tuition will be returned minus the deposit. • If your spot cannot be filled: Tuition cannot be refunded.
This policy is standard among professional photography workshops and reflects the fixed, upfront costs associated with planning international programs. PhotoEducate and The Passionate Photographer Inc. cannot offer refunds or credits for cancellations due to medical emergencies, travel delays, family emergencies, or other unforeseen circumstances—including issues related to weather, transportation, political events, or illness. Protecting your self with insurance is strongly recommended. A Note on Travel & Medical Insurance
We strongly recommend that every participant purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes: • Medical coverage for international travel • Trip cancellation protection that reimburses your workshop fee if unexpected circumstances prevent you from traveling • Coverage for delays, lost luggage, or emergency evacuation • Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions (often available if purchased within a set window of your initial trip payment)
Nearly all established photo workshops now require or strongly encourage this level of protection for one simple reason: once we commit to hotels, transportation, bookings, and local partners on your behalf, those costs are fixed and cannot be recovered if a participant must withdraw.
Insurance protects you from absorbing the financial loss of an unexpected situation—and it gives you peace of mind when traveling internationally with expensive camera gear. We recommend www.squaremouth.com to secure your best deal on travel and medical insurance.
Prerequisites
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