Hokkaido Japan Winter Photography Workshop

5 - 14 February 2027

with Murray Livingston & Mark Davis

Total 7 nights/8 days, 5 - 14 February 2027

This adventure workshop is forthcoming. Please use the form below to register your interest!

Embark on an unforgettable 10 day photography workshop set amongst the breathtaking scenery of Japan’s winter wonderland, Hokkaido. Under the expert guidance of acclaimed photographers Murray Livingston and Mark Davis, you'll explore majestic lone trees, minimalist winter scenes, displaying cranes, iconic fishing villages and Torii gates, and immerse yourselves in Japanese food and culture. This experience is designed to enhance your photography skills, from capturing grand landscapes to discovering intimate compositions.

This trip is open to all skill levels. We will base ourselves from three accommodations across the island which form the perfect bases to explore unique photography locations. The trip will be limited to 6 places (plus Murray & Mark).

Key Information

Dates: 5 - 14 February 2027

Duration: 9 Nights / 10 Days

Accommodation: Hotels

Physicality: 2/5 Easy

Group Size: 6 Clients

Price: estimated £3500 / USD$4700 (£1000 Deposit)

Start Point: New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido

End Point: New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido

- ✅ All accommodation, including 9 Nights in fantastic Japanese hotels (single occupancy), all perfectly positioned for daily photography excursions
- ✅ All 4×4 transport during the trip
- ✅ 1-1 and group tuition for the entire trip, including presentations from the tutors
- ✅ Breakfasts and various hot drinks on location
- ✅ Transfers to & from airports
- ✅ Additional cultural activities!
- ✅ Expert location advice and photographic guiding, including daily photo reviews
- ✅ All park fees
This allows us plenty of space on location for photography, an excellent 3:1 teacher to client ratio, as well as a more intimate setting to get to know each other.

Start your journey today!

Have questions about the trip? Please reach out below.

Snow-covered landscape with three trees, dry grass, and a snow-covered ground in winter.

Day 1

Arrive at New Chitose Airport, where we’ll meet and begin our journey to our accommodation. We’ll settle in for a dinner and trip briefing.

Snow-covered mountainous landscape with colorful patchy rocks and sparse trees in the background.

Day 2

Explore the majestic volcanic landscapes of Shikotsu-Toya National Park. We’ll be photographing mountain scenery with both grand and intimate opportunities.

Snow-covered landscape with leafless trees and a snowdrift under a cloudy sky.

Day 3

Today we travel to our next accommodation in Asahikawa via the Biei and Furano regions. We’ll stop along the way making the most of anything that catches our eye. These areas will be our primary locations for exploration for the next few days.

Tufted grasses growing in the snow with a bright white background.

Days 4-6

Minimal trees surrounded by snow, intimate lakes, distant mountains… It doesn’t get any more Hokkaido than this! We’ll also venture one day to visit an amazing Torii Gate on the coastline.

A large white bird, likely a stork or heron, flying in the snow with a snowy, cloudy background.

Days 7-9

We’ll travel onto Kushiro next, where we’ll spend the remainder of our trip photographing red crowned cranes, brilliant diamond ice beaches, and some off the beaten path minimal scenes around Lake Akan and Lake Kussharo. Transfer back to hotel near New Chitose Airport on last day.

Day 10

Sadly, we leave behind the winter wonderland of Hokkaido for New Chitose airport from where we will depart, reflecting on memories that will last a lifetime!

Images: Mark Davis Photography

Meet the Team

Murray Livingston

Nature and Landscape Photographer, Workshop Leader
Mark Davis

Nature and Landscape Photographer, Workshop Leader

Tuition

You will be guided on this adventure by Murray Livingston and Mark Davis, both internationally-recognised photographers. They will be on hand at all times for any level of tuition needed, including location advice, composition, camera settings, artistic evaluations, and many other topics. We are both deep thinkers and will be asking searching questions to push your creative boundaries. The small group size means both Murray and Mark will be able to provide you with 1-1 attention, as well as tuition in a group setting. Both photographers have unique styles and approaches which ensures you will be able to learn a variety of ideas and techniques. During the evening, we will perform image reviews and both workshop leaders will give presentations.

Mark has extensive photography experience throughout Japan, having lived and photographed there for over 10 years; Murray has photographed and led workshops across the world specialising in visual storytelling through long-term projects, most recently about Scotland’s Ancient Caledonian Forest. We will spend our time finding unique compositions and areas of exploration. You will find some of Mark’s photography from the areas we will visit on this page to give you a sense of the places we will be visiting along side some of Murray’s winter photography from Scotland.

Experience-First Retreat

This trip is designed as an experience-first retreat. What does this mean? It means appreciating the opportunity to spend time in one of the most beautiful places on planet Earth! While we are all keen photographers & artists, an equal weighting should also be placed on the chance to connect with nature, get to know each other better “around the campfire”, and take a breather from modern life. I have found that these kinds of experiences out in nature are amongst the most life-fulfilling, and so I want to share that with others too.

A snow-covered tree in a winter landscape, with snow on branches and ground.

Tree covered in snow with sunlight shining through its branches.

A solitary, windswept pine tree with snow on its branches and ground, against a blank, snowy background.

Snow-covered trees on a foggy hillside, winter landscape

Frost-covered trees in a winter landscape under a cloudy sky.

Snow-covered tree leaning in the foreground with a hill and a distant snow-covered tree in the background, under a white overcast sky.

Reflections of bare trees on a rippling blue water surface with a slightly abstract appearance.

Frost-covered trees along a calm, reflective river in a winter landscape

Frost-covered trees reflected in a still lake with foggy background

Further Details

Participants should be aware and prepared for winter and cold temperatures, reaching as low as -17C. We will be exploring locations in snowy and icy conditions. There will be the occasional requirement to walk through deep snow to access locations or compositions.

Mark and Murray are both highly experienced walkers and will guide the group with expert navigation and safety to ensure our overall enjoyment in the outdoors. We are both certified Outdoors First Aiders. Inclement weather is always a risk in winter. Please bring appropriate warm clothing, rain protection, and footwear. Your safety will always be a priority and we will adjust the trip according to conditions. In addition to your camera gear, we can provide a list of suggested items to bring.

The following are not included in the price:

Airfares or additional travel requirements (accommodation pre or post workshop)
Any necessary visas or other travel requirements (please check via your government website)
Travel Insurance (required)
Additional food & drink (extra snacks & alcoholic beverages for instance)
Gratuities or personal spending

Flights to Japan are frequent with many providers all over the world; we will be providing airport transfers from our start point (New Chitose Airport) and to our end point (Kushiro Airport). Most international arrivals will go through Tokyo. It is recommended to fly through Haneda Airport in downtown Tokyo. A £1000 non-refundable deposit is necessary to book your place, with full payment due 10 weeks prior to the start date. Please refer to my standard booking terms and conditions.

Have a question about this photography workshop in Japan? Reach out via the form below!

Mark and I are excited to adventure into Hokkaido’s beautiful winter landscapes and are looking forward to this outdoors creative experience with all of you! Prepare to enhance your skills, expand your vision, and capture memories that will last a lifetime.