Japan 2026 — Second Edition
November 2–11, 2026
A photographic journey beyond the surface.
After a sold-out first edition, we’re returning.
Same spirit. New discoveries.
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Japan unsettles you in the best way. Its beauty is subtle, found in gestures, shadows, and pauses. At the same time, it is loud, chaotic, unmistakably now.
Our first edition sold out.
But what stayed with us was not the success. It was the feeling that Japan is too vast, too complex, too layered for a single journey.It is not a place to conquer, but a place to listen to.
To explore photography as presence, and presence as a way of seeing.So we’re returning.
Not to repeat, but to go deeper. -
A photographic journey designed by photographers
A carefully crafted experience shaped by photographers for photographers and visual storytellers. Built around presence, observation, and depth.• 9 days immersed in Japan
A slow, layered exploration of Japan in autumn. The final route is being refined on the ground as we prepare this second edition.• Daily creative guidance
Travel with Lucia Marcano and Roberto Mata by your side. Mentorship, feedback, and real-time conversations to sharpen your eye and deepen your visual language.• Mentoring that meets you where you are
We talk vision and storytelling, but also technique and craft when needed. This journey adapts to you, whether you are emerging or experienced.• An intimate group
Small group, big depth. We prioritize connection, attention, and meaningful creative exchange.• A collective printed publication
The journey concludes with a curated print journal edited by Doublepage. We believe in finishing what we start and in photography on paper.• A second edition shaped in real time
This November edition evolves from what we are discovering during our first journey through Japan. It will not be a repetition, but a deeper layer. -
EARLY BIRD first 3 spots
7800€FIRST RELEASE until May 31st, 2026
8100€FULL PRICE from June 1st, to July, 31st.
8700€
*These prices are for a shared room. If you want a single room there will be a +2000€ suplement .
You will have the option of splitting the payment. Please read our Terms & Conditions for more info.
OPEN INVITATION
Hi, Lucia here!
A few months ago, I traveled to Japan for the first time. I arrived with a mix of curiosity, respect, and visual hunger. And I came back completely unhinged, as it should be. With my senses wide open, skin full of images I still don’t know how to tell, and one single certainty: I need to go back. And this time, I want to do it in good company (photographically speaking).
That’s how this project was born: Roadtrip, ETC.’s first long distance adventure. The furthest one yet. The most delicate. And perhaps, the most revealing.
From March 9 to 17, 2026, we’ll travel for 9 days and 8 nights through Japan.
Our itinerary will take us through Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and one surprise destination we prefer not to reveal, because at Roadtrip, ETC. we believe in the value of not knowing exactly where you're going as part of the journey. The unexpected has an important place in how we move, how we see, how we photograph.
For this trip, we’ve partnered with expert travel planners who have been creating cultural experiences in Japan for years. Deeply connected to the local scene, they’ve helped us shape the itinerary so we can focus fully on the photographers and their work. Every detail has been carefully considered to offer a seamless, refined experience. A local fixer will accompany us throughout, handling logistics so we can be fully present to support each traveler. With our trusted partners, you’ll be in expert hands every step of the way and we’ll be invested in doing what we know how to do best: looking for photo opportunities and making great photography possible for each one of our travelers.
This is not a tourist trip. It’s a photographic journey. And also, the possibility of an inner journey.
TRAVEL. MOVE. GET LOST.
This journey is for photographers, storytellers, and photography enthusiasts seeking inspiration beyond the obvious, for travelers who believe in the power of getting lost and finding something unexpected, and for anyone craving a transformative experience: through Japan, through photography, through self-discovery.
Limited spots available
The reviews
Every evening, once the day slows down, we sit with each traveler individually. Cameras on the table, laptops open, the room quieter than the streets we’ve just walked. These review sessions are not about correcting images. They are about understanding what you were trying to see, what drew you in, and how your visual language is unfolding.
We talk about light and composition, but also about instinct, rhythm, and voice. Many travelers say this is where the real shift happens. Where the trip stops being about taking photographs and starts becoming about seeing more clearly. For the November edition, we are expanding these sessions, giving them more time and space. Because growth needs attention. And photography deserves depth.
What’s includeD?
Hotels
8 nights of accommodation in premium and boutique hotels. Including one night in a traditional Japanese ryokan.
MEALS
Daily breakfast and 1 traditional Japanese dinner at a ryokan with onsen.
Trains, buses, etc
Private transfers and high-speed train tickets.
Museums and visits entrances
Entry to key art and photography museums
Local guide
Accompaniment throughout by a local expert guide (fixer)
Travel assistance insurANCE
Photographic guidance
Assistance from two experienced photography educators, Lucia and Roberto, who will be your shadow during the journey, offering technical, conceptual, and creative support to enrich your visual storytelling.
Final collective publication
Receive a copy of Wayfarer. A printed publication, one story built out of the resulting work of our photographers during the trip. Curated and designed in-house by Doublepage.
You can find a full list of what’s included by requesting the information brochure at the bottom of this page
What People Are Saying
“This trip was the therapy I didn’t know I needed this year. Beyond photography, it shifted something inside me. It slowed me down, made me more present, and reminded me why I travel and why I make images in the first place.”
— Rodolfo Romero“Traveling with you always enriches me deeply. It’s never just about the destination, but about the way we look together, the conversations we have, and the space you create for reflection. I leave each trip changed, creatively and personally.”
— Nieves Peñas Herrero“My gratitude to the Roadtrip team for the care and planning behind every detail. The rhythm, the guidance, the atmosphere. You feel supported the entire time, but never constrained.”
— María Elena Velázquez“Thank you for the dedication, the companionship, and the professionalism. You can feel when a journey is built with intention. Nothing felt random. Everything had meaning, and that makes a difference.”
— Omar Mattar“Even the parts of the trip that could have felt like logistics or structure never felt forced. Everything flowed naturally. There was a sense of coherence that made the whole experience feel thoughtful and genuine.”
— Alfredo SuelsMeet the Team
Curious photographer and designer, I love artichokes and am living in Cologne. My life revolves around creativity and image creation: as a photographer, enthusiastically sharing my knowledge with other photographers as an educator, and working as a designer and photo project editor and curator at Doublepage. Travel, both as a vital theme and in my photography, has led me to create Roadtrip, ETC.
Lucia MArcano
Is a renowned photographer and editor with over 30 years of experience educating entire generations of photographers through his schools in Caracas and Miami.
He traveled the world with them through his project Long Distance Photo Expeditions and co-founded Doublepage with Lucia in 2023. His sharp eye and deep experience guarantee a meaningful learning process, while his energy always brings joyful moments that enrich the experience.
Roberto Mata
want to learn MORE?
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want to learn MORE? 〰️
If you want to get all the information about the trip, what is and what is not included, daily agenda and more, sign up here to receive a PDF brochure directly in your email.
You can also check the links below for more info: