We are now engaged. YEY!! Probably one of the reasons why we posted only quite a few blogs for the year 2019. Months from now, both of us will be walking down the aisle and will eventually say our respective “I do’s”. Even before we got engaged, we already knew what we want, a winter-themed engagement photo-shoot, inspired by Isabel Oli and John Prats. We even saved their photos for some pegs and searched for some places that could fit in our schedule and budget. After all, during our 1st meeting with our wedding coordinator, we decided to go for an all-white wedding reception with minimal blue hues. And we can only think of this one country where it has snow and it’s within our reach – Japan, specifically in Hokkaido.
We’ve done a lot of research about Japan itineraries and the possible costs for an engagement photo-shoot in the country. Here are some screenshots and rates of our previous inquiries from different photography teams in Japan.
After thorough discussions and inquiries, we decided to just do a DIY engagement photo-shoot with Kevin’s brother, Kenneth, as our photographer, either way, we will just be spending more or less the same. The advantage of doing it DIY is that we will be able to capture just casual shoots from our travels like we always do which we think really reflect us as a couple – travelers. As we are all comfortable with each other, we could also show our genuine emotions in the photographs and capture more photos during the whole duration of our trip compared to a 2-hour or 1-day photo-shoot.
By June 2019, Cebu Pacific Air had a Piso-fare promotion during the Independence Day where we were able to book a PHP 686 / NT$430 all-in one-way fare from Cebu to Tokyo (Narita). Such an amazing deal!
DAY 1: TOKYO TOWER AND SHIBUYA CROSSING
Since we needed to do some errands in Cebu for our wedding preparations, we booked a flight from Cebu to Japan. Originally, our flight would leave Cebu at 07:40 AM arriving in Tokyo at 13:10 PM. But due to some changes, our flight was rescheduled to leave Cebu at 02:40 AM and arriving in Tokyo Narita at 08:10 AM
Luckily, we were able to book an accommodation (Yanaka Rinrin) via Booking.com which is just walking distance to Nippori Station (JR Express Station) and Sendagi Station (Subway Station). So it was really convenient when going to the airport or strolling around Tokyo City.
The Hachiko Statue is just outside the Shibuya Station, so it’s a 2-in-1 spot. You can be able to take a photo with the famous Japanese Akita dog remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner – Hachiko and Tokyo’s iconic intersection – Shibuya Crossing where as many as 2,500 people cross the street every time the light changes. Shibuya Crossing is somewhat similar to Taipei’s Ximending which is vibrant in colors and there are a lot of shops.
DAY 2: SHINJUKU GARDEN AND ICHIRAN
As we were still tired, we rewarded ourselves with a much-needed sleep. Our itinerary within the day was just to visit Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and witness some autumn leaves and luckily, we were able to take some great photos in the garden. We really didn’t go inside the garden, so we saved around NT$60 for the entrance fee.
Kenneth is a fan of ramen and of course, we’re not going to leave Tokyo without trying out the well-known ramen restaurant in Tokyo – Ichiran. It might cost a bit more but according to him, “It’s a legit Ramen!” and the best ramen he ever tasted! It only took us 30 minutes to wait for our turn.
Our accommodation in Shiroishi (Happy Apartment) is just a 5-minute walk from Shiroishi Station, and what we like about it was that Judy, the owner, was really accommodating and patient enough to answer all our queries prior to our arrival. Her instructions going to the apartment, how to get in, and some reminders were so clear that’s why we recommend her especially for first-timers in Sapporo like us.
DAY 3: NISEKO MT. RESORT GRAND HIRAFU
It’s one great and cold morning to start our day! It was a freezing -4° Celsius in Sapporo and who cares to take a bath? LOL We were supposed to book a Round trip bus ticket with Klook or KKDay but when we checked it a week before, it was already sold out on our preferred date. Even for other Japan agencies offering this kind of tours, it’s also sold out. Fortunately, we were able to check on with GOOD SPORTS [HOKKAIDO GROUND SERVICE Co.,Ltd], there are still available slots. We booked round trip bus transfers from Sapporo Station going to Niseko Grand Hirafu Welcome Center. It was around a 2-HR bus ride but the views along the way were just mesmerizing! It feels like you’re passing through a Christmas village!
Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu is one of the best ski resorts in Niseko. The resort offers variety of winter activities that includes skiing and gondola rides. In the area, there are also accommodations, restaurants, cafes, Snow Gear and Wear rental shops, and a lot more!
The ski-ing area and even the gondola lifts are fully packed with people (We went there on a Friday, by the way). So we decided to just stroll around the area as our main purpose of going here was just to take great photos with snow, and that’s what we did the whole time we were there, PHOTO-SHOOT!
Strolling around the area feels like a dream. Before, I can only see this in movies, but now, I can literally walk in snow, see the trees, cars, houses covered in snow! It was a picture-perfect view!
DAY 4: SAPPORO CITY PARKS
On our 4th day, it was more like a relaxed itinerary. We booked a snowshoeing half-day activity in Moerenuma Park through Klook. Moerenuma Park is a very large park where the grounds are covered with attractive green space but turns completely white during winter. The park is located in the outskirts of Sapporo which is around a 30-minute drive from the city center. During winter, the park is covered with snow which is perfect for snowshoeing, sledding, and a lot more of winter activities.
As we’re not sure if we can make it to Otaru Canal in the afternoon, we just opted to go to a nearby tourist spot in Sapporo and we didn’t regret it at all. Maruyama Park didn’t disappoint us. The park is naturally beautiful with different varieties of trees and plants that surround the park, a perfect winter escape from the bustling Sapporo city.
DAY 5: SHIROISHI STATION
It’s our last day in Sapporo and we just decided to stroll around the neighborhood which is also an IG-worthy area.
Overall, all the research and money that we incurred were all worth it as we have achieved our Winter-themed Engagement Shoot, and at the same time, we were able to experience snow fall together in Sapporo.
The above expenses don’t include the following:
- Baggage Allowance (You really need this as winter clothes take up so much space)
- Shopping / Pasalubongs
- Clothing allowance for OOTDs
If you want to achieve a Four-Season Themed Engagement Shoot, you can also do it here in Taiwan. For Spring, you can have it at Tian Yuan Gong; for Autumn and Winter, at Cingjing Farm and Hehuanshan; lastly, for Summer, you can have it at Zhongshe Flower Farm and Xinshe Sea of Flowers.
