Tokyo, Japan
Hi, I'm Koji.
Photographer,
guide, and friend.
"My guests don't just leave with photographs. A lot of them leave with a friend."
"My guests don't just leave with photographs. A lot of them leave with a friend."
My name is Koji. I'm a professional photographer and private guide based in Tokyo, Japan — born in Osaka, shaped by years of living and working abroad.
I've been fortunate to experience both Japanese tradition and international cultures, having lived and studied in the United States, Canada, and Australia. My academic background spans political science, sociology, and law — including studies at Keio University in Tokyo — which has shaped my ability to understand people from different cultures and communicate with care and professionalism.
Before dedicating myself fully to photography, I built my career working with the Board of Education, an international law firm, and a leading global technology company. These experiences refined my ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds and enhanced my attention to detail, discretion, and hospitality.
I offer a completely private, bespoke photography and guidance experience — designed entirely around you. Whether you are a discerning traveler, a business visitor, or someone seeking a deeply personal connection with Japan, every session is crafted with the same care, discretion, and attention to detail that I would give a close friend.
Hakone, Kanagawa · Mt. Fuji in the background
"It is my privilege to assist you in creating timeless memories — with care, attention to detail, and warm hospitality."
Koji Yamamoto · Representative, MatchaPhotoJapan
Since starting this business, I've traveled to locations all across Japan with guests — and something happens, consistently, that I didn't plan for. The session ends, and we don't say goodbye like a photographer and a client. We say goodbye like people who just spent a really good afternoon together.
Some guests I've met again in a different city. Others I've taken out for drinks — no camera, just wandering a neighborhood I love. Many of them I still message today. Some comment on my Instagram. A few have become genuine friends.
I don't think this is a coincidence. I think it's because I'm not trying to just take photographs. I'm trying to make sure you actually enjoy your time in Japan — and that the photos are proof that it happened.
It is my privilege to assist you in creating timeless memories with care, attention to detail, and warm hospitality. I look forward to welcoming you and making your time in Japan truly special.
Let's create unforgettable moments together.
The best photographs happen when you forget there's a camera. My job is to make that happen — through conversation, movement, and genuine connection.
Not just the famous spots. The alleyway with perfect light. The izakaya nobody photographs. The angle that takes local knowledge to find.
Many of my guests become people I still message months later. That's not something I planned — it's just what happens when two people spend a good day together.
"If you're coming to Japan and you want photographs — great. But if you also want to spend a few hours with someone who genuinely enjoys showing people this country — then I think we'll get along just fine."
— Koji Yamamoto · MatchaPhotoJapan · Tokyo