Play to Learn Tokyo is a creative, playful, and educational workshop for anyone who loves photography – whether you’re a beginner or have years of experience behind the camera. This is not about prestige or perfection, but about curiosity, inspiration, and daring to try new things together in one of the world’s most visually exciting cities: Tokyo.
The workshop is led by portrait photographer Therese Asplund and filmmaker Karin Boo. Karin has lived in Japan, speaks Japanese, and knows Tokyo inside and out – she will safely guide us through the culture, pace, and everyday life of the city, far beyond the typical tourist paths. Therese will teach a practical and accessible on-location portrait lighting class as a warm-up before two intensive model photography days.
We will photograph models dressed in traditional Japanese clothing in the peaceful temple park Nezu, and contrast that with a day in an urban environment where models wear streetwear by a Japanese designer who creates garments from recycled kimonos. One full day will be dedicated to street photography together with award-winning photographer Carina Heed – starting with inspiration and concrete tips, followed by practical assignments out on the streets of Tokyo.
For creative inspiration, we will choose between the dreamlike installations at TeamLabs or The National Art Center. We will photograph neon lights in Shibuya, and during a sightseeing day we will experience iconic locations such as Shibuya Crossing and Harajuku.
Play to Learn Tokyo is a warm, inspiring, and creative journey where learning happens through play, community, and lots of photography.
A large part of Play to Learn Tokyo is not just about photography – it’s about people. About finding new, wonderful friends and learning together in a safe, non-prestigious community. Here, it’s perfectly okay to be new, unsure, highly experienced, or completely nerdy. Often, it’s the mix that creates the magic.
We learn new things during classes, but it’s when we go out and try together that the knowledge really sticks. In small groups, we help each other, encourage one another, test ideas, and solve problems together. Someone notices a light you missed, another shares a tip that suddenly makes everything click – and before you know it, everyone has taken a step forward.
And perhaps it’s the moments between the photography sessions that mean the most. When the cameras are packed away, and we sit around a table enjoying a really good dinner, talking about images, life, mistakes, and dreams. When experiences are shared freely and conversations are allowed to take their time.
Traveling to Tokyo with others who are just as nerdily passionate about photography, light, street life, and details as you are – it’s inspiring, safe, and incredibly fun. Many return home with memory cards full of images… and with new friendships that last long after the trip.
Friday: Arrival. Welcome dinner (included).
Saturday: Lighting class including practical exercises. Sightseeing in the afternoon. Optional group dinner.
Sunday: Model photography day in Nezu Temple Park with models in traditional Japanese clothing. Optional evening karaoke.
Monday: Street photography day. Theory in the morning and practical assignments in the afternoon. Evening photography in neon-filled Shinjuku.
Tuesday: Inspiration day with a visit to either the illusion museum “TeamLabs” or “The National Art Center.”
Wednesday: Free morning or optional extra lighting session or beginner filmmaking class. Fashion photography day in the afternoon. Optional group dinner.
Thursday: Check-out.
Accommodation during Play to Learn Tokyo is Japanese-style, which means simple, compact, and shared. Participants stay together in small dormitory-style rooms, creating a social and immersive experience.
If you prefer more privacy, a higher level of comfort, or if you would like to bring a family member or travel companion and stay together, booking your own accommodation may be the better option for you. This works perfectly well, and there are several hotels located in the same neighborhood as the group accommodation, allowing you to stay close to the rest of the participants.
With this option, you will still be included in the welcome dinner, all workshops, activities, classes, and support throughout the week. The only difference is that you will be staying in accommodation arranged by yourself.
Registration opens January 30, 2026, via email to therese.asplund@linslusen.com.
Limited spots available – first come, first served.
Please include:
Your spot is confirmed via reply email including an invoice for the registration fee. If the workshop is full, you will be offered a place on the waiting list.
The registration fee must be paid within 14 days.
The registration fee is 945 EUR and is non-refundable in case of cancellation.
The remaining balance must be paid no later than 90 days before departure.
If cancellation occurs later than 90 days before departure, no refund will be given. However, it is possible to transfer your spot to another person.
If circumstances beyond our control require the workshop to be canceled or rescheduled, all payments including the registration fee will be fully refunded.
Model Image Delivery
Part of the compensation to our models consists of your images. Therefore, each photographer commits to delivering at least three fully edited images to each model they photograph. This must be done within one month after returning home.
If you prefer not to deliver images, you may instead pay an additional fee of 95 EUR, which will go toward extra compensation for the models who do not get images.