Itinerary

This photography tour begins in Tokyo and ends in Kyoto. We travel by comfortable van so we can take advantage of opportunities along our journey. In Kyoto we use taxis and local trains.

Day 1: November 12      Tokyo

After gathering in our centrally located hotel, we will take a late afternoon walk and do some street photography before an evening meal, near our hotel. After our
meal you can choose to photograph some more.

Day 2: November 13      Tokyo

We explore the city for urban landscapes as well as choosing both day and evening times for creative street images. We are looking for our first portrait of the modern culture of Japan that coexists with deep traditions. We will also find our first autumn images in the streets. Our teaching sessions begin as well. Our central location means we can use a daytime slot for the session, so as to leave time for evening shoots.

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Day 3-4: November 14, 15         Tokyo to Fuji

We head to beautiful Mt Fuji in the morning looking for views of the mountain in the landscape along the way. Working from a central base we look for a range of different views of Fujisan with autumn foliage and the beautiful Lake Kawaguchiko. Should the mountain be behind clouds, we can explore forests, lake and local shrines

Day 5: November 16      Fuji to Hamamatsu

Leaving the Fuji lakes area we look for views of Fuji across fields, lakes and the ocean.

Day 6: November 17      Ise

Early in the morning we head to the Ise Shinto shrine complex, with a number of buildings set in a forest. The shrine itself is dedicated to the worship of Amaterasu and is rebuilt in traditional methods and materials each 20 years. It has been a major pilgrimage site since the Edo period (1603 -1867).

Day 7: November 18      Kumano

The UNESCO-listed Kumano pilgrimage trail links three important and beautiful sacred shrines. We visit all three as well as explore some of the surrounding coastal and forest area.

Day 8: November 19      Koyasan

Completing our pilgrimage, we head to Koyasan (Mt Koya), an atmospheric small town with many Buddhist temples. As well as special Buddhist buildings there is a beautiful historical cemetery area set in forest that has much to offer photographers. We stay in a temple-based traditional lodging and can experience a little of the daily practices as well as a beautiful vegetarian meal.

Day 9 - 12: November 20 - 23      Kyoto

Kyoto, once the capital of Japan for over a thousand
years, is the cultural jewel of Japan. It offers fascinating opportunities for images of people, street scenes and temple gardens, as well as other unusual cultural experiences.

We will visit selected temples, shrines and gardens, making our choices partly on the basis of where we hear autumn colour is at its best that week.

A special treat will be meeting and photographing Geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and Maiko (apprentice Geiko) in a private traditional setting.

There will be a teaching session a day beforehand, so you are comfortable with portraiture in a traditional setting.

After experiencing the beauty of their traditional dancing, we will work in small groups to make portraits with each of our three artists.

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Robert has been working with Tea Master Takako Morita on collaborative projects for some time. Takako is a fourth-generation tea master who is interested in the ways Tea concepts extend more broadly including into the photographic process. We will have a tea experiece with Takako and discussion afterwards.

There will be some free time on the last afternoon for shopping or to visit a place of specific interest before we gather for our final dinner banquet.

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