2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Fushimi Inari Kyoto

Feb 15 | Evan | No Comments |

Anyone that has talked to me about visiting Japan before knows that Kyoto is my favorite city to travel to in Japan. I usually follow that up with saying, Kyoto is perhaps my favorite city to visit not only in Japan but in the world. I’m sure there are some great cities out there for me to visit and photograph, I love Kyoto for it’s incredible mix of traditional and modern Japan. Of course like when visiting other parts of Japan, Kyoto is very safe, clean with good options for public transportation. One of my favorite places to visit and photograph is Fushimi Inari Shrine.

Besides the thousands of torii gates and beautiful grounds, Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of the few spectacular places in Kyoto that is open 24 hours, making it great place to visit for golden hour in the morning. Not to mention, anything later int he day will be so packed with tourists that it makes taking photos quite difficult.

The photo just above was created by and courtesy of Mami Yasui who very graciously cropped the image to hide my bald spot!

The 2015 Fall Photography Tour of Japan included Tokyo, Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Okayama, Hiroshima, Miyajima and Kyoto! Interesting in joining your own escorted tour of Japan with Japan Photo Guide? Contact us to get the planning of your trip to Japan started or join one of the group tours of Japan!

2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Miyajima

Feb 14 | Evan | No Comments |

After taking our time in Kanazawa and around Kanazawa, then a brief stopover in Okayama to photograph another garden and castle there, we made it down to the southern most part of the Fall Photo Tour of Japan, Miyajima and Hiroshima. Miyajima is a small island off the coast of Hiroshima with beatiful scenery, old town, temples, shrines and one of the most iconic images of Japan, the floating Torii Gate. Though as you can see from the photo below, when the tide goes out, you can walkup to and even through the torii gate.

During the day, it’s flooded with tourists but before they arrive in the morning and after they depart in the evening, Miyajima is a peaceful treat. I must have been over a dozen times now and I always enjoy staying and taking photos in Miyajima! It’s also interesting to see the changes going on since my first visit in 2005, though I do miss the monkeys that used to be atop of Mt. Misen!

The short ferry ride back to Hiroshima allows you to explore another city in Japan if there isn’t enough for you in Miyajima. The Peace Park, including the memorial museum for the atomic bomb are worth visiting while in Hiroshima and of course, Hiroshima’s favorite and classic dish, Hiroshima Okonomiyaki!

2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Okayama

Feb 13 | Evan | No Comments |

After 3 wonderful nights in Kanazawa, the next stop on the tour of Japan was to visit Okayama for fall leaves and another of Japan’s most scenic gardens, Korakuen, a wonderful strolling garden that while not as vast as Kanazawa’s Kenrokuen, certainly beautiful and plenty to take photos of. We just stayed in Okayama for 1 night to break up the trip between Kanazawa and Miyajima a bit and Okayama is perfect for a short stay.

Other than Korakuen, Okayama Castle is worthy of a visit as well. If visiting Okayama in Autumn, both Okayama Castle and Korakuen do light up in the evenings which make for nice scenes as well, either as a photographer creating art or just taking in the scenery.

2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Around Kanzawa

Feb 13 | Evan | No Comments |

Having spent a lot of time taking photos at one of Japan’s most scenic gardens, Kenrokuen, and then a few day trips to Natadera and Shirakawa-go, we wanted to explore some other places in the city of Kanazawa. Kanazawa does have many interesting places to visit as a tourist of Japan and for photographers looking to create art in Japan. Some of my favorite places in Kanazawa are Nagamachi, the old samurai district, Higashi Chaya, the old geisha and teahouse district, Ninjadera, old temple with sneaky passage ways and hidden doors/traps, and the 21st Century Museum.

Let’s start with that last one, the 21st Century Museum which is a modern art museum large enough to spend some time there but not overwhelmingly so. You can’t take photos of all of the exhibitions and it’s most famous work of art Leandro Erlich’s “Swimming Pool” was under renovation when we went, but still a very interesting and fun place to visit, but this glass hallway was our favorite part (and I would love to have a portrait session here on an overcast day like it was that day, great light)!

The next two works of art were created by and courtesy of Charles Bowers, originally taken as photographs at the 21st Century Art Museum and then digitally painted to create the pieces below. Be sure to take a look at his site for more fantastic art from his international travels and information about upcoming shows!

Another really interesting place is in the Teramachi disctict (temple district) of Kanazawa, Ninjadera, also known as Myoryuji. It’s important to note a few things about this temple in Kanazawa. First, you need to make a reservation, which if you can’t speak Japanese, any hotel staff should be able to help with. Second, you cannot take photos inside, bummer for photographers, I know! Third, you can only visit on a scheduled tour, don’t be late! Fourth and final note, the tours are conducted in Japanese but you do get an English binder with most of the tour translated for you. Even with all of these setbacks, Ninjadera is still very interesting and worth visiting, especially if you have a rainy day or are avoiding the middle of the day harsh light. You can take photos from the outside, like this one of Mami doing her best ninja impression!

I also mentioned Nagamachi and Higashi Chaya, both well preserved (with modern influences mixed in) older districts that are best explored by foot. One place I particularly love is the Nomura Samurai Family Residence. The garden and house is beautiful and photographers can spend lot’s of time here creating art and enjoying the scenery! A must visit while traveling to Kanazawa and the old samurai district! I’ve visiting countless temples, shrines, residences and gardens during my travels and tours of Japan, but for some reason, this fountain in the Nomura Samurai Family Residence’s garden is always what comes to mind when I think about a Japanese fountain. Everyone always seems to take lot’s of photos of it and they always turn out different!