We have a full day of activities in Osaka. After breakfast we’ll spend the morning exploring many of the very impressive sites showcasing traditional Japanese architecture and style. The impressive Osaka Castle, or “Osaka-jo” in Japanese, is beautiful from any angle and a must-see sight in the city. It is one of the most famous landmarks in Japan, and for good reason. This five-story castle is one of the most visually spectacular creations in the country, with a history that dates back almost 450 years!

We’ll also check out other unique Osaka sites like the Namba Yasaka-jinja shrine, and the Open Air Museum of old Japanese Farm Houses, and other architectural landmarks. Namba Yasaka is famous for its lion-shaped stage, which stands out as a unique piece of architecture, especially compared with the austere temple beside it. It’s not hard to draw a parallel with Osaka’s kaleidoscopic mix of traditional, retro, modern and futuristic, distilled at this secret shrine smack in the center of the city’s bawdiest entertainment district. The Open Air Museum restored 11 typical Japanese farm-houses for display, including a Nambu-Magariya house from Iwate Prefecture, in the north part of Japan, and an Amami-Takakura house from Kagoshima Prefecture, in the south part of the country. Those houses were originally built in the 17th to 19th centuries (the Edo period) and were used as dwellings up until the 1960s. (B)

We begin the day with a short train journey to Kyoto by bullet train, and check into our hotel in the middle of the city. Kyoto is certainly one of the best places to spend time as a photographer. With so many sites that are iconic images of Japan, you’ll fall in love with this city quickly.

Our afternoon will take us to one of the most incredible temples in the area, the Fushimi Inari-Taisha, which is a large complex of shrines and gates. A true highlight. With seemingly endless arcades of vermilion torii (shrine gates) spread across a thickly wooded mountain, this vast shrine complex is a world unto its own. It is, quite simply, one of the most impressive and memorable sights in all of Kyoto. The entire complex, consisting of five shrines, sprawls across the wooded slopes of Inari-san. A pathway wanders 4km up the mountain and is lined with dozens of atmospheric sub-shrines.

Fushimi Inari was dedicated to the gods of rice and sake by the Hata family in the 8th century. As the role of agriculture diminished, deities were enrolled to ensure prosperity in business. Nowadays, the shrine is one of Japan’s most popular, and is the head shrine for some 40,000 Inari shrines scattered the length and breadth of the country. In the evening we will focus on twilight and sunset photography. (B)

We will spend the day visiting more beautiful areas, like the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and the Kinkaku-ji Temple. These two sites are going to bring you some very memorable images, with their striking colors and forms. They are among the most iconic images people think of, when they think of Japan. 

The thick green bamboo stalks of the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove seem to continue endlessly in every direction and there’s a strange quality to the light at this famous bamboo grove. It’s most atmospheric on the approach to Ōkōchi Sansō villa and you’ll be unable to resist trying to take a few photos, but you might be disappointed with the results: photos just can’t capture the magic of the place. The grove runs from outside the north gate of Tenryū-ji to just below Ōkōchi Sansō.

Kinkaku-ji belongs to the Shoku-ji branch of Rinzai Zen and was founded by Muso Soseki (1275-1371) in the Muromachi Period. The temple was originally built in 1397 as a villa for court noble Kintsune Saionji and greatly improved by its second owner, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, who converted it to his retirement home and spent the latter part of his days there, away from the troubles of the state. His son, Yoshimochi, converted the building into a Zen temple, (then called Rokuonji), according to his father’s will. It was destroyed by fire several times during the Ōnin War. The current building only dates to 1955 with a thicker layer of gold leaf added in 1987. The ancient original was burned to the ground in 1950 by a disgruntled priest. The incident was immortalized in the Yukio Mishima novel – The Temple of the Golden Pavilion. The wooded grounds are extensive and lovely to walk.

At night, we will have a chance to review and discuss the photographs we’ve taken over the past few days. (B)

On our last full day in Kyoto, we’ll have time to explore some of the urban areas that make Japan’s seventh largest city so interesting. The Higashiyama District and the Gion District have enough to occupy us for most of the day. Higashiyama is one of Kyoto’s best preserved historic districts, with traditional wooden housing, narrow streets, and shops that have been tended for centuries. With several temples and shrines open to the public, this is a popular place to visit. The Yasaka Shrine is especially beautiful at night when the lanterns are lit up. We’ll aim to return to this area as the light fades away.

The Gion district is Kyoto’s entertainment district, and is also the traditional living and working area for Geishas. In the Kyoto dialect, the word for this type of worker is called Geiko or if it’s an apprentice, then Maiko. Traditionally, Geikos are expert hostesses, trained to serve drinks, perform traditional music, dance, engage in light conversation, and lead in games. Depending on availability, we will have a chance to engage with a Geiko or Maiko, or see them perform their traditional arts in a ceremony.  (B)

After checkout in the morning, we will take a 45 – 60 minute journey by shinkansen bullet train from Kyoto to Himeji, and check into our hotel. Himeji is a small city, and best known for the imposing Himeji-jo Castle, the most impressive in all of Japan. Himeji-jo castle, also known as the White Heron Castle, was built in the 1300’s and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a stunning sight to see and photograph. This fortress has been fortified many times over the centuries, and was recently renovated for five years before reopening in 2014. It’s withstood earthquakes, countless typhoons, and WWII bombings. We’ll place ourselves around the castle in the best light of the day, depending on the weather. 

In addition to the castle, Himeji is considered the birthplace of sake, and we’ll visit one of the oldest breweries in the city, Nadagiku Sake Brewery, to see how the product is made. Meeting the brewmaster and sampling the many types of sake is a great way to get to know this traditional beverage in Japan. We’ll also spend some time in the Koko-en Garden, not far from the castle to view some amazing gardens that only Japanese can create. (B)

In the late morning, we will take a shinkansen bullet train north from Himeji to Tokyo.This will take about 3.5 hours, placing us in Tokyo in the early afternoon. There is a lot to see in this massive, sprawling city, and we will get to as much as we can. We’ll check into one of the finest hotels on Tokyo Bay, with spectacular views of the harbor.

Today we will visit the Shibuya district for a blue-hour shoot of what’s claimed to be the busiest intersection in the world, and one of the coolest places to shoot in the city. When you see this place, it will be easy to understand how it got that description. Prior to this blue-hour shoot, we’ll spend some time exploring the district and getting a sense of how frenetic this city can get. Shibuya is one of 23 different wards in Tokyo, and one of the centers for youth culture and fashion. The district is packed with shopping, entertainment, restaurants and nightclubs that serve the masses of people that visit the area every day. (B)

Tokyo is home to one of the largest fish markets in the world – the Tsukiji Fish Market. The Tsukiji Fish Market is world famous for its tuna auctions, where a fish can sell anywhere from $100,000 to over $1,000,000. In a world where everything claims to be the best or biggest, this market truly is the largest you’ll ever encounter. The market limits how many tourists can enter each day, so we’ll get an early morning start at around 5 AM for the visit, and follow up with extremely fresh sushi for breakfast.

The rest of the day will take us around the city stopping in districts like Roppongi, Akihabara, and Shinjuku. Each of these districts have their own unique characteristics that make them stand out from each other. Roppongi is the more cultural part of the city, partly because of the many museums and the foreigner-friendly atmosphere among the restaurants and bars in the area. The tallest buildings in Tokyo are present in this area, as is most of its money.

Akihabara, commonly referred to as Akiba, is famous for its many electronics stores, as well as the centre for anime and manga culture. It’s an odd mixture, and one that’s certain to entertain. As photographers, it’s nearly impossible to ignore the magnetic draw into the many camera stores. And at the same time, the scene on the streets with so many people dressed in anime costumes, we’re torn where to place our attention.

Shinjuku is home to the world’s largest train station, hosting more than 2 million visitors per day. It’s also the location of the city’s biggest and wildest red light district. With hundreds of small bars around, some that only seat a half dozen regulars, as well as gambling and love hotels, you can imagine how popular the place is at night. (B)

Our last full day in Tokyo will include some education about Sumo wrestling, with a visit to a nearby Sumo stable. Sumo has been part of the culture of Japan for centuries. There are many tournaments that take place throughout the year that draw in crowds of millions of fans. Although there are no major bouts taking place in June, we’ll still have the chance to witness the athletes practice ‘off-season’ in their training stables in the Ryogoku district. Watching these massive men practice will give a new appreciation for the traditions and power of the sport.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit some more quirky districts like Shimokita and Harajuku. These districts are often overflowing with younger Japanese who express themselves with colourful costumes and unique clothing. Shimokitazawa, commonly shortened to Shimokita, is popular with younger Tokyo residents. There is a strong theatre culture here, as well as many live music venues and vintage clothing stores, and it attracts a specific crowd. Harajuku, on the other hand, is much more bold. It’s the centre of Japan’s extreme fashion styles and teenage culture. The countless fashion boutiques lining Takeshita street are filled with young Japanese looking for ways to express themselves that has not been seen before. Truly an eye-opener to the uninitiated. 

We’ll have our “Farewell Dinner” in one of Tokyo’s Michelin-starred restaurants. Tokyo boasts more Michelin starred restaurants than any other city in the world – over 500! Here we will discuss the events of the trip, share our favorite photos and enjoy the fun and laughter.  (B) (D)

Our journey comes to an end today, but only after we have one last chance to observe the size of this massive city. We will venture up to the observation deck of the world’s tallest tower, the Tokyo Skytree. After this was completed in 2012, it was the second tallest building in the world, and the tallest tower in the world, at 2080 feet (buildings are inhabited, towers are not). On a clear day, we’ll be able to see most of Tokyo. We’ll say a farewell to our guests over brunch and a chance to exchange contact information and share some of the photographs we’ve experienced over the past 10 days. (B)