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Essential Japan

8,995 US$

Essential Japan is a 12 days photo tour designed to be an introduction of traditional and modern Japan with the feeling, once back home, of having begun to understand the mystery of this very unique culture.

We will have both spontaneous shoots while roaming the streets in carefully selected and out of the beaten path spots, as well as set photo sessions that include posed models and portrait work.

There will be a veritable cornucopia of photo opportunities at our fingertips, as we will experience from the bustling, cutting edge streets of Tokyo to the peaceful alleys of Kyoto, exploring the well-known and incredible Miyajima Island, the little known and seldom visited by tourists Mount Sosha, the old sanctuaries, tranquil Zen gardens, beautiful Torii Gates, and much more.

We’ll take you through the country to meet the real Japan. Lots of photography, of course, but also food, history, craftsmanship, nature, and design in abundance! Sanctuaries, Torii Gates, markets, holy places, pagodas, manors…

We also carefully select and pinpoint all our dining locations and menus creating a gastronomic route that will show you the best of unknown Japanese cuisine. Spotless and agreeable hotels, with one night in a Japanese Ryokan.

Click to see a Full Screen Presentation (and then scroll down)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Photo Session with a Maiko (Geisha's apprentice)
  • Photo sessions with models dressed traditionally in the streets of Kyoto
  • Visit to an old classical martial arts Dojo and witness a Kendo practice
  • Full day visit to Mount Sosha rarely visited by travelers.
  • The island of the deers Miyahima
  • A hand-picked choice of "real" Japanese restaurants
  • A taste of classical and modern Japan
  • The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
  • Sanctuaries, Torii Gates, markets, holy places, pagodas, manors..

Amidst surprise and fascination, we will embrace a culture at the antipodes of our sensory habits.

From ancient Kyoto to Tokyo's "floating city", passing through Miyahima's heritage, discover the beauty of the Philosophers' Path, the reflections of the Golden Temple, and the intimacy of the world of geishas. Photographing Japan means crossing wooden bridges and multiple centuries, picking up the beauty, admiring temples and getting carried away by the excitement of exoticism. From the bright red arcades lined up by hundreds to the majestic temples, through bamboo forests and Zen gardens, from popular neighborhoods to narrow shopping streets, we will be fascinated by all these mythical places that will awaken your photographer's eye.

Its surprising gardens of vegetation will offer you a splendid view of the city.

From the walk along the "Philosophy path", a small canal with a paved path lined with cherry trees that will offer us multiple opportunities for images both by its reflections and by the passion of Japanese for these trees and this place. We will end with the daytime lights on the portico of the Nanzenji temple.

Shibuya: a small town in itself, overflowing with life, frenetic with its giant screens on the street, its bright stores, its manga and punk looks that rub shoulders with cohorts of white shirts and black pants...

I initially considered National Geographic but, based on his website, I thought that Harry might offer a more personal and intimate experience.

My hunch was right.



I’ve now been on four photo expeditions with Harry over the past two years. I’ve enjoyed each of these expeditions immensely. Our groups have always been small and collegial. Accommodations have been excellent and close to the action. Meals have been most enjoyable.  And, most importantly, itineraries have been well designed and executed – providing the group with great photographic opportunities . The outstanding quality of Nomad’s expeditions is a reflection of Harry’s integrity and commitment to excellence.



Of course, Harry is an excellent photographer. He leads by example; he is generous with advice, and he is direct with constructive criticism. Resourceful, able to adapt quickly and effectively to changing or unexpected circumstances.

Blake Reid. Canada


ITINERARY

 

DAY 1 - OCTOBER 4th. KYOTO: ARRIVAL IN THE COUNTRY OF THE RISING SUN.

Upon arrival at Kansai  Airport in Kyoto, you’ll be received and transferred to the hotel. We will have a first briefing on the activities of the next few days.  Later in the evening will go for dinner in one of our favorite restaurants.

 

 DAY 2- OCTOBER 5th. KYOTO –ANCIENT JAPAN

To start the day we will go to the most traditional part of the city and we will begin to walk through the old neighborhood of Higashiyama. Our first destination is the Temple of Shoren. It will be our first encounter with the  zen side of Japan. We will continue our photographic exploration, entering picturesque streets.  There will be many photographic opportunities and a set of photographic sessions with locals in traditional dresses.

 

DAY 3 - OCTOBER 6th. KYOTO: GOLDEN AGE

We will have the opportunity to witness the imposing Nijo Castle, built by the unifier of Japan, the Tokugawa shogun. We will walk photograph  the immense gardens of what has been  the emperor's palace for more than 11 centuries. Finally, we will visit the Kinkaku-ji where we will contemplate the beauty of the well-known Golden Palace. The day will end with a well-deserved dinner in one of the restaurants on the gastronomic route.

 

DAY 4 - OCTOBER 7th. KYOTO: CITY OF GARDENS

How can you start the day better than taking a walk along a wonderful path, on the edge of a calm water channel and surrounded by lush vegetation? This is the path of the philosopher in Kyoto that we will walk first thing in the morning. The end of the walk will take us directly to the Buddhist complex of Nanzen-ji. At noon we will try one of the restaurants on the gastronomic route, a place of great beauty. We will also visit the old house of Murin-an and its characteristic Japanese garden, a jewel that was donated to the Kyoto government so that everyone could enjoy it.

 

 DAY 5 - OCTOBER 8th. KYOTO. ARASHIYAMA BAMBOO GROVE

This is the day for a visit to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. An Incredible bamboo forest with beautiful alleys and paths alongside the torii passages of Fushimi Inari -Taisha shrine. It's one of the most captured sites in the city

 

DAY 6 - OCTOBER 9th. HIMEJI AND MOUNT SHOSHA

Early in the morning we will move to the city of Himeji where the largest of the twelve original Japanese castles is located, known as “The White Heron”. Himeji Castle, declared a World Heritage Site, has kept its original structure and sites unchanged, surviving wars, bombings and natural disasters. After a meticulous restoration, today we can see it as in the 14th century. Then we will visit Mount Shosha where we will tour the mountain walking through the Engyō-ji complex, a thousand-year-old set of temples in a unique environment.

 

DAY 7- OCTOBER 10th. NARA LAND OF DEER. BACK TO KYOTO

On the seventh day we will make an excursion to the neighboring city of Nara. On the way we will stop to see one of the most famous shrines in Japan. Fushimi Inari is known for the thousands of orange Toris (Shinto gates) that are scattered around the mountain. We will visit Nara on foot. We will walk through its large park full of deer, we will see one of the largest pagodas in all of Japan and the huge Todai-ji temple were the largest bronze Buddha in the world is housed. We will finish the route at the viewpoint of the Nigatsu-do temple from where we will have a beautiful view of the city.

 

DAY 8 - OCTOBER 11th. HIROSHIMA AND MIYAJIMA.

The morning of this day we will spend in the city of Hiroshima where we will visit the peace park, the atomic bomb museum and ground zero. Then we will head to Miyajima where we will have a snack at the typical street food stalls. Then we will take a walk through the Momijidani Park, known for its unique natural beauty, and we will go up by cable car to the top of Mount Misen, from where we will contemplate impressive views of the island. Finally, we will spend the night in a traditional style Ryokan hotel and enjoy an authentic hot spring onsen

 

 DAY 9 - OCTOBER 12th . MIYAJIMA SACRED ISLAND , AFTERNOON IN TOKYO.

Early in the morning we will visit the Utsukushima shrine, the only one in Japan built on water. Then we will arrive at the Daisho-in temple located in an unprecedented natural space. Before leaving the island, we will pass by the viewpoint of the Senjoukaku temple from which we will contemplate one of the best views of the area. From Miyajima, we will get on the bullet train to go to Tokyo and have our first contact with the big city visiting the impressive Shibuya neighborhood where we will have dinner in one of the restaurants on the gastronomic route.

 

DAY 10 - OCTOBER 13th. TOKYO: MODERN JAPAN

We will start the day in the Harajuku neighborhood where we will walk the famous Takeshita Street where we will hopefully see some of the quirky urban tribes of Tokyo. Then we will take a walk through Omotesando, one of the most chic neighborhoods of the city, crossing the great avenue of Meiji Dori. Our next destination will be the Shinjuku neighborhood where we will go up to the viewpoint of the city hall to contemplate some impressive views. After lunch, we will visit Gyoen Park, a place of great natural beauty surrounded by large skyscrapers. From there we will reach the eastern part of Shinjuku, the corner of Tokyo where the night never ends. There you will have a little free time to enjoy it to your liking after taking a tour with the guide. We will end the day in Ikebukuro having dinner at one of the restaurants on the gastronomic route.

 

DAY 11 - OCTOBER 14th. TOKYO: FREE DAY

This day travelers will have free time to visit the city at their leisure. You can take the opportunity to see all those things that you want to cross off your list of places to visit or simply follow the indications of one of our suggested routes. Enjoy some of the many activities that the city offers, take the opportunity to do the last shopping or take an excursion to the outskirts of the city such as a visit to the city of Kamakura, the modern city of Yokohama or the historic Nikko are some of the options to enjoy this last day in Japan.

 

DAY 12 - OCTOBER 15th. FLIGHTS. RETURN HOME

Transfer to  Airport, International departures. End of our services.



Prices per person
10 Participants 8,995 US$


Supplements
Single Room Supplement 720 US$


WHAT'S INCLUDED

 

Prices are per person, based on double occupancy. A limited quantity of single-occupancy rooms is available for an additional charge.

 

The maximum number of participants is listed under "Maximum Group" in the Price section of each individual workshop. However, we reserve the right to add by up to one the maximum number of participants per workshop at any time.

 

 

INCLUDED

 

-Harry Fisch Bilingual Photographer and Tuition

 

-All breakfasts, lunches and dinners except two meals on you own. (Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages not included)

 

- Private, set Photo Sessions

 

- Good local hotels, 11 night, 12 days.

 

- All local ground transportation, train, bus, taxis.

 

- Airport pick-up and transfer to hotel on arrival

 

- Hotel pick-up and transfer to airport on departure

 

- Coordination of all listed activities

 

 

NOT  INCLUDED

 

-Drinks else than tea or water on meals

 

-Tips for local guides and drivers

 

-International flights to and from Japan

 

-Individual house/hotel expenses (minibar, room service, laundry fees, etc.)

 

-Medical Insurance

 

-Anything not specifically listed under "included"

 

 

Prices are per person, based on double occupancy. A limited quantity of single-occupancy rooms is available for an additional charge.

 

 

ACTIVITY LEVEL

 

Daily Activity, Light-Moderate. From 2 to 4 hours walking and/or standing through the day. Normal physical condition.
We will take buses, trains and taxis from one destination to the other.
A shuttle from the airport to the hotel on arrival and from the hotel to the airport on departure is provided free of charge.

 

DEPOSIT

 

A deposit of $1.000 per person is required to guarantee your reservation, which will be applied towards the cost of your tour. The reservation deposit is fully or partially refundable under certain conditions (Please see Cancellation Policy). Second payment 4 months before departure. 

 

FINAL PAYMENT:  

 

Any pending balance must be paid in full at least 90 days prior to departure.