Explore Authentic Japan and Unearth Untold Stories with Blain & His Team in Japan!

Snow Monkeys Up Close and Personal

Feb 18, 2020

I am currently photographing the snow monkeys with participants on my annual winter wonderland Hokkaido Wildlife Birding Adventure. The snow monkeys are a must-visit for any photographer in Japan. This morning I waited on my favorite rock because of my years of experience with the snow monkeys, I know to sit there because the snow monkeys will come to say hello. Others before me were just standing there, and the monkeys are intimidated by the people standing and will stay away ...

Dragons and the World of the Samurai

Feb 17, 2020

I am currently leading my annual Hokkaido, Mt. Fuji, Snow Monkey, World of Samurai, and birding in Hokkaido featuring several of Hokkaido’s bountiful wildlife. During our photo workshop we are planning on seeing The Steller’s Sea Eagles and other raptors next week plus the Red-Crowned Cranes, and the largest herd of Sika Deer on the planet. Now we are walking the same ancient Shinto pilgrimage route that infamous samurai sought out such as the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, Oda ...

Mt. Fuji Golden Hour

Feb 15, 2020

I am currently in Mt. Fuji leading my annual Mt. Fuji, Snow Monkey, World of Samurai, and Hokkaido Wildlife Birding Landscape Photography Workshop with a full complement of participants and 10 in our group. One of the more spectacular landscapes I have photographed is this remarkable view of Mt. Fuji at first light especially breathtaking in mid winter during the golden hour. Camera I used was the Nikon d850 my settings were were 3sec F/11, and 100 ISO. I used a tripod ...

Fertility Festival Japan Winter Wonderland 2020 - 2021

Jan 31, 2020

The Conch Shell will blow commencing the festival of fertility and a good harvest this Winter February 2020. It has been celebrated for hundreds of years in the snow and ice; 2019-2020, the weather has been mild this winter with little to no snow on the Honshu Japans main Island, and there were many fears there would be no snow and ice, for the fertility festival this year! But now it looks like it will go on off without a hitch since there is a cold snap with snow and Ice about to plummet the ...

The Essence of Cherry Blossoms Photo Workshop/Tour

Jan 17, 2020

Chasing the Essence of Cherry Blossoms, you first have to understand that Cherry Blossom Photo Tours are different every year. You have to watch the weather charts closely the Japanese sakura or cherry blossoms flourish at different times depending on which region of Japan you are visiting because Japan is latitudinally long at over 3,000 kilometers and has 6,852 islands, and each island and specific location has individual characteristics that occur only in that region, so photo tours become a ...

The True Untold Stories of Japan - The Bliss of an Authentic Cherry Blossom Tour!

Jan 13, 2020

The True Untold Stories of Japan - The Bliss of an Authentic Cherry Blossom Tour!Before I tell you what bliss and the Authentic Cherry Blossom Photo Tours of Japan is, allow me to tell you what the majority of visitors will experience when they descend on the cherry blossoms every year in spring. Millions of tourists flock to Japan in anticipation of discovering the perfect cherry blossom and the untold hidden stories of Authentic Japan. However, the information that 95% of the people ...

The Essence of Japans Sakura Blossom

Jan 06, 2020

Cherry Blossom Photo Tours are sometimes overlooked due to the sheer amount of activities to take part in while visiting Tokyo. Take, for example, photographing Shinjuku’s Gyoen Park, which I believe is woefully undervalued. The park’s samurai history alone should bring it to the top of any visitors list while traveling in Japan’s capital city. Too often, visitors frequent Tokyo photo tour spots such as Tokyo Sky Tree, Tokyo Tower, or Tokyo’s main station. All of these ...

Hokkaido Photography Tour - Japan Birding and The Steller's Sea Eagle

Jan 03, 2020

On a bird watching photography workshop tour in Hokkaido, priority should be given to tracking The Steller's Sea Eagles, which can be seen from Rausu to Nemuro and even in the Kushiro region when the pack-ice is thin, and food is scarce. But in recent years, wildlife agencies have erected feeding stations in case of a lean year. Also, from Nemuro to Rausu, approximately 160km or 100miles, there are about a dozen natural feeding points for the eagles and two more spots where you can pay to see ...

Happy New Year

Jan 01, 2020

My Family, my team and I wish you Happy New Year, wherever you are on our beautiful planet. This time of year is always one of reflection and my mainland Japan Photo Tour Leaders, my Hokkaido Photo Tour staff, our Kyushu tour leaders take stock of what kind of year we’ve had with our commercial photography projects, our in the field shoots, and working with clients, so they have best possible experience photographing on our many upcoming photography workshop tours. This holiday season, I ...

Hokkaido Photo Tour and The Red-Crowned Cranes - Snow Ballerinas

Dec 28, 2019

Red-crowned cranes appeal to me for so many reasons. When I gear up for my annual pilgrimage to Hokkaido’s winter wonderland, I count myself fortunate to visit and photograph the Red-crowned cranes and other wildlife in Hokkaido. For over 20 years, I have been photographing Ezo Red Foxes, The Steller’s Sea Eagle, Ezo Sika Deer, Whooper Swans, and the White-tailed Eagle, among others. The land, sea, and air of Hokkaido is abundant with wildlife, and the natural landscapes that the ...