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I am currently scouting in the Japan backcountry highlands for my 2022 October 18-29, The Essence of Autumn Cross Country Journey - Japan Photography Exploration with me Blain in Japan.
Unfortunately, I had to postpone this Japan photography workshop in 2021 due to social distancing/c-19. But this opportunity has given me the chance to double and triple check a few back roads. With over two decades of experience exploring Japan, my recommendation is if you are thinking about participating in a photography tour/expedition anywhere in the world that your workshop leader has spent at least two to five years scouting the region you wish to visit and is a competent leader. I think back to 2011 and the Fukushima fiasco; thankfully, I was not with clients in Fukushima at the time, but I was on assignment in the region, and it got extended for several weeks. I recall one evening enjoying dinner at a local Japanese Ryokan after enjoying the healing properties of the local hot springs. And for some reason, in the dining hall, a TV was on. You could have blown me over with a feather when they announced hundreds of thousands of visitors to Japan, including international employees, English teachers, and even some locals, were panic evacuating from Tokyo Haneda international and domestic Airport, and Chiba Narita International and domestic Airport. Wow, I thought this is serious! I finished my dinner with a generous helping of Sake, and I doubled my dose of potassium iodide and returned to the Onsen. A week later, I returned to my home just outside of Tokyo, where I fed my family potassium iodide for two years, then relocated my main residence to Niigata.

Japanese Highlands photographed in Niigata. Currently, I am scouting for my 2022 autumn leaves photo tour. This image was taken from my campsite, it was such a great camping spot we stayed for 5 nights.

Today Fukushima is still rebuilding and will be for many generations; cesium soil contamination is high in some regions throughout the Kanto region, it's exceptionally high in the mountain regions, and in the spring, local governments throughout the Kanto and regions boarding the Kanto warn residence not to pick wild mountain vegetables, such as mushrooms due to cesium contamination which permeates a layer of soil which since has been covered in the decade following the Fukushima disaster fiasco.
And this is why I am scouting far, far away in the highlands of Niigata, Nagano, Toyama, and Yamanashi. I used to lead autumn leaves photo tours to Fukushima and the highlands of the Kanto region. But now, I have scouted a new highlands route where the soil and groundwater are cesium-free; my team and I have explored this new route for over five years, learning its enchantments, seeking power vortex points and the best times of day and locations for the Japan autumn leaves photography adventure off the beaten track of a lifetime trip. Traveling with my team and me, you can be assured a carefree trip of a lifetime.

Perfectly shaped trees, beautiful in autumns colors. I took this image two days ago, while out scouting locations for my 2022, The Essence of Autumn Cross Country Journey, with me Blain Harasymiw in Japan

Campsite Niigata highlands backcountry. Our team took this image of Manami and me last week. This is a new spot, we will visit in the AM next year with clients, we took this image late morning, it's much more vibrant and colorful in the blue golden hour.

As a side note, while scouting, my team and I enjoy to camp, and some days it gets windy in the highlands, and some days we do not have access to tap water and drink and cook from crystal clear mountain streams, and this year we are scouting for three weeks, and it sure is beautiful in the backcountry of authentic Japan. Japan is over 70% unpopulated wilderness, with an abundance of wildlife, our macaque population is over a hundred and fifty thousand, and at Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, there are roughly 300 monkeys in three separate troops, and over 99% of tourists, including Japanese visit the park and hot springs to photograph and visit with the wild snow monkeys. This is an excellent balance to keep the ordinary tourist away from the wild backcountry and leave the wilderness to those experienced in wilderness camping trekking and survival. The snow monkey park does have its charms, and I visit with clients several times a year due to the easy access to photo ops with the wild Japanese macaque. In the wilderness, you probably will not get anywhere near as close as you will in the park in one outing, but if you have a week to camp by a natural wild hot spring's you should have a visit with a snow monkey or two. But don't worry if no snow monkeys that day; you are sure to benefit from shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) in healing milky white hot springs.

Natural Milky White Hot Springs in the Niigata Highlands. I often use this hot springs, in the autumn and spring, in winter it's closed and under several meters of snow, but snow monkeys use it.

A wild Japanese Macaque/snow monkey. I took this image while scouting for my 2022 autumn leaves photo tour.

Tori Gate on an Island across a lake, I took this image the other day in Niigata, Japan. I am currently scouting for my 2022 autumn leaves Japan photography workshop.

Starry eyes 10 years old, and she always looks right into my eyes. If you get an image of a snow monkey looking directly at you, count your lucky stars, because it's rare. I took this image at Japans snow monkey park.

At this wild milky white hot springs, there is a male and female side for privacy. It's free and it's not too hot, about 40℃. And it's a healing hot springs, I hope you get a chance to enjoy it one day, if you wish.

Join me in 2022 or 2023 for a thoroughly Scouted Autumn Leaves Japan Photo tour Expedition.
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