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Japan Autumn Photography Tour - See Authentic Japan

Saturday, March 30, 2024 | By: Blain Harasymiw Photography

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My annual Essence of Autumn Japan photography tour, this October 28 - November 8, 2024, is a fully inclusive business class authentic Japan photography tour, from our meet and greet at Tokyo airport, to the time we drop you off at Tokyo airport.  As with all of my Japan autumn and spring photo tours, participants will enjoy Shinrin Yoku while taking pictures at the most stunning authentic Japanese locations without having to experience tourist pollution.  Tourist pollution is never fun.  Can you imagine traveling all the way to Japan, paying thousands of dollars just to stand shoulder to shoulder with strangers, taking the same picture that tens of thousands of tourists take each day? WoW! And most run of the mill photography tour agencies use public transportation, or maybe a cargo van with bucket seats.  Many photo tours only provide a few meals throughout the tour, and they are mainly not authentic Japanese. Blain in Japan autumn and spring photo tours NEVER use public transportation; we only use LUXURY SUV vans, plus all meals, three meals a day are included, plus there are snacks and drinks in vehicles.  And as photographers, we choose the times, not fixed to a regimented schedule.  It’s all about the journey and chasing the light.  But if you’re using public transportation or riding in a cargo box van group, then you follow the schedule provided and many other fly by night, and even some pro agencies only provide 6-8 hours of photography a day and then cut it.  Wow.  On Blain in Japan photography tours, we spend as much time in the field as possible. In April, sunrise is at about 5:30 and sunset at 6:00 pm, and we head out an hour before sunrise and return to our lodgings between 30 minutes and hour after the sun sets.  Long days, but this is for the photo tour of a lifetime, so I make time.  Then during spring and autumn we have a few illumination events that go until 8 or 9 pm, so the days get slightly longer.  You can do the math on how much time my participants and I spend in the field.  I am a passionate pro photographer, not a clockwatcher.  I have a personal assistant that occasionally reminds me of the time.  It’s all about the photography, nothing else exists.

The perfect maple tree and Japanese aesthetics, this image was taken while I was leading my 2023 maple leaves Japan photo tour.

Ancient Zen Buddhist Garden, image taken during the blue hour, while I was leading my annual Essence of autumn photo tour.

This image was taken at an ancient Zen Buddhist Temple Garden that is know as a power spot. Image taken while I was leading my autumn in Japan photo tour.

Japanese Koi Fish Niigata, these are no ordinary Koi Fish these fish are not up for auction as some are considered priceless due to marking. Image taken during my 2023 autumn Japan photo tour.

A Pilgrimage Buddhist Temple way off the beaten path, if this were on the beaten path there would be thousands of visitors, on this day my group were the only ones at this spot. Image taken Japan Autumn 2023

A Shinto Shrine with our lodgings in the background, this image was taken while I was leading my annual Autumn in Japan photo tour.

Bamboo tunnel way leading to a 1500 year old Buddhist Sanctuary, this image was taken during my annual, autumn in Japan Essence photo tour.

Lovely autumn colours in the Japan highlands on a cloudy day. This image was taken in 2023 while I was leading my annual Japan autumn photo tour.

Illumination of Maple trees, this image was taken in Niigata while I was leading my annual Japan maple leaves autumn photo tour.

Zen Buddhist Temple Garden off the beaten path. If this were on the beaten path there would be hundreds + milling about, this day we and a few locals were the only visitors. Image taken while I was leading my annual autumn in Japan photo tour.

Japanese Pagoda in autumn colours, this image was taken while I was leading my 2023 essence of autumn phot tour workshop Japan.

Zoom Lens Effect, I always enjoy creating motion shots manually with lens. Image taken while I was leading my 2023 autumn in Japan photo workshop tour.

An ancient tree said to be planted by the Tiger of Kai Takeda Shingen a famous Japanese Samurai, this spot is way off the beaten path. Image taken during my essence of autumn photo tour Japan.

Persimmon fruit ready for picking, autumn in Japan has such lovey scenery. Image taken while I was leading my annual essence of autumn photo tour Japan.

Zen Buddhist Temple Sanctuary ceiling. This is way way off the beaten path, image was taken while leading my annual essence of autumn Japan photo tour.

When I mention off the beaten path, what I really mean is away from international tourist pollution, on the beaten path are places that everyone can easily find using web, internet search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing or others.  Participants on a Blain Harasymiw photo tour will visit places that few westerners ever get to visit.  In short, most of Japan’s most ancient and sacred Zen Buddhist gardens temples, Shinto shrines, and authentic Japanese power spots, ryokans, hotels and others are not interested in mass amounts of international tourists; they do just fine with domestic tourism, but they don’t mind my groups visiting, as I explain Japanese culture and customs to my participants before entering.  Over 90% of my Essence of Autumn and spring photo tours are off the beaten path, as we travel cross country through Tokyo, Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gunma, Niigata, Shizuoka Prefectures, among other prefectures depending on the sakura full bloom or the brilliant autumn maple leaves color change.  Every autumn and spring we cover a lot of ground and I make sure we visit the Snow Monkeys, who are more active in autumn and spring due to the abundance of natural foods in the forest; youngsters can often be viewed swimming and playing for an hour or more as they love playing like human children.  We also visit Mt. Fuji but stay clear of the mass of tourists.  During my workshops, I always make sure to introduce clients to the term juxtaposition, especially alongside Japan maple trees in brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges at spots such as Mt. Fuji, or at ancient Zen garden temples, or Shinto shrines, anything that can say this shot was taken in Japan, when compared with Maple trees photographed in Europe or North America. As your photography workshop leader, I have over 35 years experience as an expedition leader, and I am always there to help participants with camera techniques, settings, and compositions, so when you join a photo tour with me, you’re guaranteed to go home with gallery worthy photos.

In the valley of the Dragons Highlands Niigata photograph down into a valley where the landmasses appear as sea stacks. Image taken while I was leading my 2023 essence of autumn cross country photo tour Japan.

And this is why it's called the valley of the dragons, mystical shapes appear in this hidden valley in Niigata's highlands. This image was taken while I was leading my annual autumn Japan photo tour.

Zen Buddhist Gardens are never complete without sanctuary guardians, image was taken while I was leading my annual authentic autumn Japan photography tour.

Zen Buddhist Garden with the sun shinning though the Japanese maple trees. I took this image while leading my annual essence of autumn Japan photo workshop tour.

Baby snow monkey sitting about 3 feet away from me, this image was taken while I was leading my annual essence of autumn phot tour.

Baby snow monkeys love playing and swimming, I took this image while leading my annual essence of autumn photo tour.

Baby Japanese Macaques or snow monkeys are playful and love swimming in hot springs.

Shinto Shrine on the side of a road way. Image taken while I was leading my autumn in Japan photo tour workshop.

Mt. Fuji autumn, this image was taken while I was leading my annual Autumn Japan phot tour.

Koi ponds, yes koi fish breed and live in highland Niigata ponds from spring to autumn. Image taken while I was leading my annual essence of autumn photo tour.

Persimmon fruit almost ready to be picked, this image I took while leading my Japan autumn photo tour.

Experience and Photograph Untouched Authentic Japan this Autumn with me!
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