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After completing my annual Cross country cherry blossom photography tour workshops that start mid-March and take me to mid-April that includes Tokyo and the likes of Ueno Park, Mt. Fuji Chureito PagodaChureito and other so-called big-name places across Japan. I take time for my annual pilgrimage following the Cherry blossoms North to Hokkaido. I have been scouting Northern Japan Cherry Blossom routes for over five years, and this year I will continue my pilgrimage; many of the hamlets I stop over for days have never had a pro-western photographer visit. And the locals are very hospitable and don't speak of authentic Japan. They live it daily. And I will be ready to open new cherry blossom route's up for participants in 2022 or 2023, starting in Tokyo and heading North. So in the not-so-distant future, I will be extending my annual cherry blossom workshop tours from about mid-March to Mid May, completing in Hokkaido. And spring in Hokkaido is a birder's paradise with plenty of other wildlife to photograph, including mammals such as sea lions, whales, and many others. Plus, if you enjoy landscape photography, you will love the jagged shorelines along the coast heading north; along the way, we will stop at beaches known locally as Jade beach or jasper beach, among others, where precious stones are bountiful and found daily, but more importantly, make for stunning photography.
Currently, COVID 19 in these regions have a dozen or a couple of dozen active cases. About ten years ago, I discontinued group Kyoto photography workshop tours due to the swamp of tourists and so-called influencers producing videos in the regions for video platforms such as youtube. There are some other big-name places in Japan that I am thinking of dropping, as I prefer to experience the pure and peaceful photographic zen experience that is genuinely authentic Japan, off the beaten path.

A Japanese Samurai Castle in Northern Japan, with Cherry Blossom in Full Bloom, and they sure do a great job setting up the lights; it's always a sight to behold.

A Cherry Blossom tree that is said to be one of the most beautiful across Japan.

The perfect Cherry Blossoms in full bloom are a rarity, and annually, I time my visit to this Samurai Castle carefully, not to miss these gorgeous blossoms.

Rocky Jagged Oceanscape I like to arrive at this location during low tide to photograph, so I do not to miss this spectacular rocky foreground.

A dear friend of mine enjoying the simplicity of the Japanese garden,in Northern Japan.

Japanese Garden with natural waterfall in Northern Japan, a dear friend of mine was strolling across the bridge when I took this image.

Japanese dogma has made “Zen” a word known worldwide; Japan’s aesthetics come from simplicity or natural elements from nature and Buddhist philosophies. The art of authentic Japan and a traditional lifestyle close to nature, including luxuriating healthy teas and foods daily in our gardens with their pleasing yet straightforward elegant simplicity, has inspired and fascinated generations of artisans and those seeking authentic Japan. The spiritual master Shunryu Suzuki was born and lived a short distance from my home. He once said, “Whatever you do is Zen. That is why I like Zen. In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities, but in the experts’ there are few.”
The “beginners mind” in Zen Buddhism we call ‘Shoshin,' having an attitude of openness and lack of preconceptions when approaching any study, even when studying at an advanced level, just as a beginner in that subject would. For as long as I can remember, I have striven to keep the beginner's mindset my way of life and mindset.

 

ZEN

Simplicity of the perfect cherry blossom, I took this image at my friends home in Northern Japan.

The Cherry Blossom Tree is said to be hundreds of years old, I took this image in Northern Japan.

My favorite time of day, just before sunrise, the color in this image is one of my favorites, this image was taken in Northern Japan.

During my annual pilgrimage North we always drive by SUV along the coastline, one day I would like to ride this train all the way North to Hokkaido.

I hope you get a chance some time to visit authentic Japan with my team and me. Namaste, Blain
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