Day 1; Meet and Greet Tokyo Haneda Airport 10am, after meeting we departed for Niigata.  Our first photography session was at Untoan Buddhist Sanctuary  138° 53' 22.956" E 37° 1' 52.878" N  Just after sunset we drove to our lodgings for 3 nights  Atema Plateau Resort Belnatio  and toasted with Japans finest Sake to a splendid Japan photography cross country expedition. 

Day 2; We departed our lodgings in the blue hour and set out for Tokamachi Observatory where we photographed the sea of clouds, then we returned to our lodgings for breakfast and a rest then headed back out at 11pm.  Our first stop for the afternoon was Nishikigoi Village (Nishikigoi no Sato) to photograph Koi Fish, Niigata is world famous for Koi fish, buyers from all over the world visit this Hamlet every year for Koi fish auction.  Then we stoped at a Shinto Sanctuary way-way off the beaten path.  After we headed for the highlands for our sunset spot, at summer Koi Ponds and Rice Terraces, this location is only visited by locals, Gaku who I am sure you will never forget is a pro driver, and he has family who grows rice in this region, and my family annually purchases our rice from his family, the rice grown in this region is of the finest quality in Japan.  After sunset we returned to our lodgings for dinner.     

Day 3; This morning I gave everyone a much needed rest and we headed out after breakfast.  We departed for Akiyamago, where we visited a Buddhist Sanctuary, after I had brief introduction talk with the head monk, he allowed us to photograph inside the main hall, this is a rare opportunity, as 99% of photographers would be turned away, but due to my ties with Zen Buddhism in Japan and abroad we were welcomed to photograph inside, this Buddhist Sanctuary holds priceless National Treasures that we photographed, plus we enjoyed the lovely Zen Garden, then we headed for the highlands and a pond for autumn photography, after a full day of photography we headed back for our lodgings for dinner and toast on Japans finest Sake.   

Day 4; In the Blue hour we departed our lodgings to photograph Kamou Rice Terraces .  This is the location where the owner of the rice terraces invited me for a quick visit to his lodge, and I am happy to report that I will be visiting him for several days next year to talk about a possible collaboration and renting out his lodge for participants on my Japan photo tours.  After photographing at the rice terraces we returned to our lodgings for breakfast and check out.  Our Next Stop Shibu Onsen Village and Snow Monkeys, on the way we found a treasured gate, that turns out to be one of the imperial gates of Japan, this gate was constructed during the Edo Period by master wood carvers and builders, who also constructed Nikko 36°58'54.3"N 138°32'21.8"E.  After photographing the gate we departed for Shibu Onsen Village where we stoped for a late lunch of Soba Noddles, then we checked into our lodgings Yudanaka Onsen Seifuso   X 2 Nights. At this lodgings our dinners were traditional Japanese and we toasted with local craft beers, this region is not known for its sake. 

Day 5; After breakfast at our lodgings Yudanaka Onsen Seifuso  half our group headed to photograph the Snow Monkeys and the other half headed to the highlands to photograph autumn colours.  Later in the afternoon we all meet in the highlands and photographed together. 

Day 6; After breakfast and check out at Shibu onsen village, we departed for the highlands of Nagano.  Our first stop was Zensanji Temple, which we do not know the exact date of the construction of the Pagoda or the main Shrine complex due to a Samurai battle in the region and a fire destroying records, but we believe they were built in the early part of the Muromachi Period (1336 - 1573).  Our next stop was at Shirakaba Lake where we found a Tori Gate by the lake just at Sunset we captured a few snapshots then we booked into our lodgings Kameya Hotel X 2 nights.  

Day 7; before sunrise from our lodgings we walked to Shirakaba Lake for an early morning shoot of brilliant Japanese maple trees in bright Reds, Oranges and yellows.  Then we returned to our lodgings for breakfast, then we headed out for a day of photography in the regions highlands, I would have liked to have gone over the pass to the other side of the mountain, but there was snow and ice at the top of the mountain pass, and I did not trust the road! "Safety first!)  After going down to the mid lands we made our way to a Shinto Shrine way-way off the beaten path that Daimyo Takeda Shingen used to enjoy viewing autumn leaves 36°03'07.0"N 138°27'30.9"E.  On our return we stopped at a Shinto Shrine close to our lodgings we got a few shots, but then the grounds keeper came and closed the front temple gate, and he asked us to park on the other side of the street and that we could continue photography, but instead of continuing photography we returned to our lodgings for dinner. 

Day 8; Before sunrise we returned to the local shinto shrine at Shirakaba Lake, where we found the gate open and lights on, then after sunrise we returned to our Kameya Hotel for breakfast and check-out.  After departing we made our way to Kofu and visited Tokoji Buddhist Sanctuary, the main hall was built over 1200 years ago, this site is the final resting spot for countless Samurai, and Daimyos of the Takeda Samurai Clan, 35°40'04.9"N 138°35'18.7"E.  After visiting this buddhist sanctuary we went for lunch, then we headed for Mt. Fuji and Yamanakako Lake where we got clear skies with Mt. Fuji and we had a short visit with swans, but we just missed the sunset due to traffic, so we headed for our lodgings Hotel Mount Fuji X 2 Nights.  This was our first hotel that offered a decent single malt whiskey, so of course we got a bottle for the table, Kompai.  

Day 9; In the blue hour we departed our lodgings for our sunrise spot at Yamanakako Lake with Mt. Fuji, but the fog and clouds did not clear much, so everyone searched for their own perceptions of visual arts waiting for Mt. Fuji to clear, I concentrated on Minimalism photography.  Well after sunrise we returned to our lodgings for breakfast and departed our lodgings again about lunch time. We visited a shop that sells Japanese INDENYA.  Indenya is deer skin and has been used for decorative aesthetics on Samurai armour helmets, leather sword sheaths, plus bags, wallets and other goods have been made for over a thousand years.  INDENYA become very popular during the Edo period in Japan, to read more please click here.  After we left the shop we went to the Dragons Cave where a Shinto Shrine sits in the entrance of the cave, this cave is in the Aokigahara Forest. In the year 864 was the great eruption of the Jougan era of Mt. Fuji creating this fantastic Aokigahara Jukai, “the sea of trees,” spreading across the Northwest foot of mt. fuji. The Aokigahara forest trees grow in natural volcanic planting pots, in rich peat moss. It spans over 3000 hectares, the forest comprising of primary of hemlock fir, Japanese cypress, plus other evergreen trees, and broadleafs such as the longstalk holly, Japanese andromeda, oak, Fuji cherry, and maple. There is no accurate count of the number caves throughout the forest. The forests popularity is growing among nature photographers, fine art photographer with its incalculable mythological forms appearing from tree roots and moss growing in around and over volcanic lava.  After visiting the cave we checked Mt. Fuji again at lake Shoji for clearing but it was clouded over all day, so we returned to our lodgings for hot springs, dinner, drinks and conversation. 

Day 10; During the blue hour we departed out lodging for Shojiko Lake for sunrise with Mt. Fuji, but Mt. Fuji was stuck in fog and clouds again this morning, so I found a highlands gold course where I felt there would be clearing, and there was.  After the visit with Mt. Fuji at the golf course lodge we returned to our lodgings for breakfast then check out and we drove to Hakone.  Once we arrived in Hakone we went for Soba noodle lunch at Kikyoya, the chef uses buck wheat flour from Hokkaido with a mixture of flour local sourced his soba noodles is the best in the Hakone region, and in the top 10 I have tasted in Japan.  After lunch everyone went for a demonstration of how Hakone Mosaic wood art "Yosegi" is made, then we visited several shops in the region.  Then we drove to Amasake Tea House that has been serving customers for over 400 years unfortunately this historical building was under construction, we soon left and for our lodgings Re Cove Hakone X 2 nights.   

Day 11;  We meet in the lobby of our lodgings well before sunrise and drove to Mt. Taikan to photograph Mt. Fuji and what a glorious sunrise we had.  After our photo shoot with Mt. Fuji we returned to our lodgings for breakfast and rest time.  Before lunch we departed our lodgings and drove into Hakone, to a pastry shop, we usually stop at this shop on our way out of Hakone but due to a parade being held the day of our departure, we stopped in to sample their sweets and get some for our picnic at Odawara Castle the next day.  Then we drove to the parking area of Chisuji Falls and took the short hike to the falls, then we spent a few hours photographing these spectacular natural hot springs moss covered waterfalls.  Then we went to Choanji Zen Buddhist Sanctuary were we viewed and photographed dozens of master stone masion art of Zen Monks & Human Expressions, this Buddhist Sanctuary is ancient, and some say a power spot.  Then at sunset we packed up and headed to our lodging for hot springs, dinner and drinks.   

Day 12; just before sunrise we departed our lodgings and visited Hakuryu Shrine this is Hakone's main Shinto Shrine.  We photographed around the Shinto Sanctuary for a few hours then we went back to our lodgings for breakfast and check out.  After checking out we drove to Odawara and stopped at a supermarket and got lunch boxes for our picnic at Odawara Castle, and we emptied one bottle of fine Niigata Sake.  After lunch we dropped Rupert off at Odawara station and we make our way for Haneda Airport International Terminal, and said our goodbyes till next time.