Day 1: Meet and Greet ANA Niigata at approximately 07:37. 

Our first stop was Shibata Castle, a rebuilt castle that was completed in 2004. The original Shibata Castle was built in 1597 and was controlled by the Shibata Clan, a Samurai Family. This castle is very similar in build to the Castle at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Edo Castle was built in 1457 by Ōta Dokan, also known as Ota Sukenaga, a Japanese samurai lord, poet, and Buddhist monk. He took the tonsure as a Buddhist priest in 1478 and also adopted the Buddhist name Dōkan, by which he is known today. During the Edo period (1603-1867), the Shogun used the grounds and castle as the political center of Japan. 

In 1868, the site was handed back to the Imperial family and became the Tokyo Imperial Palace. In 1945, a fire did much damage to the buildings, and they were restored in 1968. 

Day: 2 We woke before sunrise, and drove about twenty minutes to hope to capture Mt. Chokai with the Ocean and mountain ridges along the coastline, but it was hazy this morning. However, we did manage to get a decent shot of a lone, small lighthouse. Then we returned to our lodgings for breakfast, a break, plus you got some images of the garden. I have not had a chance to photograph this garden yet; somehow, I always end up in the onsen. I hope to get a chance this autumn. 

Then we checked out at 10 am. We dropped off our bags at our following lodgings, then we returned to Sasagawa Nagare and concentrated on Ocean Stack photography. On our return, we entered the inland areas looking for snow monkeys in the village of Ogoto, Niigata, Murakami.) We did spot monkeys, but they were fast-moving, and the troop did not give us a chance to photograph them. Instead, we concentrated on photographing rice fields and landscapes. The rice in this region is where my family and my group's support team obtain their yearly supply of rice. It's super clean and sweet, and I enjoy sharing it with the team. 

Then, with time to spare, I thought we would have time enough to drive into Akita to visit a Dragon Shrine, but with rush hour, we turned around in the City of Sakata, Yamagata. We did stop at the (Homma Residence), a historical Samurai residence; it’s too bad they don’t allow photographs to be taken in the residence. However, we did manage to capture some great images of the gate. Then we filled up on gas and headed back to our lodgings for sunset. You chose to photograph the sunset on the Oceanside, which was the better choice. The last time I stayed at this lodging, there were plenty of clouds covering the sky, snaking from the sunset to just about our lodgings, and it was great from above. However, without cloud cover, the better choice was to be on the water's edge: Dinner was seafood, then Onsen and sleep.

Day 3: Breakfast and free time for photography. We checked out at about 10 am and stopped again along the way to photograph the Ocean Stacks. 

Then we moved inland, got on the highway, stopped in Sanjo, picked up cups, and had Soba Noodles for lunch. Next, we visited Ojiya Koi Ponds, where we fed and took photos of the fish. 

There was a recent article in the newspaper about the Koi ponds and a visit from someone in the imperial family. I found the article rather odd, as the earthquake occurred in 2004, and they only visited now to talk with locals about the damage caused by the earthquake. However, news is news.

https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/imperial-family/20250908-279842/

Next, we visited the Oginoshima circular village. This region often experiences heavy fog banks when it's cloudy or rainy, so I rushed us around the town to avoid getting caught in the fog. The weather phenomenon occurs in and around the village, about 5 km away; once outside this radius, the fog banks are less common. Next, we travelled to our next lodging, checked in, and had dinner and an Onsen. I NEVER GOT THE FLOWER PRINT! YET!

Day 4: We met in the lobby of our lodgings well before sunrise and headed for the highlands. When we arrived, the weather was not good for Unkai (sea of clouds); there were high clouds above us, and with no fog over Uonuma, Niigata. I thought this morning was a bust! But about 20 minutes after sunrise, the fog banks rolled in over the Village, and the show started. We captured some great photos of the golden hour, with sun rays shining onto the clouds and the land. It was a very good morning. We returned to our lodgings for breakfast and checkout. Our next stop was Bijinbayashi Forest, a picturesque "Beautiful Forest" known for its uniform beech trees. The pond, unfortunately, had little water and had an earthy colour. For the past few years, the pond has been low, even in heavy rains. I don’t know why. However, the forest is still worth visiting, as it can be one of the most challenging aspects of photography, and next time you are in a forest, don’t forget to look for those alleyways. And the curvatures in trees do make for some lovely and calming photography. I have seen lots of these images hung in offices, and I have plenty of cable TV.

The Untōan Buddhist temple and monastery were closed due to a Buddhist ceremony. This can happen at Buddhist sanctuaries. We then photographed around town and visited two Shinto Shrines, which were adorned with rich, thick moss. At sunset, it was cloudy, and rice terraces are not very photogenic in clouds. Instead, we stumbled upon and photographed a Shinto Shrine in a rice field, and just at sunset, the clouds cleared, allowing the light to shine upon the Sacred Shinto Sanctuary. AI helped remove the building next to it; the shot turned out nicely.   

Then we drove into Urasa, Niigata, where we visited the Sentein Buddhist Sanctuary and photographed the main gate, as well as the lanterns at a sacred site at dusk. Normally, I would never walk on or set up my tripod on moss at a Buddhist sanctuary, but in this region, moss grows like grass due to the moisture, as you witnessed at other locations. 

The restaurant we had planned for dinner was closed for an unknown reason, so we ended up eating at a local diner. Then, you caught the bullet train to Tokyo.  

Thank you, Maury. Please be assured that I was not joking about my Andy Warhol event list, and I will invite you and Mrs to our next event, which is likely to take place in 2027 or 2028. And the proceeds go to my group support team; I don’t make a dime, it’s just a great time to be around similarly minded photographers and friends. 

Additionally, you or anyone accompanying you will receive a 10% to 15% discount on any of my future photography workshops. 

Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions regarding mapping locations, editing, or other inquiries. I am here to help, and am happy to do so. 

Namaste, Blain in Japan 🌸