Japan Photo Expedition Itinerary - 12 Days Days 1 & 2 — U.S./Kyoto, Japan Fly to Osaka, cross the international date line, and arrive on Day 2. Transfer to Kyoto and settle into our hotel. Kyoto Hotel Okura Day 3 — Kyoto Our exploration of Kyoto begins with some of the city’s most treasured temples and gardens, where photographic opportunities abound. Step into Ryoanji’s Zen rock garden as soon as it opens, for a chance to photograph the serene site before the crowds arrive. Then try out different perspectives of shimmering Kinkakuji, a UNESCO World Heritage site also known as the Temple of the Golden Pavilion. This afternoon, take a photo excursion to remote Saihoji, often called Kokedera (or “Moss Temple”) for the 120 varieties of moss that carpet the grounds. A visit to Saihoji requires special permission, which means its stunning gardens are refreshingly free of crowds. At our welcome dinner this evening, we’ll be joined by a former geisha and current proprietress of a geisha house. As we learn about this unique tradition and watch a performance, enjoy a rare chance to photograph geisha freely. Then go on a photo walk through the lantern-lit streets of Gion, Kyoto’s historic geisha district. Kyoto Hotel Okura (B,L,D) Day 4 — Kyoto Delve into the immense monthly flea market at Toji temple, and train your lens on textiles, antiques, ceramics, and handicrafts, and merchants presiding over their wares. Continue to Nijo Castle, built in 1603 and designated a National Treasure. Explore the castle’s Ninomaru Palace, known for its beautiful wall paintings and its intruder-deterring “nightingale” floors, designed to squeak when stepped upon. This afternoon, our photo excursion depends on spring’s blossoms: stroll the Philosopher’s Path along a canal lined with cherry trees if they are in bloom, or head to Arashiyama’s atmospheric bamboo grove. Kyoto Hotel Okura (B,L,D) Day 5 — Mount Koya Travel by high-speed train, local train, and cable car to Mount Koya, headquarters of the Shingon Buddhist sect and a popular pilgrimage site. Meet one of the temple priests, and with your camera in hand, meander through the evocative Okuno-in cemetery, where some 200,000 tombs of samurai warriors and dignitaries fill a grove of towering cedar trees. Venture into Kongobuji, the chief temple of the Mount Koya monastery and see work by artists of the Kano school of painting. Settle into our simple lodgings at Rengejo-in, the first temple of Shingon Buddhism, and enjoy a traditional Buddhist vegetarian dinner. Rengejo-In Monastery (B,L,D) Day 6 — Mount Koya/Iya Valley Rise early this morning for a sunrise photo shoot on this sacred mountain. After an optional morning prayer service, descend to the shores of the Inland Sea and ferry across to Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s main islands. On our way to the remote Iya Valley, visit Ryozen-ji, the first stop along Shikoku’s 750-mile, 88-temple pilgrimage route. Our home for the next two nights is a ryokan, or traditional Japanese inn, nestled around hot springs in the Iya Valley. Hotel Kazurabashi (B,L,D) Day 7 — Iya Valley As we travel through the dramatic Iya gorge, stop to photograph shrines peeking out from the emerald slopes. Our destination is a 300-year-old thatched farmhouse, home to the Chiiori Trust, a unique project that seeks to preserve age-old rural traditions in the valley. Document the architectural details of this ancient building style and continue to photograph the evocative Kazura Bridge, a primitive suspension bridge constructed out of coiled vines that stretches high above the river valley below. Then capture timeless scenes of village life in Ochiai, a community of traditional dwellings, some of which date from the Edo period (circa 1700). Hotel Kazurabashi (B,L,D) Day 8 — Iya Valley/Naoshima Travel north to Zentsuji, a lovely complex of temples and a pagoda that marks the birthplace of the Buddhist priest, Kobo Daishi. In Takamatsu, stroll the 17th-century gardens of Ritsurin Park, photographing tranquil images of graceful bridges arcing over ponds. A ferry then brings us to the small island of Naoshima, which has recently emerged as a mecca of contemporary art and architecture. Get an overview of the island on a late-afternoon drive, stopping to catch the sunset on the island-dotted Inland Sea. Our home for the night is a photo op in itself: the cutting-edge Benesse House was designed by acclaimed architect Tadao Ando. Benesse House (B,L,D) Day 9 — Naoshima/Hiroshima Early risers may go on a sunrise shoot overlooking the Inland Sea. Later, photograph the innovative architecture of the Chichu Art Museum, built underground but designed to capture natural light and shadow. See the works of Claude Monet, James Turrell, and others in the museum’s collection, and then visit a house that is part of the Art House Project, which has transformed some of the island’s older structures into imaginative works of art. Ferry back to Honshu and take the high-speed train to Hiroshima. Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima (B,L) Day 10 — Miyajima Set off by ferry on a full-day excursion to Itsukushima Island, popularly called Miyajima. Explore the 12th-century Itsukushima Shinto shrine, a World Heritage site, and during a specially arranged Bugaku performance, photograph the highly stylized movements of dancers clad in vivid costumes and expressive wooden masks. Later, enjoy ample free time for hikes, visits to tiny temples, and a stroll through the picturesque town. In the evening, stay for sunset photographs of the shrine’s iconic vermillion torii (wooden gateway) at high tide, when the torii and parts of the shrine appear to float on the sea. Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima (B,L) Day 11 — Hiroshima Pay a visit to Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and Museum, which documents the atomic explosion that ravaged the city. This afternoon, go on an optional guided visit to Shukkei-en Garden, or explore this thriving modern metropolis—a testament to Japanese resilience—on your own. This evening, gather for a private farewell dinner. Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima (B,D) Day 12 — Hiroshima/Osaka/U.S. Take the high-speed train from Hiroshima to Osaka, and continue by rapid train to Kansai International Airport for your flight home. (B)
Posted on: Sat, 27 Jul 2013 11:15:09 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015