Japan
September 19 - 28, 2024
(optional extension: Niigata, September 28 - 30)
Japan will be the focus of our next photography workshop. This extraordinary 9 and/or 13 day adventure includes a deep dive into Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and the Heritage city, Nara. From the sumo district of Tokyo to the fish auctions of Osaka, we're excited to show you this amazing country.
September 19 - 28
In addition, we're offering a three day add-on excursion into gorgeous, rural Japan, where you'll have the chance to shoot traditional artisans in remote ancient villages, hike through the fall landscape and participate in traditional onsen culture. In this atmosphere our pace will slow and our work will deepen.
September 28 - 30
This itinerary is specifically crafted to offer a range of locations, experiences, and shooting opportunities in a mix of modern and ancient settings. Our pace will be determined yet with plenty of time to relax.
Workshop is currently filled to capacity
Cultural Heritage, Natural Beauty
Kyoto
From Tokyo we’ll ride the bullet train to Kyoto, a city renown for its beauty, rich cultural heritage and historical significance. Kyoto is also know for formal, multi-course, kaiseki dining, which we'll experience. We’ll visit the Zen Temple of Tenru-ji, and stroll through the serene Arashiyama Bamboo Grove; we’ll see the Shinto shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, with its thousands of red torii gates, and visit the iconic UNESCO World Heritage-designated Kinkaku-ji, or Golden Pavilion. We’ll photograph the historic and charming alley called Pontocho, known for its lively nightlife and visit the vibrant and bustling Nishiki Market, as well as Gion, Kyoto’s famous geisha district. Not only will we explore central Kyoto, but also the less-visited outskirts of the city, offering a totally different cultural perspective and shooting opportunity.
As a side trip, we’ll tour the nearby town of Uji in Kyoto–the home of Matcha tea. The green tea and matcha produced here in Uji are famous for their quality not only in Japan but also all over the world. Also, while visiting Uji, we’ll see the gorgeous and famous Byodoin temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site.
We'll spend 2 nights in Kyoto in a traditional ryokan
Tokyo
Tokyo is famed for being a futuristic playground, yet it possesses 7th-century temples and some of the oldest shops on the planet. Despite the scale and intensity of the city, Tokyoites mostly gather in intimate pockets, so we’ll spend four nights and days exploring its myriad and distinct neighborhoods. From the high energy of Harajuku to the tiny alleyways of Koenji, to the spectacle of the “Shibuya Scramble” to the respite you’ll find in the city’s many temples and parks—Tokyo is rich with shooting possibilities. The prime hours of the day will be spent out in the city making photographs, as we explore this diverse urban landscape, following in the footsteps of Japan's renown photographers and tradition of photography.
Each day we’ll have time to look at and discuss our work both as a group and individually. Our home base will be a centrally-located four star hotel.
Osaka
From Kyoto we’ll travel south to Osaka, “the water city, the kitchen of Japan, the gateway to the country”. Osaka is the trading center, the main port and the “heart” of the Osaka – Kobe – Kyoto triangle. Located on the southern coast of Honshu, the city is full of vitality, the people outgoing, the food rich, delicious, and diverse. For two nights this will be our base, allowing time for deeper exploration of our surroundings and our own work - editing, sequencing, reviewing and layout.
A feature of our stay in this thriving port city will be the incredible Kuromon fish market, established in 1931, and where we’ll shoot the high energy seafood auctions before the sun comes up. After breakfast in one of the markets many outstanding sushi spots, we’ll have time to explore the city's diverse districts, such as Kita, Minami, and the Tempozan complex, and stroll through the enormous parks bursting with Autumn colors. In the evening we'llcontinue to shoot as we seek out Osaka's famous street food.
We'll spend two nights in Osaka, including an excursion to Nara
Nara
As a study in contrasts we’ll take an afternoon excursion to the ancient prefecture of Nara, Japan’s capital from 710 - 794, where the oldest districts are still preserved.
Nara is visually rich, off the tourist track, and a one-hour train ride from Osaka. This gem has some of the most impressive sights in all of Japan, including the famed Great Buddha at Todai-ji Temple, and the Issui-en Garden where deer roam free. With stops for the regions famed matcha and sake, we’ll walk through Nara's atmospheric woods and lovely surrounding landscape, to visit the important Kasuga Taisha Grand Shrine, as well as Naramachi, Nara’s pristine historic district.
Details & Pricing
Our itineraries are crafted to offer you the most comfortable, high-end creative and cultural experiencs, including carefully selected 4 star hotels, inns, restaurants and transportation. The price is nearly all inclusive. Please see below for details.
Japan Itinerary
What's Included:
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Price reflects standard single accommodation in 4-star hotels and inns
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All breakfasts, some lunches and 7 dinners
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Bullet trains, metro and taxis
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1 traditional kaiseki meal with sake
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All guides and entrance fees
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Pre-workshop notes and logistical assist
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Post-workshop Zoom review (group)
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Partner rate furnished upon request *
What's Excluded:
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Airfare from home country
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Travel and medical insurance
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Any fees or charges that you incur as a result of you canceling this trip once you have made a reservation
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Expenses related to arriving/departing early or late
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Expenses that fall outside of the above list
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Each participant is responsible for own airport-Tokyo/rt. transportation (very easy and reliable train)
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Alcohol other than sake or beer at dinner
*First Meet:
*Introductions & dinner, 5 PM, 19 September
*Last Meet: Breakfast September 28
Add on: Niigata
What's Included:
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All meals, Lodging (including traditional ryokans) guides, activities, transportation
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Hot springs and entrance fees
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Pretty much the whole shebang
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Partner rate furnished upon request *
What's Excluded:
-
Airfare from home country
-
Travel and medical insurance
-
Any fees or charges that you incur as a result of you canceling this trip once you have made a reservation
-
Expenses related to arriving/departing early or late
-
Expenses that fall outside of the above list
-
Each participant is responsible for own airport-Tokyo/rt. transportation (very easy and reliable train)
-
Alcohol other than sake at dinner
-
Tokyo lodging September 30th
*First Meet:
10 am September 28th
*Last Meet:
End of Day September 30th
If you choose to pay with a credit card there will be a 3% processing fee
For more information, payment options and other questions, please email directly
Tirana
The capital, with a population of over half a million and growing more cosmopolitan with new restaurants, shops, and galleries joining the almost surrealist pastiche of testaments to the city’s past. Here, eras collide. We’ll visit Skanderbeg Square, recently renovated with new fountains and rosy granite paving, and home to an 18th-century mosque and minaret, a domed Albanian Orthodox church, a set of government buildings that echo the fascist architecture of Mussolini’s Italy and a Brutalist monolith that houses the National Historical Museum. We'll see the newly opened Secret Surveillance Museum and Bunk’Art, Dictator Hoxha’s five-story underground nuclear bunker.
We’ll spend the first two nights at the centrally located Rogner, an extremely comfortable hotel with a pool and spa.
Korce
Known as the Paris of Albania, Korce is a beloved city of cobblestone streets, high hills, historic spice and food bazaars, and plenty of busy bars and cafes. Renowned for its exceptional cuisine, like lakror--spinach and cheese pie whose recipe has been passed down through generations. Korce has a laid-back atmosphere with culturally significant architecture and museums.
We'll explore Korce's French-style villas, iconic cobblestone boulevards, medieval art and photography collection and, of course, sample the famous beer of Korce.
Shkoder
This beautiful and historic city is situated between Lake Shkoder and the foothills of the Albanian Alps. It is one of the oldest and continuously inhabited cities in the Balkans. Shkoder is regarded as the traditional capital of Northern Albania and is renown for its arts, culture and religious diversity.
We’ll have a curator-led walk through of the Marubi National Museum of Photography, a gorgeous, modern archive showcasing the history of photography in the city of Shkoder. We’ll visit renown churches and mosques as well as the Venice Art Mask Factory where "30,000 masks per year are made using the labour-intensive cartapesta technique”. For those who wish to bike, we’ll pedal around Lake Shkoder and visit a small atilier of traditional women weavers.
Two nights will be spent at Hotel Tradita, a boutique inn with incredible charm, delicious food and homemade liqueur.
Voskopoje
While based in Korce we'll visit the beautiful, high mountain village of Voskopoja, known for its spectacular post-Byzantine-style churches with floor-to-ceiling icon paintings. We’ll dine at a mountain restaurant with some of the best traditional food in the country.
Berat
Berat is a charming and beloved city as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A striking feature is the collection of white Ottoman houses that dot the hills to the castle. Berat is surrounded by mountains, and locals flock to the outdoor cafes lining the Osum river that runs through the city. We'll be guided through the city by a native Berati.
Lodging for one night in a centrally located hotel.
Shkoder
This beautiful and historic city is situated between Lake Shkoder and the foothills of the Albanian Alps. It is one of the oldest and continuously inhabited cities in the Balkans. Shkoder is regarded as the traditional capital of Northern Albania and is renown for its arts, culture and religious diversity.
We’ll have a curator-led walk through of the Marubi National Museum of Photography, a gorgeous, modern archive showcasing the history of photography in the city of Shkoder. We’ll visit renown churches and mosques as well as the Venice Art Mask Factory where "30,000 masks per year are made using the labour-intensive cartapesta technique”. For those who wish to bike, we’ll pedal around Lake Shkoder and visit a small atilier of traditional women weavers.
Two nights will be spent at Hotel Tradita, a boutique inn with incredible charm, delicious food and homemade liqueur.
Beirut
Beirut embodies the beauty and spirit of Lebanon. With its liberal (hedonistic?) leanings it is one of the great capitals of the Middle East. Inhabited by about two million people, it is a city full of history, emotions and division. Although the scars of the past are visible on the surfaces of the buildings, Beirut is a safe, vibrant and exciting city.
Beirut’s history started about 5,000 years ago. At one point it was completely destroyed by an earthquake and tidal wave. After World War I most of its ancient quarters were demolished and replaced by Oriental style buildings. At the beginning of the French mandate in 1920, Beirut established itself as the 'Paris of the Middle East,’ and became the capital of Greater Lebanon. It is in this fabled city where we’ll begin our photography workshop.
We’ll spend three days photographing throughout the distinctive neighborhoods of Mar Michael, Hamra, Aschrafieh, Gemmaze, Sursock and the Corniche--the iconic promenade which pulses with activity. Of course, we’ll eat (and drink) and partake in a bit of the city’s famed nightlife.
Byblos & Tripoli
Leaving Beirut we'll head north up the coast to the archeological site of Byblos, and the ancient city of Tripoli, offering two very distinct shooting and cultural experiences.
Byblos, a UNESCO world heritage city, has been continuously inhabited for centuries. It was here that the Phoenician alphabet was developed. Tripoli is the country’s second largest city, and one of the most traditional places in Lebanon. Predominantly Sunni, Tripoli is a friendly and lively city with beautiful architecture, traditional souks full of artisans, and the World's Fairgrounds--Oskar Neirmeyer's unfinished architectural wonder. In between these two cities we’ll stop for lunch in the surf town of Batroun.
We’ll spend one night in a mountain hotel in Ehden
The Cedars
The bread basket of Lebanon, the Bekka Valley, is reknown for its beautiful andscapes and emphasis on food and all things local. Here, we’ll spend time photographing and hiking in small villages and experience the famous Shouf Biosphere and Cedar Forest, the same trees cited in the Bible. The Shouf is one of the oldest documented forests in history, estimated to be 2,000 years old. The reserve incorporates the Ammiq Wetland, a remnant of the extensive marshes and lakes that once covered parts of the beloved Bekaa Valley. This is one of our favorite places in Lebanon.
We'll end our day at Tawlet Ammiq, one of the most beloved eco- restaurants featuring local and sustainable home-grown food and wine--and a fantastic atmosphere.
Qadisha Valley
The Qadisha Valley is one of the most important early Christian monastic settlements in the world, and a UNESCO world heritage site. Here, there are several incredible monasteries, some carved directly into the mountains. After exploring the ancient sites we'll hike among the wildflowers in the valley below, with a view of Lebanon’s highest peak (Qornet As Sawda) soaring above. This is truly a peaceful and beautiful part of the country. Nearby, we’ll also visit the Kahlil Gibran museum, Lebanon’s most beloved poet.
Baalbek & Bekka Valley
From the Qadisha Valley we’ll make our way east to the ancient town of Baalbek, inhabited as early as 9000 BCE, and an important pilgrimage site in the ancient world for the worship of the sky-god Baal.We’ll spend the afternoon wandering through the magnificently preserved Temple of Bacchus and the vast adjacent Temple of Jupiter.
Two nights will be spent at a hotel in the gorgeous Bekka Valley.
Tyre
We’ll continue south to Tyre, an ancient port on the edge of the Mediterranean and, at 4,000 years, one of the oldest cities in the world. The historic souks and Ottoman-style architecture offer a full-sensory experience. We’ll explore a tangle of busy, winding streets, historical markets, and seaside life. Tyre’s religious divide is microcosmic of Lebanon’s larger struggles, where historically constructed sectarian differences resulted in territorial demarcations. Despite past conflicts, the heart of Tyre remains warm and hospitable.
We'll spend one night in a centrally located Hotel.
Making our way back to Beirut we’ll stop in Saidon to sample their famous sweets and pastries and, if time allows, photograph inside a traditional soap factory.
Beirut
Beirut embodies the beauty and spirit of Lebanon. With its liberal (hedonistic?) leanings it is one of the great capitals of the Middle East. Inhabited by about two million people, it is a city full of history, emotions and division. Although the scars of the past are visible on the surfaces of the buildings, Beirut is a safe, vibrant and exciting city.
Beirut’s history started about 5,000 years ago. At one point it was completely destroyed by an earthquake and tidal wave. After World War I most of its ancient quarters were demolished and replaced by Oriental style buildings. At the beginning of the French mandate in 1920, Beirut established itself as the 'Paris of the Middle East,’ and became the capital of Greater Lebanon. It is in this fabled city where we’ll begin our photography workshop.
We’ll spend three days photographing throughout the distinctive neighborhoods of Mar Michael, Hamra, Aschrafieh, Gemmaze, Sursock and the Corniche--the iconic promenade which pulses with activity. Of course, we’ll eat (and drink) and partake in a bit of the city’s famed nightlife.
Byblos & Tripoli
Leaving Beirut we'll head north up the coast to the archeological site of Byblos, and the ancient city of Tripoli, offering two very distinct shooting and cultural experiences.
Byblos, a UNESCO world heritage city, has been continuously inhabited for centuries. It was here that the Phoenician alphabet was developed. Tripoli is the country’s second largest city, and one of the most traditional places in Lebanon. Predominantly Sunni, Tripoli is a friendly and lively city with beautiful architecture, traditional souks full of artisans, and the World's Fairgrounds--Oskar Neirmeyer's unfinished architectural wonder. In between these two cities we’ll stop for lunch in the surf town of Batroun.
We’ll spend one night in a mountain hotel in Ehden
The Cedars
The bread basket of Lebanon, the Bekka Valley, is reknown for its beautiful andscapes and emphasis on food and all things local. Here, we’ll spend time photographing and hiking in small villages and experience the famous Shouf Biosphere and Cedar Forest, the same trees cited in the Bible. The Shouf is one of the oldest documented forests in history, estimated to be 2,000 years old. The reserve incorporates the Ammiq Wetland, a remnant of the extensive marshes and lakes that once covered parts of the beloved Bekaa Valley. This is one of our favorite places in Lebanon.
We'll end our day at Tawlet Ammiq, one of the most beloved eco- restaurants featuring local and sustainable home-grown food and wine--and a fantastic atmosphere.
Qadisha Valley
The Qadisha Valley is one of the most important early Christian monastic settlements in the world, and a UNESCO world heritage site. Here, there are several incredible monasteries, some carved directly into the mountains. After exploring the ancient sites we'll hike among the wildflowers in the valley below, with a view of Lebanon’s highest peak (Qornet As Sawda) soaring above. This is truly a peaceful and beautiful part of the country. Nearby, we’ll also visit the Kahlil Gibran museum, Lebanon’s most beloved poet.
Baalbek & Bekka Valley
From the Qadisha Valley we’ll make our way east to the ancient town of Baalbek, inhabited as early as 9000 BCE, and an important pilgrimage site in the ancient world for the worship of the sky-god Baal.We’ll spend the afternoon wandering through the magnificently preserved Temple of Bacchus and the vast adjacent Temple of Jupiter.
Two nights will be spent at a hotel in the gorgeous Bekka Valley.
Tyre
We’ll continue south to Tyre, an ancient port on the edge of the Mediterranean and, at 4,000 years, one of the oldest cities in the world. The historic souks and Ottoman-style architecture offer a full-sensory experience. We’ll explore a tangle of busy, winding streets, historical markets, and seaside life. Tyre’s religious divide is microcosmic of Lebanon’s larger struggles, where historically constructed sectarian differences resulted in territorial demarcations. Despite past conflicts, the heart of Tyre remains warm and hospitable.
We'll spend one night in a centrally located Hotel.
Making our way back to Beirut we’ll stop in Saidon to sample their famous sweets and pastries and, if time allows, photograph inside a traditional soap factory.
Niigata Prefecture
For those of you who wish to say on with us a few extra days, we’ve got an extraordinary 3 day 2 night extension planned. This will be our opportunity to relax, move more slowly, and breathe the mountain air. Just a few hours from Tokyo we’ll explore the rural countryside of the Niigata prefecture, including Tsubane Sanjo, Mt. Yahiko and Nagoka, the heart of traditional Japan. We'll meet local artisans and craftspeople—including knife blacksmiths and copper sculptors, among others; take part in culinary expeditions as we move through the region (in private transport), and experience the various tones and lush landscapes here.
Each night we’ll stay in a different ryokan, with onsens and traditional foods. All expenses are included. Further details furnished upon booking or request.
This will be a moderately active excursion.