2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Around Kanzawa

Feb 13 | Evan | No Comments |

Having spent a lot of time taking photos at one of Japan’s most scenic gardens, Kenrokuen, and then a few day trips to Natadera and Shirakawa-go, we wanted to explore some other places in the city of Kanazawa. Kanazawa does have many interesting places to visit as a tourist of Japan and for photographers looking to create art in Japan. Some of my favorite places in Kanazawa are Nagamachi, the old samurai district, Higashi Chaya, the old geisha and teahouse district, Ninjadera, old temple with sneaky passage ways and hidden doors/traps, and the 21st Century Museum.

Let’s start with that last one, the 21st Century Museum which is a modern art museum large enough to spend some time there but not overwhelmingly so. You can’t take photos of all of the exhibitions and it’s most famous work of art Leandro Erlich’s “Swimming Pool” was under renovation when we went, but still a very interesting and fun place to visit, but this glass hallway was our favorite part (and I would love to have a portrait session here on an overcast day like it was that day, great light)!

The next two works of art were created by and courtesy of Charles Bowers, originally taken as photographs at the 21st Century Art Museum and then digitally painted to create the pieces below. Be sure to take a look at his site for more fantastic art from his international travels and information about upcoming shows!

Another really interesting place is in the Teramachi disctict (temple district) of Kanazawa, Ninjadera, also known as Myoryuji. It’s important to note a few things about this temple in Kanazawa. First, you need to make a reservation, which if you can’t speak Japanese, any hotel staff should be able to help with. Second, you cannot take photos inside, bummer for photographers, I know! Third, you can only visit on a scheduled tour, don’t be late! Fourth and final note, the tours are conducted in Japanese but you do get an English binder with most of the tour translated for you. Even with all of these setbacks, Ninjadera is still very interesting and worth visiting, especially if you have a rainy day or are avoiding the middle of the day harsh light. You can take photos from the outside, like this one of Mami doing her best ninja impression!

I also mentioned Nagamachi and Higashi Chaya, both well preserved (with modern influences mixed in) older districts that are best explored by foot. One place I particularly love is the Nomura Samurai Family Residence. The garden and house is beautiful and photographers can spend lot’s of time here creating art and enjoying the scenery! A must visit while traveling to Kanazawa and the old samurai district! I’ve visiting countless temples, shrines, residences and gardens during my travels and tours of Japan, but for some reason, this fountain in the Nomura Samurai Family Residence’s garden is always what comes to mind when I think about a Japanese fountain. Everyone always seems to take lot’s of photos of it and they always turn out different!

This post has images created by and courtesy of Mami Yasui, thank you!

The 2015 Fall Photography Tour of Japan included Tokyo, Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Okayama, Hiroshima, Miyajima and Kyoto! Interesting in joining your own escorted tour of Japan with Japan Photo Guide? Contact us to get the planning of your trip to Japan started or join one of the group tours of Japan!

2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Kanazawa to Natadera

Jan 26 | Evan | No Comments |

Having already spent a lot of time in Kenrokuen and making a day trip to Shirakawago, it was time to check out some other sites around Kanazawa and we made one more day trip to Natadera which is still in Ishikawa Prefecture but in Komatsu and Kaga Onsen area, not Kanazawa. As you can see below, the fall leaves were stunning here and I guess it makes sense as Natadera is quite famous in the area for autumn foliage!

Natadera is quite large and is about the size of some of the larger, well known temples in Kyoto. It’s easy to spend a lot of time walking the paths at Natadera and find interesting photo opportunities. It’s well known for fall leaves, but Natadera also has a variety of gardens, ponds, moss covered paths and gardens, a small museum and this below which body in our group had the courage to walk up to (what you can’t see from my photo is the steep drop below if you slip off the narrow path but can kind of get an idea from the second photo)!

This post has images created by and courtesy of Mami Yasui, thank you!

2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Kanazawa and Shirakawago

Jan 23 | Evan | No Comments |

We stayed in Kanazawa for 3 nights for the 2015 Fall Photo Tour and while we spent a lot of time at Kenrokuen, there is plenty else to see and photograph in Kanazawa and a few great day trips you can make. The first day trip we took was this Shirakawago, a village of traditional farmhouses in the remote mountains of Japan. The historic villages of Shiragkawago and Gokayama are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are famous for the traditional architectural style of home known as gassho zukuri, which translates to praying hands construction.

Recently, Shirakawago and Gokayama have become very popular with both foreign and Japanese tourists and it can be quite crowded during the day. If your schedule allows it, staying in one of the traditional homes is a unique and usually recommend experience! While you can expect lodgings amenities to be minimal, waking up early and walking around the area without the hoards of tourists is quite peaceful!

This post has images created by and courtesy of Mami Yasui, thank you!

2015 Fall Photography Tour of Japan | Kanazawa and Kenrokuen

Jan 22 | Evan | No Comments |

The 2015 Fall Photography Tour of Japan started off with a short stay in Tokyo and then on to include Kanazawa, Okayama, Miyajima, Kyoto and then returning to Tokyo. The first evening started off with a rainy day in Tokyo and by the time we reached the city from the airport, it was dinner time. So on a rainy Tokyo evening, we head out to meet a group of Japanese friends for a welcome dinner at an izakaya (think Japanese tapas bar). After breakfast the next morning we headed north west along the new Japan Rail Hokuriku Shinkansen which extended all the way to Kanazawa in the Spring of 2015. This makes reaching Kanazawa much easier and quicker from Tokyo than in the past! So what’s to see in Kanazawa? Too much for our 3 days we would spend in the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, but the most famous attraction is Kenrokuen, Japan’s most famous garden.

Our timing for the leaves was good as we could see some trees in the peak and others in the midst of changing, offering a variety of greens, yellows, oranges and reds, very nice! The weather could have been a little better though as we had fairly dreary days. Though with my recent luck with the weather, not having rain, or a typhoon, was certainly a plus! Back to Kanazawa and Kenrokuen though! It’s a beautifully landscaped garden that is big enough that you could spend all day walking around and finding interesting things to make photos of. The stone lantern in the first two photos is Kenrokuen’s iconic view and what you will see if you google Kenrokuen, but plenty of other great photography spots to be found!

There is small entrance fee to access the garden, but what’s great for photographers is that early in the morning, before sunrise you can enter for free until the normal access hours. The fact that Kenrokuen opens before sunrise is wonderful as that happening for gardens is very rare in Japan. These next few photos were taken early in the morning during the blue hour.

As you could guess, along with the benefit of having great light in the early morning, as Kenrokuen is the most famous garden in Japan, going early means you beat the mass crowds of tourists to come later in the day. Besides the iconic lantern in the first few images, Kenrokuen is famous for how they protect their trees from the heavy snow Kanazawa gets during the Winter called yukitsuri. During our time there, most of the ropes were setup already but we did get to see one being setup by a team in the garden. You can see the ropes in a cone shape on some of the trees below and then at the bottom some night time photos as during the fall leaves season, Kenrokuen lights up some of the trees.

The next three works of art were created by and courtesy of Charles Bowers, check out his site for more fantastic art from his international travels and information about upcoming shows!