Exploratory

Dates April 17–29, 2005
Leader Stuart Westmorland and local guide
Fee $7,495 from Tokyo, Japan
Deposit $400
Limit 16
Terms and Conditions
For over a thousand years, hanami, the venerable tradition of flower viewing, has taken a prominent importance in Japanese culture. Over time, the annual viewing of the cherry blossoms, sakura, which has become synonymous with new beginnings in the modern Japanese psyche.

In medieval times, the sakura’s brief blooming period and the snow-like flurry of the cherry petals falling at the height of their beauty became a metaphor for life within the samurai warrior code. Those disciplined men, who were continually prepared to sacrifice themselves in the cause of their master, lived a life reminiscent of the cherry blossoms—beautiful and brief. Even today, this image lives on in the Japanese appreciation of the aesthetics of fresh cherry blossoms in their prime, as well as the beauty of the falling petals in the spring breeze.

Lately, much like the weather, springtime television news broadcasts throughout Japan routinely predict the sakura zensen—the “cherry blossom front.” And like the advance of warm and cold fronts in a weather report, the northward momentum of the cherry bloom is followed intently by millions of Japanese!

Our special springtime landscape photography tour is planned to see many of the classic natural and cultural wonders of Honshu—Japan’s largest island. Beyond the hectic city of Tokyo, a visit to traditional parks, shrines and tree-covered hillsides will produce an amazing diversity of photographic subjects in a short amount of time. Mountains and coastline, plus rivers and waterfalls, will be backdrops for the cherry trees that suddenly burst forth with blossoms.

The mountain landscapes of Nikko National Park and the Naruko Gorge are a special feature of this tour. Here, Japanese maples with new spring growth combine with blossoms and verdant mountain pines for an extravagant tapestry of color!
In addition to the natural landscapes, cultural festivals and century-old temples we’ll explore, the rural culture—that still maintains a vibrant atmosphere of the traditional ways—will also provide many unforgettable photography experiences.

Throughout Honshu we will visit temples from tiny and quaint—to looming masterpieces of Shinto architecture. We’ll discover coastal villages with extremely photogenic offshore islands.  Several parks offer sweeping views of cherry blossoms, temples and manicured gardens with tiny tree-filled islands in the background. From the smallest gardens to the grandest parks—from intimate blossoms to expansive seascapes—to the amazing detail in each and every meal served—almost every aspect of this trip will provide an aesthetic and cultural experience unlike any other part of the world!



Day 1
Depart from home.

Day 2
Arrive at Narita Airport, transfer to Tokyo city center hotel. (D)

Day 3
Full day in Tokyo to photograph at the Imperial Palace’s Plaza Garden and other parks noted for their spring bloom. (BLD)

Day 4
Drive to Nikko, famed for its waterfalls, volcanic peaks and ornate shrines. (BLD)

Day 5
Full day in the Nikko area with opportunities to photograph the Toshogu Shrine. We drive the infamous 48-hairpin road to the beautiful Kegon Falls and photograph at 650-foot Ryuzu Falls. (BLD)

Day 6
Depart for Naruko, stopping en route. (BLD)

Days 7–8
Full days at Naruko Gorge and Onikobe-onsen, one of Japan’s few geysers. A highlight will be the night-lighting of the cherry tree groves along the Yuzawa River. (BLD)

Day 9
Drive to Matsushima this morning. We will visit the Zuiganji, Entsuin and Godaido temples. (BLD)

Day 10
Full day in the Matsushima area. Late afternoon cruise amid the 250 unique twisted-pine-covered islands of Matsushima Bay, considered one of the three quintessential natural landscapes in Japan. (BLD)

Day 11
Drive to Sendai to capture the cherry blossoms at Funaoka-joseki Park, with its 1,000 cherry trees along the picturesque Shiroishi River. (BLD)

Day 12
Drive to our Tokyo airport hotel for a farewell dinner. (BLD)

Day 13
Transfer by hotel shuttle to Narita Airport, depart for home. (B)



Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc. P.O. Box 655, Vashon Island, Washington USA 98070
Phone: (206) 463-5383   Fax: (206) 463-5484    Email: info@photosafaris.com
Copyright © 2008, Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc.