Spirit of Samurai
12 days
Got your own group together? Choose dates to suit you
Price:
Max group size: 12 people
Take a very special photography journey into Japan’s northern mountains where samurai legend permeates the culture. Guided by professional photographer Everett Kennedy Brown, we’ll meet mountain priests, Japan’s last falconer and the descendants of samurai in their ancestors’ attire. Special access inside the Fukushima nuclear exclusion zone can also be arranged; a humbling slice of recent history.
Day 01: Tokyo
Welcome to Japan
Western-style hotel, moderate
Welcome to Tokyo. Fly into Narita or Haneda Airport and transfer to the city centre hotel. Tonight you’ll meet your hosts, photographer Everett Kennedy Brown and kimono model Junko Okimoto. Discuss your photography goals for the trip with Everett over traditional Japanese cuisine at the welcome dinner.
Photo credit: Matt Goldsmith, InsideJapan Tours' staff
Day 02: Tokyo
Street photography
Western-style hotel, moderate
After a dawn visit to Senso-ji Temple, capture the many faces of Tokyo on a guided city tour. Photograph salary men slurping noodles, teenagers modelling outlandish fashions, chefs slicing sushi at speed, sailor-suited school kids commuting solo, and more amid the towering metropolis.
Photo credit: Everett Kennedy Brown, professional photographer
Day 03: Tokyo
The world of sumo
Western-style hotel, moderate
Sumo is our focus today; the sport’s roots trace straight back to the samurai. We’ll start by watching early morning training rituals at a sumo stable, before feasting as the wrestlers do on chunky nabe stew. We’ll then have a very special shoot, photographing a sumo wrestler outside in the backstreets.
Photo credit: Everett Kennedy Brown, professional photographer
Day 04: Aizu Wakamatsu
Martial arts practice
Western-style hotel, moderate
Bushido, the samurai code of honour, lives on in Aizu Wakamatsu. Our backdrop is Nisshinkan, established in 1803 by the Aizu clan as a school for the children of samurai. Now a centre for martial arts, we’ll photograph multi-generational families practising kendo. We’ll also try our hand at Japanese archery.
Photo credit: Everett Kennedy Brown, professional photographer
Day 05: Soma
Modern-day samurai
Traditional Japanese inn, moderate
The small town of Soma was a powerful samurai domain during the Edo Period (1603-1868). Every summer the residents honour their past in a spectacular horseback archery festival. Today we’ll photograph the 34th hereditary chieftain of the Soma clan dressed in the armour of his samurai ancestors.
Photo credit: Everett Kennedy Brown, professional photographer
Day 06: Soma
Tsunami recovery
Traditional Japanese inn, moderate
Soma’s coastline was decimated by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. As an optional excursion, we’ll get special access to photograph inside the nuclear exclusion zone. Our guide from a local tourism initiative will explain the story of that fateful day, the nuclear fallout and how the community are rebuilding their lives.
Photo credit: Ruth Hubbard, InsideJapan Tours' staff
Day 07: Yamadera
The last falconer
Western-style hotel, moderate
Today Everett will introduce you to Japan’s last falconer, Mr Hidetoshi Matsubara, in the mountains of Yamadera. For more than 40 years, Matsubara-san trained bear hawks to hunt rabbits for their meat and fur. Falconry was first introduced to Japan in the 4th century from Korea and was an essential survival skill in the northern mountains.
Photo credit: Norman Blaikie, tour participant
Day 08: Mount Haguro
Yamabushi priest
Western-style hotel, moderate
For more than 1,400 years the priests of the Three Sacred Mountains of Dewa have practised shugendo, an ancient ascetic religion that incorporates elements of native Shintoism with Buddhism imported from China. We’ll photograph the priests in their ceremonial garb going about their daily rituals on the mountain.
Photo credit: Norman Blaikie, tour participant
Day 09: Sado Island
Taiko drumming
Traditional Japanese inn, moderate
Sado’s history as a place of exile for dissidents sent to work in the gold mines, has left a rich cultural legacy. The island is dotted with Noh theatres and dance groups, as well as the famous Kodo drummers. We’ll photograph a taiko drum ensemble in action and have a go at a simple drum routine ourselves.
Photo credit: Reggie Thomson
Day 10: Sado Island
Island traditions
Traditional Japanese inn, moderate
We’ll document the taraibune tub boats at Sado Island’s Ogi Port today, as well as meeting one of the last remaining carpenters responsible for crafting the cedar and bamboo boats. At the gold mine we’ll also photograph Okesa folk dancers.
Photo credit: Everett Kennedy Brown, professional photographer
Day 11: Tokyo
A male geisha
Western-style hotel, moderate
The bullet train will take us back to Tokyo. Our final dinner will be aboard a yakatabune long boat lined with red lanterns for a trip around Tokyo Bay. Inside we’ll be entertained by geisha, including Eitaro, Japan’s only male geisha who performs as a female dancer.
Photo credit: Everett Kennedy Brown, professional photographer
Day 12
Departure
The tour concludes after breakfast in Tokyo. Time to head to the airport, or if you would like to extend your time in Japan, we’d be delighted to make additional arrangements.
Tour details
Price:
Maximum group size: 12 people
All tours can be customised as private services
