One of the advantages of traveling with photographers is the unique selection of places they may choose based on the panoramas they aim to capture. So at the end of our trip to Japan, we went to Jogashima Park, located on a volcanic island on the Pacific coast, to shoot a sunset while looking at the mountain Fuji. Mount Fuji is located at a considerable distance from Jogashima, but its iconic silhouette can often be visible on the horizon, especially when the weather conditions are favorable. It was to be the crowning event of our two-week trip to Japan.
Unfortunately, the heat caused ocean waters to evaporate and form clouds, obscuring both the sunset and the sight of Mount Fuji. However, spending nearly two hours on a sun-warmed volcanic rock, alongside many others eagerly awaiting the appearance of Fuji, and observing fellow photographers capturing long exposure photos, proved to be a remarkably conclusion to our intense journey. Enjoying the quiet, I was reviewing my first impressions of Japan.
The volcanic rock of Jogashima shaped by ancient eruptionsa and smoothed by time. The day was sunny and the sun made the rock warm. Waves crashed against the shore, creating a soothing symphony. As I sat on the volcanic rock, I observed a few fellow visitors scattered along the coastline, each seemingly absorbed in their own contemplative moments. A couple, hand in hand, strolled along the edge of the cliffs, their faces animated by occasional smiles and shared words. Nearby, a solitary figure hunched over a sketchbook, capturing the rugged beauty of the landscape with swift strokes of a pencil.
We still have to generate statistics, but for sure we made over 1000 km on trains and around 200 km on foot. Back home, with a bit of a jet lag and experiencing the time difference, I tried to gather my thoughts. Japan turned out to be one of the friendliest countries to spent vacation. Beginning with a very efficient public transport (less expensive than expected if you buy a rail pass for tourists), perfect hygienic conditions (to be frank excellent ones), exciting places to see offering a glimpse of Japan’s rich culture and history and very polite people smiling and nodding on every occasion.
Below some of my first impressions of Japan.
The entrance to the Kanazawa railway station. A modern glass and metal building with a 14 meters high entry designed traditional Japanese style. Kanazawa is a city located in the Ishikawa Prefecture on the west coast of Honshu. We came there to see Kenroku-en, a stunning Japanese garden that is considered one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan.
Kenroku-en in Kanazawa, one of the oldest gardens in Japan. Walking around you learn what a Japanese garden truly is. Japanese gardens are serene landscapes designed with meticulous attention to detail, reflecting a profound connection to nature and spirituality. These gardens typically feature carefully arranged elements such as rocks, water features, bridges, and meticulously pruned plants. The design philosophy centers around creating a harmonious balance, embodying principles of simplicity, asymmetry, and the artful use of empty space.
Kinkaku-Ji, Temple of the Golden Pavilion, a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto. Initially built in the XIV century. It was torched in 1950 by a novice monk. Restored in 1955. The building complex is sourrounded by yet another great Japanese Zen garden. Originating in China and later flourishing in Japan, Zen emphasizes the importance of mindfulness, simplicity, and the direct transmission of wisdom from master to disciple. Its teachings have had a profound impact on various aspects of Japanese culture, from art and architecture to the tea ceremony.
Children just out of school, somewhere in the Tokyo agglomeration. In most cities, children wear uniforms. Uniforms in Japanese schools are a distinctive and integral part of the education system. Typically characterized by a sailor-style design for girls and a military-style for boys, school uniforms foster a sense of equality and discipline among students. The uniforms often include specific details reflecting the school’s identity and are worn with pride as a symbol of belonging and conformity in Japanese society. We saw only one exception. Somewhere high in the mountains, in a small village we saw children coming back from school, wearing only similar caps.
The Japanese cuisine (provided that you correctly choose the place to eat) turned to be delicious. But, for a person whose first association with Japan is raw fish and rice, it was, however, a bit unexpected like rolls with traditional Japanese beef and kimchi inside or gilled beef). Historically, Japan had a predominantly Buddhist culture, and Buddhism discouraged the consumption of meat, including beef. As a result, beef was not a common part of the traditional Japanese diet for many centuries. However, during the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century, Japan underwent significant social and cultural changes, including the loosening of dietary restrictions influenced by Buddhism. With the modernization of Japan, the country began to adopt more Western dietary practices, and the consumption of meat, including beef, increased. Today, beef is a popular and widely consumed meat in Japan.
Japanese cuisine features various beef dishes, and one of the most well-known is “Wagyu.” Wagyu refers to Japanese beef, and it is renowned for its exceptional quality, tenderness, and marbled texture. Different regional varieties of Wagyu, such as Kobe beef, Matsusaka beef, and Hida beef, are highly prized for their unique flavors and characteristics. Yakiniku, which translates to “grilled meat,” is a popular style of dining in Japan where diners grill bite-sized pieces of meat, including beef, at their table.
A food stand, one of many. Tokyo. The vendor is wearing a mask. Not that unusual in Japan, however, it is not that widespread as in other Asian countries. Pollution is rather small in Japan, but the Japanese wear them for hygienic purposes.
Of unexpected things were people wearing traditional clothing. Understandably, we saw newly wedded couples posing to photos as well as professional geishas wearing traditional clothing. But we also saw many girls and women wearing yukata on streets and in public transport. We were told that traditional clothing is considered merely as an elegant way of dressing up. Yukata is a type of kimono, but yukata are generally made of lightweight cotton or synthetic fabric, making them more breathable and comfortable for hot weather. They are characterized by their vibrant colors, bold patterns, and wide sleeves. They are often worn with a wide belt called an obi, which is tied in a simple bow at the back. Traditionally, yukata were worn as casual clothing after bathing in onsen, but today they are also a popular choice for attending summer festivals, fireworks displays, and other traditional events.
A young Japanese woman wearing a yukata hanging charm in one of the Japanese Shinto temples. Shinto is the traditional Japanese religion based on beliefs in deities and their powers. In Shinto temples or shrines you can buy a charm for almost everything: good fortune, prosperous business, love or successful passing of an exam … This kind of charm on a wooden plate is called ema. A worshiper visiting the shrine can buy a special wooden plate, write a wish on that, and hang on the ema stand. It is believed that the deities listen to those wishes.
The newly married couple, posing to a photographer in a bamboo forest in Arashiyama. Both bride and groom wear traditional clothing. What I saw first time in Japan were traditional Japanese sandals (zori or geta) and white tabi socks. Zori are flat sandals with a thong strap that passes between the first and second toes. The sole of zori can be made from various materials, including rice straw, lacquered wood, rubber, or modern synthetic materials. Geta are wooden sandals raised off the ground by two wooden blocks called “ha” or “teeth”. The bottom of geta is usually made of unfinished wood, and the thong strap passes between the big toe and the second toe.
Professional geikos in Gion, a geisha district in Kyoto. Geishas and geikos, deeply rooted in Japanese culture, represent an artful tradition of performance and hospitality. Geishas, often misconceived as mere entertainers, are skilled artists trained in various traditional Japanese arts, including dance, music, and conversation. They epitomize grace and elegance, wearing elaborate kimonos and distinctive hairstyles. Geikos, a term primarily used in Kyoto, are apprentice geishas undergoing rigorous training in the arts and social etiquette. The geisha world is structured with strict hierarchies, emphasizing mentorship and continuity of tradition.
Only a few Japanese we met spoke excellent English. It was easy to communicate on simple things – some hand signs and smiling were enough. However, without our colleague fluent in Japanese, we weren’t probably so quick in moving around (thank you, Tomek!).
Some other first photo impressions.
A traditional Japanese house. Traditional Japanese house exteriors are characterized by a modest and elegant design, emphasizing a harmonious connection with nature. Roofs with deep eaves, often covered with thatch or wooden shingles, provide protection from rain and sunlight. The simplicity of wooden sliding doors and unadorned facades, along with the integration of engawa (verandas), fosters a seamless indoor-outdoor transition.
Taken on a Sunday morning in Ginza, one of the most elegant parts of Tokyo. The density of the world-wide recognized fashion houses represented in the area was very impressive. A square meter of land in the district’s center is worth over ten million yen, making it one of the most expensive real estate markets in Japan.
Taken in Kamikochi, a valley in Hida mountains that is a part of the Chubu-Sangaku National Park. The forests are preserved in a natural state, views are indeed picturesque. Seemingly the mid-may is a time of spring breaks in schools. On the picture young Japanese in school uniforms visiting Kamikochi. Seeing a foreigner on the road, they greeted us with a “hallo”.
A bit different kind of entertainment. Japanese game centers are lively spaces that are an important part of Japanese pop culture. These plazas offer a wide variety of games, from traditional arcade games to the newest video game releases. They are known for their bright lights and fun atmospheres, and have many arcade machines with classic games, rhythm games, fighting games, and more. In addition to video games, they also have claw machines, purikura (photo sticker booths), and other skill-based games. People of all ages visit these plazas, where friends come together for friendly competition and individuals can fully immerse themselves in gaming.
Enjoying nightlife in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Shinjuku is told to be one of the major economic hubs in Tokyo. Many companies have a seat there. It is also a place where people go after work to enjoy the nightlife, which means good food, some alcohol, and pachinkos (play plazas). The area gets emptier only after midnight after the last trains depart. Shinjuku is also the location of the biggest train station in Japan.
… and just to close more seriously: a Japanese temple with a pagoda, a wooden model, shot at one of the temples we visited. Temples are usually widespread groups of premises surrounded by Japanese-style gardens.
A pagoda, a tiered tower structure. It features multiple levels with projecting eaves and upturned roofs, creating a tapered appearance. Pagodas are often associated with Buddhism and serve as religious monuments, housing artifacts and relics. This one is a wooden model of old pagoda in Todai-ji in Nara.