IN SEARCH OF THE HIDDEN | December 7 -22, 2026
Description
Ever stayed at a temple, or wondered how a city settled in the 7th century survives to the present with most of its history intact? Have you washed away the day’s fatigue in a soothing onsen in the midst of the Japanese alps? Have you smelled Kimchi in the air of a Korean market, or witnessed the lights of nightlife of downtown Osaka? Have you visited an old Buddhist temple whose inauspicious structure hides a covert fortress filled with traps and secret doors? Have you seen a moss garden, or waited for a Geisha to quietly rush from one establishment in Gion to the next? If you ever wanted to venture further with your photography than what meets the eye, if you are curious and interested in cultural experiences different from your own, then join us for our late Fall 2026 photographic journey through Japan.
Japan is vibrant and colorful. It is a country where the traditional and the modern collide. Where age-old customs, hidden shrines and rituals survive, while the brash thrust of modernity continues to hurtle forward, as evidenced in its neon-lit and concrete city-scapes. Time-honored Japanese traditions, including sumo wrestling, tea ceremony and meditation, are still prevalent practices, but Japan is also a breeding ground for cutting edge subcultures and bold, bright street fashions. With such a multifaceted culture encompassing so many different aspects, Japanese culture resists easy definition; it has to be experienced from the inside.
On this photographic journey, not only will you get to observe the uniqueness and the contradictions of Japan, but you will also photograph life close-up. Photographers will find interesting backdrops, events and subjects around every corner. The locations visited during the photography journey, which range from ancient mountain sites to the steel and the concrete metropolis of Osaka and Tokyo, will be an abundant source of inspiration and will provide photographic challenges to help participants hone their skills.
You will receive lots of personal attention by your guide and photography expert Magdalena Solé in a small group of 6 - 8 participants. Magdalena has photographed extensively in Japan since 1989, also covering the 2011 Tsunami and the ensuing nuclear fallout.
PRICE: $9,800
Price includes most ground transportation (trains, buses, car rentals) and all admission fees. You will be guided by Magdalena Solé and also have local guides who will accompany the group. You will need to budget separately for airfare, hotels, meals, individual taxis, as well as airport transfers.
PAYMENTS DUE:
Your non-refundable deposit of $1500 is due upon sign up. The remaining balance is due Sept 1, 2026.
Please refer to the cancellation policy and make sure you get travel insurance to cover cancellation costs in case of unforeseeable events.
Your spot is reserved upon receipt of your sign-up form and deposit.
The sign-up form also includes payment instructions.
NOT INCLUDED:
International airfare, hotel accommodations and meals are not included. In Japan there are inexpensive luggage forwarding services available. This is not included in the workshop fee.
Lodging, flights, and airport transfers are to be booked directly. Upon sign up you will receive a list with all the information you need for making your bookings. There are always other options, but it is recommended to stay within walking distance from the “base hotel”.
You will also receive instructions on how to book airport transfers.
A NOTE ABOUT MEALS:
Please note that dietary restrictions can be tricky in Japan. So please come prepared with a little card in Japanese that specifies what you can and cannot eat.
Whenever possible we will find a place that can accommodate the group for meals. Please note that you will have to sign up in advance for those meals as reservations have to be made ahead of time and are difficult to cancel.
If you don’t like Japanese food, you are responsible to find your own restaurants.
SCHEDULE 2026
Dec 7 - 22 | 16 Days
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: TOKYO
DAY 1 - 3 Tokyo
Day 3 - 5 Kanazawa
Day 5 - 6 Takayama
Day 6 - 7 Kiso Valley and post town Tsumago
Day 7 - 10 Osaka
Day 10 - 11 Mount Koya
Day 11 - 14 Kyoto
Day 14 - 15 Mount Fuji and Aokigahara Forest
Day 15 - 16 Tokyo
Past Workshops
May 12 - May 28, 2025
Oct. 17 — Nov. 30, 2019
May 31 — Nov. 14, 2017