日本
JAPAN

稲荷神社

Thousands of contributions create the wonder of the Fushimi Inari Shrine. The orange gateway winds through the mountainside just outside Kyoto.

A person dressed in traditional Japanese attire, standing with hands pressed together in prayer at a shrine, in black and white.

供物

In Japanese folklore, 'kitsune' are foxes with the paranormal ability to shapeshift into human form. Offerings of rice and sake are given to the kitsune, who in return are then expected to plead with Inari Gods on the worshipper's behalf.

Entrance of a traditional Japanese shrine with a torii gate, surrounded by trees and bushes, during daytime.
Black and white photo of Tokyo Skytree viewed through the branches of a tree with sparse blossoms.
A dense bamboo forest with tall, thin bamboo stalks and sunlight filtering through the leaves.
A bamboo water spout pouring water into a stone basin.
A young woman with long brown hair wearing a striped shirt and beige pants sitting at a wooden counter with sunglasses on it, looking out a window with a thoughtful expression, in a modern interior with wooden shelving in the background.
A black skillet with creamy pasta topped with herbs and spices, placed on a wooden serving board.
Indoor sumo wrestling arena filled with spectators, with a traditional sumo ring in the center, and a forest-like roof structure overhead.

相撲

Japan is the only country where sumo is recognised and contested professionally. Almost all sumo wrestlers live in communal sumo training stables where their everyday lives are dictated by strict tradition.

Side view of a shirtless man with traditional hair styling, standing near a chain-link fence and metal structure, outdoors.
People wearing face masks seated in an indoor hall, some are holding pink and white cloths
A sumo wrestler in traditional attire stretching his leg against a metal wall while surrounded by people wearing yellow jackets and face masks. The setting appears to be backstage at an event.

相撲生活

As soon as wrestlers join their stable, they are expected to grow their hair to form a topknot, similar to the samurai hairstyles of the Edo Period. Rules outline that wrestlers must be softly spoken, and during tournaments, they should refrain from showing joy at winning or disappointment at losing.

An elderly man with gray hair and glasses wearing a blue kimono-style robe, looking down at wooden bowls he is holding, in a wood-paneled room with various objects in the background.
An elderly man with glasses working at a cluttered workbench in a workshop, viewed from the side in black and white.
A cluttered work table with scattered papers, tools, and craft supplies, taken from behind a person working at the table.
A calm lake with a wooden dock extending into the water, mountains in the background, and a bright sky above.

日光

Lake Chuzenji, known as the Sea of Happiness, was formed 20,000 years ago when Mount Nantai erupted, cutting the now lake off from the Yukawa River.

An elderly man sitting in the driver’s seat of a black taxi cab, looking out the window, with Japanese characters on the side of the vehicle.
A woman standing indoors looking out a large window at the city skyline, her reflection visible on the glass.
Close-up of a weathered stone Buddha statue with hands in prayer position, covered in moss and lichen, outdoors.
Black and white photo of Mount Fuji seen through a window, with silhouettes of people sitting inside a vehicle in the foreground.
A woman wearing a traditional Japanese kimono standing outdoors at a shrine or temple.
Two men wearing masks, one with glasses, unloading luggage from a taxi's trunk in front of a building with Japanese characters on a sign.
A person standing on a paved waterfront promenade, looking at the water with gentle ripples.

東京

Tokyo is a city that lives for the night. The mix of endless neon advertising, historic temples, beautiful cherry blossom and rackety arcades offers visitors a memorable Japanese experience.

A man wearing traditional Japanese attire standing on a staircase looking at pink cherry blossoms on a tree.
A young boy sitting on a bench in a public place, wearing a grey shirt, beige pants with cartoon prints, a face mask, and a harness, appears to be looking at the camera. Two adults, also wearing face masks, are seated beside him, one on each side, on
Two young women dressed in traditional Japanese kimonos, both with long black hair styled in pigtails, wearing cat ear headbands. One is in a white kimono with a gray bag, while the other is in a black kimono with a matching black bag and a face mask
City skyline with numerous buildings, a river, and a bridge connecting parts of the city, under a cloudy sky during dusk.
A row of sake bottles on a window ledge inside a dimly lit Japanese restaurant with bicycles in front.
Red Japanese paper lantern with black Japanese characters hanging outside, reflected in a nearby window.
Decorative Japanese festival lanterns hanging above colorful banners and artwork of sumo wrestlers at a festival.
Decorative display featuring a large fish with surrounding illuminated paper lanterns and neon signs in Japanese style.
City skyline at sunset seen through a window with black framing elements
Tokyo Skytree illuminated with purple and blue lights at night.

My visit to Japan focused on the country's South and South Eastern prefectures, which were straightforward to explore as transport is well-organised—abundant with outstanding Shinkansens, Metro lines and punctual buses to get you almost everywhere.

Along with minimal influence from outside cultures and the immaculate preservation of historical traditions, Japan feels remarkably Japanese.

The people of Japan are impeccably polite, peaceful and considerate. And with the fascinating clash of ancient, vintage and future Tokyo, this city and its wonderful country are uniquely unlike most places I've travelled and photographed.