BLOG - Blain Harasymiw

NOV

05

2024

Currently, the JDS Japan photography workshop leaders are leading the annual JDS Essence of Autumn photography workshop. This morning, ...

NOV

04

2024

Mt. Fuji’s Dragon Cave

In our workshop leaders' close to thirty years in Japan, they have visited the Mt. Fuji region more times that they can count, for ...

NOV

02

2024

Hokkaido Photography Tour - Birding In ...

While leading participants on my annual Hokkaido photography tour, our workshop leaders and clients spot and photograph various different ...

OCT

28

2024

Exploring Authentic Mt. Fuji - JAPAN ...

Iconic Mt. Fuji and the Fuji Five lakes is always part of the annual JDS Essence of Autumn Leaves photography tour, and for our annual ...

OCT

23

2024

Essence of Cherry Blossom Photo ...

Leading participants on the annual JDS Essence of Japan Sakura Cherry Blossom Photo Workshop Tour provides me with the opportunity to introduce ...

OCT

21

2024

Cross-country Cherry Blossom ...

Cherry Blossom Photo Tours require versatility and back up plans for back up plans. Non-resident photographers of Japan and others with limited ...

OCT

18

2024

Hokkaido Photography Tour

While the Japan Dreamscapes workshop leaders take care of the annual Hokkaido photography tour, they can indulge in two of their favorite ...

SEP

27

2024

Akan National Park Hokkaido Japan - ...

Hokkaido is a haven for wildlife and nature lovers such as our entire team, plus one of our Japan photo workshop leaders has a summer cottage in ...

SEP

25

2024

Hokkaido Photo Workshops - Owls

Joining a Hokkaido Photo Workshop Tour means witnessing and photographing natural treasures. The Blakiston’s Fish Owl (Bubo blakistoni) ...

SEP

22

2024

Japan's Indigenous People the Ainu - ...

During the annual JDS Hokkaido photography workshop tour, the First Nations people of Japan, the Ainu and their vibrant culture are always a ...

SEP

20

2024

Hokkaido Photo Tours - Red-Crowned ...

The annual Japan Dreamscapes Hokkaido Photo Workshop means another opportunity to spot and photograph Red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis), one ...

SEP

16

2024

Hokkaido Red Foxes - Hokkaido Photo ...

The annual JDS Hokkaido photography tours include numerous opportunities to spot and photograph wildlife such as the Ezo Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes ...

SEP

12

2024

Akan National Park Hokkaido, Japan - ...

Hokkaido is a haven for wildlife and nature lovers such as all of our Japan Dreamscapes photography workshop leaders, and one of them has a summer ...

AUG

30

2024

Hokkaido Photography Workshops - ...

Having led Hokkaido Photography Tours for over 25 years, our workshop leaders understand the huge responsibility associated with leading visiting ...

AUG

26

2024

Two Ice Age Relic Raptors - The ...

During the annual Japan Dreamscapes Hokkaido birding photography workshop tour, our workshop leaders find themselves in awe each year when ...

AUG

21

2024

Hokkaido Birds of Prey - Hokkaido ...

Our photo workshop leaders always look forward to leading the annual JDS Hokkaido photography tour. The main JDS Hokkaido tour includes ...

AUG

07

2024

Lake Akan - Birding photography

The woods surrounding Lake Akanko and everywhere our workshop leaders take participants on the annual JDS Hokkaido photography tours are a ...

AUG

06

2024

Forest Bathing - Hokkaido Photography ...

A Hokkaido photography workshop means exploring off the beaten path locations and seeing amazing wildlife, but it’s also an opportunity to ...

AUG

05

2024

Japan's Ecological Lines - Hokkaido ...

Having explored a vast majority of Japan while scouting or leading Japan photography workshop tours, and when colleagues or friends ask our main ...

AUG

04

2024

Akan National Park Hokkaido, Japan - ...

Hokkaido is a haven for wildlife and nature lovers such as our JDS workshop leaders, and one of our leaders has a summer cottage in Hokkaido where he ...

AUG

02

2024

Red-crowned cranes - Ainu Totem Poles

One of our JDS Hokkaido photography workshop tour leaders traces his upbringing back to the Cree Nations Community in Northern Canada and ...

JUL

30

2024

Tracking The Hunting Raptor

During the annual JapanDreamscapes Hokkaido bird watching photography workshop tour, spotting and photographing the Steller's Sea Eagles ...

JUL

24

2024

Midsummer Ox Day (土用の丑の日)

Having staff that has lived in Japan all of their lives mixed in with transplants from around the world, our team makes a habit of sharing ...

JUL

24

2024

Hokkaido Photo Tours - Birding and ...

Hokkaido Photo Tours should always include a visit with the Red-Crowned Cranes (Grus japonensis). As a Japan photo workshop leader, I always ...

JUL

02

2024

Japan Onsen Hot Springs - Japan Photo ...

Natural mineral hot springs (onsens) are not hard to find in Japan. We have countless ryokans (Traditional Japanese Inns), hotels, and resort ...

JUL

01

2024

Hokkaido Photo Workshops

Hokkaido Wildlife Birding Photography Tours always provide participants with hundreds of amazing up close and personal encounters with rare bird ...

JUN

28

2024

Dispute of the Kofun period - Japan ...

The image attached to this newsletter is of an ancient Buddhist sanctuary that I visit annually on my Essence of Autumn photo tour and my Essence of ...

JUN

24

2024

Shinrin Yoku Hokkaido Photo Tour

Over 70% of Japan is unpopulated mountains and forest, making Japan the perfect spot for 森林浴 (Shinren Yoku or as it is called in the West, Forest ...

JUN

23

2024

Hokkaido Birding Photography Workshop ...

Participants who join me for my annual Hokkaido photo tours benefit from the more than 25 years of experience that I have leading adventures and ...

MAY

31

2024

Autumn Colors Japan Tour

Each year as the cherry blossom season concludes around the end of May, I begin thinking ahead to my annual Essence of Japan autumn leaves ...

MAY

22

2024

The Hokkaido Pony (Do-San-Ko) - ...

The Hokkaido Pony (Do-San-Ko) (Equus caballus) is an old breed, a tough horse that have lived in Hokkaido for hundreds of years, and they ...

MAY

13

2024

Autumn Leaves Photography Workshop

The annual JDS Essence of Autumn Photography workshop always includes Japan’s most iconic symbol, Mt. Fuji, as does the annual Essence of ...

MAY

10

2024

Autumn Leaves Photography Workshop

The annual JapanDreamscapes Essence of Autumn Photography workshop always includes iconic Mt. Fuji. In our Japan photo workshop leaders’ ...

APR

30

2024

Spring and Autumn Leaves Tour Japan ...

I am currently leading my annual cross-country cherry blossom photography workshop tour extension. For close to thirty years, I have ...

APR

29

2024

Cherry Blossom Photography Tour Japan

Currently, I am leading my annual cherry blossom photo tour. We are visiting Uedajo, a park that has been built around the main gates and ...

APR

19

2024

Snow Monkeys

Currently, I am leading my annual cross-country Cherry Blossoms photo workshop tour, and we are in Nagano photographing Japanese macaques at the Snow ...

APR

15

2024

Long-lived and Historic Cherry Blossoms

I am currently leading my annual cross-country Cherry Blossom photography workshop. For the following few days, participants and I will be in ...

APR

15

2024

An All-Inclusive Cherry Blossom Photo ...

Field Report from our Cherry Blossom Photo Tour Workshop Leader Currently, I’m leading my annual cross-country Cherry Blossom photo tour, ...

APR

09

2024

Autumn in Japan Photography Tour - ...

The annual autumn leaves photo tour Japan follows the most ancient and authentic Japanese pilgrimage routes. These routes and history are ...

APR

08

2024

Autumn Japan Photo Tour

While scouting for the annual JDS Essence of Autumn Japan photo tour workshop, our workshop leaders explore areas near the 100 year ...

APR

07

2024

Japan Autumn Photo Tour

Once autumn arrives autumn Japan photography tours naturally focus on the wooded areas around the country, and these regions are defined by their ...

APR

05

2024

Japan Autumn Photography Tour Workshop

Annually during the annual JDS Essence of Autumn Japan photography tour, our workshop leaders always introduce participants to the sea of ...

APR

02

2024

Japan Autumn Photography Tour - See ...

The JDS annual Essence of Autumn Japan photography tour, this October 28 - November 8, 2024, is a fully inclusive business class authentic Japan ...

MAR

26

2024

Snow Fairies Birding

The Shima Enaga (Aegithalos caudatus japonicus) are super sweetheart birds, my beloved bonny birds. These adorable birds appear like little ...

MAR

16

2024

Cultural Significance the Red-crowned ...

Field Report from our Hokkaido Photo Workshop Leader! Yesterday I was photographing the Red-crowned cranes with participants on a private ...

MAR

10

2024

Hokkaido Birding Photo Tour White-naped ...

During my annual 2024 February Hokkaido photography tour, I photographed evidence that not only visiting raptors like the Steller’s Sea Eagle ...

MAR

01

2024

Hokkaido Wildlife Photography Private ...

About a week ago I completed my annual Hokkaido Group Photography Workshop Tour, and then my team and me took a few days rest in Central ...

FEB

28

2024

Hokkaido Photo Workshop-Tour - ...

I am currently leading my annual Hokkaido birding photo tour on this chapter of our Hokkaido expedition. We are spotting and photographing the ...

FEB

28

2024

The Red-Crowned Cranes - Hokkaido’s ...

Today and for the next couple of days, my annual Hokkaido birding photo workshop will take place in the Kushiro Wetlands photographing Red-Crowned ...

FEB

18

2024

Hokkaido Wildlife Photo Workshop Tour - ...

Field Report from Annual JDS Hokkaido Photo Workshop I am currently leading my annual Hokkaido photo workshop which includes Mt. Fuji and ...

FEB

15

2024

Hokkaido Photography Tour Wildlife and ...

Since our main workshop leader is a professional photographer with over twenty-five years of experience leading Hokkaido photo tours, and Japan photo ...

FEB

14

2024

An All-Inclusive Hokkaido Photography ...

Starting in 2025, JDS will run a Hokkaido-only Birding & landscape Photography tour workshop, February 1-9, 2025. Of course, we will ...

FEB

12

2024

Hokkaido Photography Tour - Hokkaido’s ...

The Steller’ sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) is a glacial relic that has survived several ice ages, somehow immune to the passage of ...

FEB

04

2024

Hokkaido Photo Workshop Tours - A ...

Participants who join my annual Hokkaido birding photography tour are seeing Hokkaido with an experienced local pro team, and me a local pro ...

JAN

15

2024

Perfect Cherry Blossoms - Travel ...

Viewing and photographing the most beautiful Japanese sakura or cherry blossoms on a Japan cherry blossom photo tour will be best accomplished by ...

JAN

12

2024

Experiencing and Traveling through ...

If you actually wish to experience authentic Japan, I advise you to travel on an ancient cross country pilgrimage route with a local pro photographer ...

JAN

10

2024

Hokkaido Photo Tour - Steller’s Sea ...

My annual Hokkaido wildlife birding photo tour is a little more than a month away, and I’ve been spending all the time I can planning for the ...

JAN

01

2024

Japan Cross Country Cherry Blossom ...

While leading my annual cross country Japan cherry blossom photo tour expedition, participants often ask me which cherry blossom I believe is the ...

DEC

23

2023

Happy Holidays from Japan Dreamscapes ...

Happy Holidays and Year of the Dragon from Japan Dreamscapes Photography! 2023 was a year for our team being completely back in the field, as ...

DEC

19

2023

Exploring Zen and Escaping Tourist ...

While exploring off the beaten path locations for my annual Essence of Autumn Leaves photo tour, I sometimes get assistance from an old friend, the ...

DEC

04

2023

Japan Cherry Blossom Photo Tour - ...

Autumn in Japan is winding down, soon I will be getting ready for my annual Winter Hokkaido photography tour, and then in a blink of an eye Spring ...

DEC

02

2023

Sea of Japan Sea Stack Photography

Today, I started leading a private Japan photo tour for autumn leaves and sea stacks. Just a few days ago, I concluded my 2023 Essence of ...

DEC

02

2023

Hirosaki Castle Tohoku Japan ...

This year after completing my annual cross country Essence of Autumn Leaves photography workshop tour, I am leading a private Japan photo tour to ...

NOV

30

2023

OceanScape photography Sasagawa Nagare ...

Currently I am leading an extension of my annual Essence of Autumn Japan photo tour. This year due to an unusually warm autumn I chose to ...

NOV

30

2023

Japan Autumn Leaves Photography Tour - ...

For over 25 years, I have been leading Mt. Fuji Photography tours in the valley of the dragons. Shinto priests, who are now some of my ...

NOV

29

2023

Japan Photo Workshops - Akiyamago

Presently, I’m in the field for my annual Japan Autumn Leaves Essence of Japan photo workshop tour. I’m exploring a region that I ...

NOV

20

2023

Niigata Photography Workshop Tour - Koi ...

I’m currently leading my annual Essence of Autumn leaves photo tour. As is my habit, I’m leading my group away from tourist ...

NOV

12

2023

Japan Autumn Leaves Photography Tour - ...

For over 25 years, I have been leading Mt. Fuji Photography tours in the valley of the dragons. Shinto priests, who are now some of my ...

NOV

06

2023

Cross-country Cherry Blossom Photo ...

My annual Cherry Blossom Photo Tours appeal to so many visiting and native Japanese photographers each year. The varieties, shades of different ...

NOV

04

2023

Cross-country Japan Cherry Blossom ...

Japan Cherry Blossom Photo Tours are different every year, and each year I lead a cross country cherry blossom viewing experience to allow for ...

NOV

03

2023

Hokkaido Photo Tour Miniature Flying ...

Proving the saying ‘Good things come in small packages’ is a sighting of a Shima Enaga during my annual Hokkaido birding photography ...

OCT

31

2023

Hokkaido Photo Tour - Pack Ice ...

Pack ice is a mainstay for my annual Hokkaido Photography tour as the, Steller's Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus pelagicus), use the pack-ice as a platform ...

OCT

28

2023

Tokyo Sakura - Japan Cherry Blossom ...

Every year, millions of visitors flock to Japan, specifically Tokyo, for a Cherry Blossom photography workshop tour, and if you don’t mind ...

OCT

11

2023

Untold Stories of the Perfect Cherry ...

Before I give you inside info about what a blissful Authentic Japan Cherry Blossom Photo Tour is, let me start with a ‘wake up call’ and ...

OCT

01

2023

Tohoku Japan Cherry Blossom Photo Tour ...

This spring while leading my annual cross country Cherry Blossom photo workshop, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom two and half weeks early; ...

SEP

30

2023

Japan Photo Tour - Seeing More of Japan ...

For more than two decades, I have been exploring the Mt. Fuji region, and I am drawn to FujiSan – as Winnie The Pooh is to ...

SEP

22

2023

Why Take A Cross Country Japan Photo ...

Every Japan photography tour workshop itinerary has sunshine and rainbows written into it, but vital elements that aren’t written down anywhere ...

SEP

21

2023

Japan’s Samurai Fortresses - Historic ...

Scouting and leading cross country Cherry Blossom photography tour workshops means that I see nearly the entirety of Japan’s three main ...

SEP

11

2023

Discover the Enchanting Bloom - Akitas ...

Leading my annual cross country Japan Cherry Blossom photography workshop is a fantastic adventure. People unacquainted with the sakura ...

SEP

05

2023

Adventure Filled Summer - Japan Snow ...

During summer, I start looking forward to my annual Autumn Leaves Photo Tours and my Hokkaido Photo Tours. This time of year the adventurists ...

SEP

05

2023

Cherry Blossoms Japan Birding Photo ...

Japan's earliest blooming cherry blossoms are the Kawazu-Zakura (Cerasus lannesiana,) these cherry blossoms are the ultimate for Japan Birding Cherry ...

AUG

23

2023

Water Purification Rituals in Japan

Japan is a nation of festivals and celebrations. For the past few years, everything was put off due to social distancing, but now we are back ...

AUG

06

2023

Tourism Pollution VS Authentic Zen ...

Some ask me why I stopped adding Kyoto or the Kansai region to my Mt. Fuji Autumn Leaves Japan Photo tours or my Essence of Autumn Photo Tour, where ...

JUL

24

2023

Japan Autumn Leaves Photography ...

Once Japanese autumn arrives, Mt. Fuji and the entire Honshu Island up to Hokkaido are dressed in red maple leaves and an assortment of various ...

JUL

14

2023

Steller’s Sea Eagles and White-tailed ...

My favorite Japan birding tours to lead is my annual Winter Hokkaido Photography tours, offered annually in January, February and March. Of ...

JUL

12

2023

Mt. Fuji Japan Autumn Photography ...

Understanding Japan’s topography is key when leading any Japan photography workshop, especially my annual Essence of Autumn Leaves photo ...

JUL

05

2023

First Nations People of Japan - ...

Visiting the First Nations people of Japan the Ainu is always a part of my annual Hokkaido Photo workshop tour. (99.999% of Japanese do not ...

JUN

24

2023

Hokkaido Birding in Winter

Hokkaido birding in winter in the unspoiled Shiretoko National Park is amazing and humbling at the same time, leading international photographers ...

JUN

15

2023

Mountains and Wildlife - Hokkaido Photo ...

Traveling through the Shiretoko Peninsula on a Hokkaido photo tour that I am leading, in any season is spectacular in no small part due to the amount ...

JUN

08

2023

Steller’s Sea Eagles - Hokkaido Photo ...

When mid winter arrives in the Northern Hemisphere, that means it’s time for my annual Hokkaido Birding Photo Tour expedition photo workshop, ...

JUN

03

2023

Autumn Leaves - Sacred Ancient ...

To experience authentic Japan and see and experience the untold mystical stories, you need to first get off the beaten path, and second, you need to ...

MAY

29

2023

Autumn Leaves Photography Tour Mt. Fuji ...

Mt. Fuji Autumn Leaves Photography Tour combine three of the most photogenic elements Japan has to offer, its iconic UNESCO peak, the Fuji Five ...

MAY

25

2023

Zen-inspired Cherry Blossoms - ...

Before setting out on my cross country Japan Cherry Blossom photography workshop tour, I was in a frenzy due to the cherry blossoms blooming two ...

MAY

23

2023

Red-crowned Cranes (Grus japonensis) ...

The Red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis) on my annual Hokkaido photo workshop are represented in two main flocks. The first live in China ...

MAY

22

2023

Returning to Mt. Fuji’s Spectacular ...

I am currently in the Mt. Fuji area leading my cross country Cherry blossom photography workshop tour. The Fuji Five Lakes are Yamanakako, ...

MAY

19

2023

Nagano - Japan's Perfect Cherry ...

For the next two days, I am leading participants on my cross country Cherry Blossom photo workshop tour to the grounds of Matsumoto castle, the ...

MAY

16

2023

Cherry Blossoms and Forest Bathing ...

Today, and for the next few days of my cross country Japan Cherry Blossom photo tour, I’m near my satellite office in Niigata enjoying the ...

APR

16

2023

Mt. Fuji Cherry Blossoms - Off the ...

I am currently leading my Japan cross country cherry blossom photo workshop tour to one of my must see locations for any visiting photographer, the ...