In the current age of everyday technology use, one tends to lose sight of the more natural ways to pass the time, and that’s where gardens during photo tours really shine. Before smartphones, tablet pcs, and iPads, garden cultivation was among common methods Japanese people used to occupy their free time, and with many things that Japanese participate in, gardening expresses the Japanese desire for balance.
It’s this balance in gardens that makes them spectacular additions for Japan photo tours. In the spring, typically gardens are host to cherry blossoms, but only in one particular section of the garden so as to not overpower the aesthetic created by other equally important foliage and shrubbery present. To the untrained eye, the placement of the trees may seem haphazard, but nothing in the garden is left to chance. Your Japan Dreamscapes (JDS) photo tour leaders have seen 1,000 of gardens during photography tours and knows where the most breathtaking examples of cherry blossoms are on display. For example, during a cherry blossom tour in the northern section of Japan’s main island, the Northern Culture Museum, or Gono Manor House’s Garden has a section devoted exclusively to cherry blossoms. In the spring, if you fancy traveling off the beaten path a little, you can enjoy amazing photography and an almost zen like peace at the same time.
If, however, you would like a photo tour closer to the beaten path, then Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto would make an excellent autumn photo tour. The expansive grounds are covered in expertly planted and maintained maple trees can be viewed from the famous terrace that juts out from the temple’s main shrine area. During the autumn, you will be treated to a sea of colors: greens, red, yellows, and oranges for as far as the eye and your camera viewfinder can see. The temple itself as been designated as a UNESCO world heritage site, and the importance of the temple to the cultural identity of Japan cannot be overstated. The garden is only part of the experience you can enjoy.