FROM SAND DUNES TO YOKAI: A CINEMATIC ROAD TRIp THROUGH LESSER-KNOWN JAPAN

a private tour with Mark Edward Harris and George Nobechi

Dates: MArch 24 - April 3rd, 2025

If a single picture is worth a thousand words, imagine the value of a classic photo essay. While we explore a less-traveled area of Japan, we will keep in mind the sequencing of images with dynamic transitions in the tradition of great photo essayists like W. Eugene Smith, Gordon Parks, Mary Ellen Mark, and Sebastião Salgado. While I admire stand-alone images, I am fascinated by extended photographic narratives and exploring the process of producing sets of imagery that convey a story or idea with minimal written narrative support.

The southwestern area of Honshu was home to the writer Lafcadio Hearn, who used his pen to bring stories of mystical Japan to the West. We will have the opportunity to visit his former home, now a museum, and perhaps channel some of his spirit on our photographic journey

Mark Edward Harris

OVERVIEW

Join photographers and friends Mark Edward Harris and George Nobechi on this special, private tour through the lesser known San-In Region of Japan. The heart of this tour is the idea of exploring a side to Japan that very few overseas visitors experience, and to do so while drawing inspiration from literature and cinema. From the world of yokai (Japanese monsters and ghost stories) that Lafcadio Hearn shared with the world to the majestic coastal sand dunes of Tottori features in the classic film by Teshigahara Woman in the Dunes, and culminating with a special stay in boat houses along the water in Ine, a location used in many a Japanese film or TV series, with majestic, award-winning gardens, and UNESCO World Heritage site retired silver mines to explore along the way, this trip is the perfect journey for those wanting to experience regions of Japan that few visitors get to experience.

Best of all, this private tour is limited to a maximum of 7 people, and due to the nature of the rural settings with few accommodations, and requests from some of the accommodations to only accept doubles, this tour is initially limited to three duos/double occupancy rooms only. A non-photographic spouse or partner or friend is welcome to join you to form a duo, but the cost of the journey for them will remain the same. All experiences will be shared, and as this is a photo tour instead of a workshop, Mark and George will be fully available to personally coach you on your photography with as much or as little attention and instruction and guidance as you need. There will be no classroom sessions at the exclusion of non-photographers, and M and G are happy to help people of all levels. Just bring your sense of adventure and your creativity.

The journey begins in Tokyo for a night before we travel to Matsue in Shimane Prefecture on the far southwestern coast of Honshu, Japan’s main island. We will be staying in a gorgeous, lagoon-facing hotel with wonderful hot springs for three nights while we journey each day to explore locations such as the Adachi Museum and garden, Izumo Taisha, one of Japan’s mot important and expansive shrine complexes, the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, the house of Lafcadio Hearn, and more. Next, we will drive along the coast to Tottori, where we will stay at a beautiful, traditional hot spring ryokan, and we will visit the famed sand dunes along the sea. Our final destination will be four nights in Ine, the tiny village along the water in tranquil coves in northern Kyoto Prefecture where we will venture out on daily photo walks and drives and bring our sense of fun and creativity.

A full, and more detailed itinerary will be provided upon registration.

Dates

March 24 - April 3, 2025
(Participants should depart North America/Europe by March 22 to arrive on March 23 before the workshop meets on the afternoon of March 24th and fly out on April 4th or later). •Note - on our return journey on April 3, as we travel back to Tokyo via Kyoto Station, you are welcome to disembark at Kyoto and extend your trip there, or return to Tokyo.

What’s included

• 10 nights’ accommodations

• Domestic flights, trains, rental cars and taxis (aside from your airport transfers)

• Breakfast every morning

• 7 lunches (3 on your own) and 10 dinners

• Location admissions

• Bilingual workshop support

• Detailed Info Pack on travel to Japan

What’s not included

• International Travel

• Extra hotel nights, particularly, March 23rd (the day before the trip) or April 3rd - the last day of the trip (our special, discounted rate at the hotel in Tokyo will be shared with you via our travel form upon registration)

• Travel/Trip Insurance (Required unless additional waivers are signed acknowledging the risks of not having travel insurance)

• Alcohol (except at designated events such as the welcome and farewell dinners)

Class Size

• 6 or 7 participants depending on configuration.

TOUR ON-THE-GROUND COST

• $8,895 per person for double occupancy, inclusive of 10% Japanese VAT and credit card fees. / Hybrid Single: $9,295 inclusive of 10% Japanese VAT and credit card fees

• Full payment due immediately

• Cancellation policy: 25% fee until 60 days before the tour begins / 50% fee 59 days~30 days before the tour / 100% fee 29 days or fewer before the tour.

Update

This tour is currently fully booked.

Please fill out the form below if you wish to join the waitlist. You’ll be notified if a spot becomes available. Thank you!

About Mark Edward Harris