japan - Spirit into light: Mountain village life
A retreat-style workshop with Laura Valenti & George Nobechi
DATES: September 18th - 28th, 2023
OVERVIEW
This fall, be whisked off into another time in the rural mountain villages of Japan with artist, curator and educator Laura Valenti and Laura’s classmate from elementary school days in Japan and director of Nobechi Creative, George Nobechi.
Create soulful, expressive images that go far beyond the commonplace.
Making masterful images is about so much more than zeroing in on interesting (or exotic) subjects - it’s about slowing down and feeling into the spirit of a place. It’s about fine-tuning your eye for emotion, mood, balance, and breathing room. In this workshop, we’ll move beyond a focus on gear, tech, and “rules” so you can really develop your inner resources as an artist. We’ll look around the edges of things for quieter moments and sacred spaces that go far beyond typical touristy shots. We’ll explore the idea of images as tiny meditations - and photography as a spiritual insight practice. You’ll come away with images that describe your inner experience, a fine-tuned eye for light, and a deeper relationship with your personal vision. - Laura Valenti
The Destinations
The mountain town of Hida-Takayama in Gifu Prefecture is the perfect place for morning walks by the river, visiting with the smiling ladies of the riverside farmers’ markets and breathing in the fresh, mountain air. Kids riding on their bicycles on their way to school whiz by through the historic center of town lined with the region’s distinct style of townhouses.
Learn about how miso and soy sauce are made the old fashioned way, and how sake is made in the modern era from one of the dozen sake brewers in this small town (complete with tastings, of course). During the day, when the town fills up with visitors, we will sneak away into quiet hillside temples and shrines and the ateliers of master craftsmen such as woodworkers and blacksmiths.
At night, we will dine together and enjoy the wonderful local cuisine.
Next, we will drive together to a remote region of neighboring Toyama Prefecture featuring some of the most charming small villages in all of Japan. These are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, known for their traditional farmhouses featuring steep, A-framed, thatched-roof houses. We will spend a couple of nights in a homestay in these farmhouses and experience life in the village from an intimate perspective. We will be there for the autumn kokiriko festival of regional music and dance performed in authentic costumes with a long history. We will also make day trips to pristine reservoir lakes and other off-the-beaten path sites.
The workshop will be book-ended by a night on each end in Tokyo, where we will gather together over some of the city’s amazing culinary delights.
Laura will provide her signature style of gentle artistic instruction and George will be there to answer all your questions and assist you on all things Japan.
The class will be limited to a maximum of 7 participants to maintain an atmosphere of intimacy.
Location Images
group SIZE
Minimum of 5 participants. Limited to 7 participants
INCLUDED
10 nights accommodations: 2 nights hotel in Tokyo, 4 nights hotel in Hida-Takayama, 4 nights in village farmhouses with 2 nights of “homestay” with local villagers.
All domestic transportation from the start of the expedition until the end, including trains and private van.
Welcome dinner in Tokyo
Farewell dinner in Tokyo
A special Hida Beef A5 Wagyu dinner (seafood/vegetarian option available)
Five additional dinners (two nights on your own in Hida-Takayama, with many restaurant choices)
All breakfasts
Group admissions to experiences such as musical performances, museums, and more
Artistic guidance and instruction from Laura Valenti
Cultural guidance and trip planning from George Nobechi
Detailed Information Package and Itinerary
Additional bilingual support staff
Unique access to artisans and craftspeople
Tea ceremony
Not included
International Airfare
Travel Insurance (strongly recommended)
Airport Transfers
Lunches (budget $10~$15 per day - cheapest meal of the day in Japan)
Meals not mentioned above
Alcohol
Incidentals
Testimonials
For Laura:
"On this workshop, as she has for many years, Laura gently lowered me into the deepest well of my untapped creative expression, from which I emerged delighted and renewed. I am so very grateful."
For George:
"I have run workshops myself, and attended many others. George's knowledge of the experiences of value to photographers, his attention to detail, his connections to the resources and people necessary to organize and run this workshop were extraordinary! I know there were numerous efforts in advance and on the fly, yet George made it seem effortless. He was completely on target, accessible and pleasant throughout the whole experience - even when driving, shepherding we cats, and faced with unexpected challenges. I can't imagine how it could have gone any better! I always felt safe, my needs considered, met and exceeded. Thank you George!"
-Rebecca B.