Leave Osaka and travel south to Mount Koya, a sacred mountain site located in a peaceful rural area of Wakayama Prefecture. Set in an epic natural location high above the cedar-covered valleys and surrounded by forested mountain peaks, this monastic complex is one of Japan’s holiest sites and the headquarters of the Shingon Buddhist sect.

While at Mount Koya, not only will you get to explore the monasteries of Koya san, but you will also get to follow in the footsteps of ancient pilgrims. With a camera in hand, trek along ancient pilgrimage trails that lead up the forested slopes. You will stay overnight in a traditional temple lodging, one of several dotted around the hills.  Gain insight into age-old traditions as you lodge with the monks, witnessing their meditation and prayer ceremonies — rituals that date back a millennium and often more.

While exploring the sacred mountain complex and its surroundings, get tips on how best to approach photographing quiet moments, while remaining respectful of the sacred sites. You will also receive practical advice on expanding your photographic technique by reviewing the grammar of photography.

Overnight at Hotel Rengejyon or similar

Leave Mount Koya by private bus and depart for Yunomine, a small and quaint village tucked away in a valley amid the forested emerald slopes. Yunomine is home to some of the oldest hot springs in Japan and the isolated town is built around these bubbling pools. In the past, weary pilgrims would have stopped here and performed water purification rituals in the piping springs en route to worship at nearby sacred sites. While here, you can bathe in the onsen and use them to rest and rejuvenate. Tsubo-yu, the famous onsen in the center of town is renowned for being the oldest hot spring in Japan and the only hot spring bath that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Onsen play a central role in Japanese culture and they are still commonly used as a gathering place for friends, as well as for their health benefits. Spend a leisurely night in this secluded hot-spring resort.

Overnight at Hotel Yoshinoya Ryokan or similar

Today, you will discover another of Japan’s sacred mountain sites, and walk along the UNESCO-listed Kumano Kodo. The Kumano Kodo is a series of ancient pilgrim routes that crisscross the Kii Hantö, the largest Peninsula of Japan, connecting Mount Koya, the Three Grand Shrines, and many other important holy sites.

Our bus will leave us off at the trail head in the Kii Mountain Range, marked by a little shrine from were we will begin a half day modest hike along the millennium old sacred pilgrimage trail of the Kumano Kodo. We will walk through cedar forests, see mountain ridges, old villages and farmhouses along the way. The path will lead to the Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine, one of three grand shrines in the Kumano area and a stunning example of Japanese shrine architecture. Like many of Japan’s shrines, it was built using no nails and instead is propped up through meticulously fitted and labor-intensive joint work. After admiring the tranquil environs of the grounds we will take a short walk to the Hosshinmon-oji gate. Known as the “gate of awakening of the aspiration to enlightenment”, it marks the threshold to the divine precincts of Kumano, which are set in the most awe-inspiring natural setting.  As evening falls, we will travel north by bus and train through the mountains and along the sea to reach Kyoto.

Overnight at Hotel Gimmond Kyoto or similar

Kyoto, the ancient capital, is a photographer’s dream. Home to more than 2,000 remarkable Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, just a little exploration here can turn up an abundance of photographic opportunities. There are shimmering gold pavilions, robed monks, calming Zen gardens, narrow cobbled streets lined with old wooden houses juxtaposed to a modern, dynamic and sprawling city.

During four days in Kyoto, you will have the opportunity to visit the Tenjin-san flea market, a monthly event that sees as many as 1,000 vendors set up shop at the Kitano Tenmangu shrine to sell everything from antiques to food. You will also get to visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kokedera temple, famous for its exceptionally beautiful moss garden — the design for which dates back to 1339. Though not big, the garden is ethereal and especially beautiful after rain when the sun casts its dappled light on the glistening moss-covered surroundings. With entrance numbers restricted here, it makes a quiet and intriguing place to shoot, or just to spend some time reflecting.

On the third day in Kyoto (October 26), leave the city for a day and travel to the countryside outside Kyoto to visit a National Treasure, Japan’s famous indigo textile artist Hiroyuki Shindo. Located in a quaint village of thatched-roof farmhouses, you will visit Shindo’s workroom and gallery, which offers insight into the practice and the work of this highly acclaimed and respected indigo dyer and artist. After exploring the studio, you will have the chance to capture images of traditional village life in the surrounding thatched dwellings.

Spend the final day in Kyoto exploring the Gion district, a remnant of Old Japan. This neighborhood is home to one of Japan’s few surviving geisha districts. Geishas can still be seen hushing from one establishment to another in the narrow alleys in their vivid and elaborately draped kimonos. With numerous traditional teahouses, historic buildings and busy people-watching spots, you can capture timeless and evocative scenes of traditional city life in the old imperial capital.

Overnight at Hotel Gimmond Kyoto or similar

Leave Kyoto for departure from Osaka Itami Airport.