Day 1

So I recently went on a little trip to Yoshino-Kumano National Park to take some photos for the Ministry of the Environment, and it was really nice to explore the chilly but refreshing mountains and coastlines and see certain spots that I’d really wanted to see for quite some time, and others that were totally new to me
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The first day took us to the misty, snow-laden hillsides of Mt. Yoshino and Dorogawa in Nara prefecture, where we strolled around and made stops at Kinpusenji Temple and Yoshinomikumari shrine, both World Heritage Sites, as well as Ryusenji Temple and a natural spring spot in the middle of a cedar forest, where people come to fill up their water bottles (or barrels) with tasty local mineral water
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We also stopped by the viewpoint overlooking the Dorogawa Onsen village, which was a personal highlight for me despite the effort involved. The little cable car wasn’t running so we walked up many steps and slopes to get to the spot, trying not to bail on the ice with a bunch of camera gear, but it was worth it. We even saw a family of deer!

Day 2

The second day of my photography trip to Yoshino-Kumano National Park involved more walking and clambering, but thankfully a little less rain and ice. This made it a little easier to actually take the photos I needed, but did mean that certain spots perhaps didn’t look quite as moody as they might have done the day before...
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This mostly applied to our main stop of the day, and the pièce de résistance of my entire three-day trip: Nachi Waterfall. The whole area around Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine, including Hiro-jinja Shrine and the Daimon-zaka slope cedar forest trail, is really atmospheric and fun to explore, but that iconic view of the Seigantoji pagoda with the waterfall in the background is truly special and one I’ve long wanted to witness in person
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It certainly didn’t disappoint, and even though it might look particularly cool in the mist, it definitely looked pretty great in the sun too. As did the stunning coastal scenery surrounding the Ugui visitor Centre, where I found out a fair bit about the local area and its wildlife, which I always take an interest in
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As sunny as it was during the day, the evening was still pretty dang cold, which meant taking a dip in the Kawayu Onsen, the natural hot-spring river, seemed like a pretty appealing idea. Luckily, my accomplice also opted to go in, so I was able to get some pretty moody snaps while waiting my turn. Good day

Day 3

So, part three of my recent rural Japan adventure started with another quick trip to Kawayu Onsen, where the morning sunlight apparently made it slightly warmer than the night before (not that I’d know first hand), and also made it possible to see just how crystal clear the water is beneath all that steam
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We then headed to Kumano Hongu Grand Shrine, which is one of the three grand shrines of Kumano and has been visited by pilgrims since way back in the Heian period. It sits at the top of another forested stairway at the very centre of a network of ancient pilgrimage routes and its symbolic entrance is marked by the largest torii gate in the world, which is pretty cool              
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After some lunch and stretches, we went back to the coast to check out Sandanbeki Cave and pause at the little foot onsen (which was a much more welcoming temperature) before moving off to the rocky flats of Cape Tenjinzaki, where fishermen and black kites both come looking to score some grub. The conditions sadly weren’t quite right for the popular ‘sunset mirror’ shot, but I was still able to capture a slice of the serene seaside scenery
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All in all, it was a whirlwind three days and a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I’m super grateful to have had the opportunity to take pictures for the Ministry of the Environment and to see some more of this country that I might not otherwise easily get to. Take a look through these snaps and let me know if you have any favs

Please take a look at our trip video and social media

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