Andrew Harris Photography

Travel journal   /   Japan

Japan

A quieter kind of journey

Autumn rivers, tiled rooftops and gardens in soft light.
A photographic journey through the spaces in between.

Photography by Andrew Harris9 photographs

A red pagoda and sweeping temple roofs above a wooded hillside in Japan
01 / Temple roofs above the treesSelect any photograph to view full size ↗

A river cuts through autumn woodland. Roof tiles overlap above a narrow street. Beyond the branches, a flash of gold catches the eye.

This collection follows the textures and contrasts of Japan: moving water beside still gardens, bright vermilion against weathered timber, and carefully drawn rooflines softened by trees. Together, the photographs tell a story through the details of the landscape.

There is room here to slow down. To trace the curve of a bridge, look into the shadows beneath an eave, or notice how a patch of moss changes the whole character of a scene.

The travel log

Tracing the journey

Tokyo to Kyoto, with detours to Nikkō and Nara.

Japan: Tokyo, Nikkō, Kyoto and Nara A vintage-style map of central Japan. The journey begins in Tokyo, visits Nikkō and returns, continues to Kyoto, visits Nara and returns, then ends back in Tokyo. Curved lines show the sequence of travel, not exact transport routes. H O N S H U Tokyo Nikkō Kyoto Nara JAPANA JOURNEY THROUGH HONSHU FOUR PLACES · ONE JOURNEY
The journey, out and backCentral Japan · North ↑

JAPAN / ITINERARY

The complete journey · Tokyo to Tokyo

White water flowing through red, gold and green autumn woodland
02 / Autumn colour along the river
A red arched bridge over a river with sunlight falling through trees
03 / A red bridge in the sunlight
A narrow stone stairway descending between traditional wooden buildings and tiled roofs
04 / A street told in stone, timber and tile
Green metal lanterns hanging along a vermilion and white shrine building
05 / Lanterns beneath the eaves
A golden pavilion glimpsed through dense green branches
06 / A glimpse of gold through the leaves
A traditional wooden building beside a still garden pond with rocks and sculpted pine trees
07 / Timber, stone and reflections
Sunlit moss and a large tree trunk in front of a white wall and tiled roof
08 / Light across the moss
A shaded garden pond surrounded by mossy stones and trees beneath tiled rooftops
09 / Layers of green in a sheltered garden
All photographs © Andrew Harris.

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