CAPTURING THE ANCIENT HEART OF JAPAN./
ORIGINALLY FROM SWEDEN, PHOTOGRAPHER JENS MADSEN HAD ALWAYS BEEN ENAMOURED WITH JAPANESE CULTURE FROM A YOUNG AGE./ AFTER A 2011 TRIP TO JAPAN TOOK HIM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, JENS DECIDED TO TAKE THE PLUNGE + MOVE TO KYOTO IN 2015./
HE NOW SHARES HIS LOVE FOR THE CITY THROUGH PHOTO TAIKEN, COMBINING HIS EXPERTISE AS A GUIDE WITH HIS LOVE OF PHOTOGRAPHY, TO OFFER PEOPLE UNIQUE + INTERESTING PHOTO TOURS./
PHOTO TAIKEN OFFERS A VARIETY OF PACKAGES, FROM PHOTO SHOOT SIGHTSEEING TOURS AROUND KYOTO, TO STUDIO SHOOTS WHERE YOU CAN TRANSFORM INTO AN 'OIRAN'./
WE ASKED JENS TO SHARE SOME OF HIS FAVOURITE PLACES IN THE ANCIENT HEART OF JAPAN...
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FUSHIMI-INARI TAISHA
"My personal favourite in all of Kyoto, with its multitude of Torii gates that cover almost the whole mountain. It has always made me feel like I'm lost in another world. The start of the walk is always the busiest part - get past the crowds + reach further up for fewer people + to fully enjoy Fushimi-Inari and its view."
GION
"Gion is the home of Maiko + Geisha who have been walking these streets for hundreds of years! Still today when I walk here in the evening, I never get tired of seeing a local Maiko on her way to work."
HEIAN SHRINE
"Walking around Kyoto for years, I have found some great gardens. This one, though, is bit more special to me. First of all, the garden is huge! Second, every season in this garden makes it change all the time. - And, on top of that, the small little lake with the bridge across it has been a place for me to sit down, relax + enjoy this traditional Japanese garden."
All photos are copyright F1FTY except: Jens Madsen profile photo (Courtesy of Jens Madsen); Heian Shrine (Credit: Marco Montero Pisani) This feature was not paid for in any way.