Stunning beauty of Japan's 47 prefectures through the lens of a Vietnamese photographer.

Five years and a journey through the Land of the Rising Sun.

In early December, Khac Tien officially completed his photo album covering all 47 prefectures of Japan. This "unrealistically beautiful" photo series went viral on social media because it's the culmination of years of dedication from a Vietnamese man with a special passion for photography, currently living and working in Tokyo, Japan.

“The inspiration came from a photo series I saw on social media by an older brother and a sister in my photography team who planned to travel all over Japan. Traveling all over Japan isn't difficult, but capturing beautiful photos that showcase the unique characteristics of each prefecture is challenging. Therefore, I was determined to conquer all of them to create the most complete and best possible photo album of Japan,” Khắc Tiến confided.

Over the course of five years, Khắc Tiến traveled through 47 prefectures in Japan, dedicating his love and passion to capturing moments through photography. Initially, he chose to explore 13 prefectures near his home, all boasting beautiful landscapes. After officially deciding to conquer the Land of the Rising Sun, he began to develop a more detailed plan. He meticulously compiled this invaluable collection of photographs within just 2.5 years.

Speaking to Travellive, the photographer said: “For provinces that are nearby, I can take advantage of the weekend. For provinces further away like Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku, I have to wait until long holidays to be able to go.”

Throughout his arduous journey across Japan, the only thing Khac Tien cared about was photography. His top priority was to take beautiful photos. “I only cared about what to photograph, where to photograph, and when to photograph. My mind was always calculating and planning how to run the shoots in the most efficient, economical, and effective way possible,” he said.

Stepping foot into new lands brought the photographer many special and indescribable emotions. He was overwhelmed by the natural beauty bestowed upon the Land of the Rising Sun, which was both majestic and enchanting, poetic and captivating. “I was extremely impressed with the vast, sprawling snowfields in Hokkaido; they looked like a miniature Europe. When I went to the southernmost region of Kagoshima, I felt like I was lost in some rural area of ​​Vietnam because the houses and landscapes there strangely resembled Vietnam.”

Each photograph taken by Khac Tien captures the moments and distinctive features of each prefecture. In particular, the invaluable treasure he gained after his journey is not just the photographs, but also the deep emotional impact of each step he took. According to him, Hokkaido, Nagano, and Yamanashi are the three prefectures that left him with the most precious memories. Hokkaido evokes fond memories with its vast fields of flowers, where it's easy to spot wildlife such as foxes, cranes, and flying squirrels. Nagano, with its majestic snow-capped mountains, offers breathtaking beauty. Finally, in Yamanashi, the beauty of Mount Fuji captivated him from the very first glance.

To undertake such a long trip, both in terms of time and distance, Khac Tien incurred considerable expenses, especially in a country known for its high cost of living like Japan. However, driven by their passion for photography, these like-minded friends found each other to accompany and share experiences on their journey.

Sharing about the difficulties of traveling through 47 provinces and cities, the photographer said: “The hardships of staying up late and waking up early to painstakingly climb mountains to find shooting spots. It's really tough taking photos. While everyone else is sleeping soundly in their warm beds, we photographers are traversing rocks, wading through snow, and climbing to the tops of desolate mountains at night, in the biting cold wind. Taking photos might seem easy at first, but in reality, it's very exhausting. The most exhausting thing is lack of sleep. In the late afternoon, while others are eating and drinking, we're still taking pictures; in the middle of the night, while others are sleeping soundly, we're still driving to take photos to catch the sunrise; in the midday sun, while others are indoors, we're struggling along trails to find shooting spots to catch the train on time…”

The essentials for "harvesting" priceless assets.

Before each trip, Khac Tien always tries to prepare everything thoroughly and is always prepared for the worst-case scenarios. Offering advice to fellow photography enthusiasts who love capturing the beauty of nature, the photographer shared:

First, you need to have enough photographic equipment. He always keeps two cameras on hand in case of equipment malfunction, and sometimes he even brings an infrared camera in case he can't find anything to photograph.

Secondly, before going to any place, he always gathers as much information about that area as possible. For example, he finds out what time temples and parks open, whether there are any unexpected repairs or maintenance; and whether the roads in remote mountainous areas are prone to landslides or closed during the winter months…

Thirdly, check the weather information, the availability of flowers, autumn leaves, and snowfall at the shooting location. According to Khac Tien, the perfect moment only lasts for a split second; you can't just carry your camera from one province to another in an hour to find the right angle. Therefore, he spends a lot of time researching and carefully studying the location where he will be shooting and always has a backup plan.

Let's admire the moments of Japan's 47 prefectures through the lens of photographer Nguyen Khac Tien:

Phuong Mai is a reporter for Travellive Magazine in Hanoi.

Phuong Mai