CITY AND NATURE: CAPTURING JAPAN’S CONTRASTING BEAUTY

04/11/2023

From the incredible beauty of Japan’s natural landscape to the gleaming lights of its bustling cities, Rod Trevino and Chelsea Mealo curated their itinerary to strike the perfect balance. The creative duo intentionally sought out inspiring landscapes to explore as well as opportunities to dive into bustling cities and vibrant culture. Their travel highlights capture the incredible diversity of experiences available in Japan.

Rod and Chelsea made the most of their time at Mt. Fuji by exploring the vast area on rented electric bicycles. In a single morning, they traversed more than seven miles — even making their way up to the iconic Chureito Pagoda.

Acting as a transition point between several of their other destinations, Kyoto became an instant favorite. The city’s historic architecture and enduring beauty drew them in and begged to be both explored and photographed. “Every time we showed up, we wished we just had a few more days,” says Chelsea.

Enduring 20-degree weather and swirling snow, Rod’s dream of photographing the iconic Japanese Macaques, also known as snow monkeys, came true. The serene experience takes careful planning and a bit of luck, as the monkeys only venture to the hot springs of Jigokudani Park when they need a reprieve from the chill of winter and early spring.

“I think one of my favorite destinations, mostly because it wasn’t a place I knew much about prior, was Osaka,” says Chelsea. “Rod recommended that we go. It was incredibly vibrant and had so much energy, with so many people and lights. Walking around downtown was really, really neat.”

Tokyo’s Ameyoko Shopping Center, with its vibrant lights, as well as the city’s numerous alleyways filled with hidden bars, restaurants and cafes, proved enticing. They ate sushi at a standing bar and wandered down Omoide Yokochō, or Memory Lane.

“I think one of my favorite destinations, mostly because it wasn’t a place I knew much about prior, was Osaka,” says Chelsea. “Rod recommended that we go. It was incredibly vibrant and had so much energy, with so many people and lights. Walking around downtown was really, really neat.”