Japan 2023 Holiday Sketch Diary

Mar - Apr 2023

Whilst on holiday in 2024, I challenged myself to sketch one subject each day. These are quick sketches, first outlined in pencil and then completed in black biro (ballpoint pen) on a Seawhite 200 GSM A5 Landscape Watercolour Travel Journal.

These sketches were created across Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Sendai, capturing moments from each location.

Peach Blossom in the Sunshine: a peach blossom in the sunshine, attached to a dark twig.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple Niōmon (gate): a Buddhist temple gate building at Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
Street Food! Shrimp and Tentacle on a Stick.: two prawns on a stick, and a tentacle on a stick.
Giant Bamboo at Arashiyama: the bases of giant bamboo stems.
Komainu near near Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine: komainu (lion-dog guardians) at the entrance to a shrine.
Reclining Tree, Kyōto Imperial Palace Gardens: an incredible tree that had been trained into a reclining posture, with its trunk running parallel to the ground.
Snack Time - Macaroon and Matcha Latte
Itsukushima Shrine’s Floating Torii (gate)
Hiroshima Castle - Part of the Reconstructed Castle: a tree, and a bridge leading to a reconstructed area of Hiroshima Castle
Nihonbashi View (from our Hotel Room): a city skyline, taken from an elevated position
Frog Statue in Hirakawachō
Cherry Blossom, Tohoku University: a cluster of cherry blossom flowers at the end of a twig.
Matsushima Bridge
Magnolia Blossom, Funaoka Joshi Park: a narrow-petalled magnolia blossom (probably Magnolia stellata).
Crow Amongst Cherry Blossom, Nishi Park: a black crow silhouette, seated on a cherry-tree branch, surrounded by blossoms.
Wild Violets, Aoba Castle: a cluster of wild violets emerging from between three rocks.
Liminal Space - Long Hotel Corridor: an incredibly long hotel corridor, which disappears into a point in the distance.
Cherry Tree Outline: the outline of a cherry tree, where the branches have been trained to all flow in one direction.
Luna Moth, Tamagawa Yuen: a lunar moth, with its wing tails missing.
Torii at Meiji-jingu Shrine: a torii gate, with two lamps on either side.
Mount Fuji from the Aeroplane: the view of Mount Fuji through the aeroplane window.
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Japan 2024: Sketches Collection
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