Draw Me Your Japan... (page 2 of 4)

I was wondering if you draw during every trip and, if so, do you always use the same style or does it change depending on the destination?

Time will tell ;-) since this was the first time I kept a travel journal. I was inspired by the paper I brought back from there, and of course by the country itself. Let’s just say I have a strong preference for black and white and ink.

Next up, I’ll soon start a journal to follow up on our trip to the Sultanate of Oman last February. It’ll have some similarities but probably some color differences since I plan to use lots of ochre, gold, and blue. We’ll see!

Without further ado: the toilets

Anyone who travels to Japan will return not only with a very clean behind but also a blissful expression at the mere mention of these toilets (well, if you know someone who says, "Well, Japanese toilets were a nightmare," introduce them to me).

Here, I’ve simply reproduced an illustration I found online, adding a few details, particularly the "toilet slippers." Indeed, in traditional hostels and likely many homes, you’ll find slippers (or plastic flip-flops) in front of the toilet door that you’ll put on before entering. And whatever you do, don’t walk around afterward wearing the toilet slippers—people will look away to avoid embarrassing you, but they’ll definitely be judging... To be continued!

Yes, you guessed it—I love jumping from one topic to another...



Here’s an iconic image of Japan, one you’ve seen countless times in photos. A torii rising from the water...

This one is located on the shores of Lake Ashi in Hakone, at the Hakone Jinja Shrine. With that paved path leading into the water, its meditative power is immediate (well, if you’re at all sensitive to beauty and harmony). There’s usually a bit of a queue, everyone taking their turn to have a moment alone in front of the torii—at least it helps manage the crowds.

In that timeless moment of contemplation, everything seems “in its place.” The earth, the water, the air... Though right after us, an American woman decided the best thing to do was step onto the paved path and ended up flat on her back—when I say everything’s in its place, I mean it!



Now, a leap across space... I’m sure you recognize this image? It’s the famous torii tunnel at Fushimi Inari-taisha in Kyoto. The beauty of sketching it is that I can depict it empty, without hordes of tourists armed with their phones, selfie sticks, looking lost in their own egotistical bubble. This shrine, *extremely* “Instagrammable,” is swarmed like all the “must-see” spots in Kyoto.

But here’s some great news for you: the shrine stretches over 4 kilometers, all the way to the top of the large hill it winds around. If you go beyond the first kilometer, it gets much quieter, and if you make it to the top, you’ll almost have the place to yourself!

The Inari cult is very much alive—the climb is dotted with countless altars, and thousands of torii gates pile up, in all sizes (the most beautiful and largest ones require an offering of around 10,000 €). Fox representations of Inari are everywhere, and the altars are covered with battalions of small figurines.



All in all, the visit was amazing as long as you take the time to climb to the top and don’t get discouraged by the dense crowd in the first 500 meters...

To be continued!

Hello, Following up on the previous post, I’m continuing with different snapshots related to places of worship: A Bugaku dancer at the Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo (on the sidelines of wedding ceremonies) Ink and collage

And then:



At the top of the illustration, you can see large sake barrels—offerings. Around 200 barrels form two large walls on either side of the path at one of the shrine’s entrances. They’re stunning! You can buy miniatures in shops to bring back from your trip!

On this page, you’ll also see a little girl in traditional attire. Masumi, the local guide who accompanied us on our first day in Tokyo, explained that parents come to "present" their child at the temple at 100 days, 3 years, and 5 years old, with their immediate family (grandparents, and sometimes uncles and aunts), all dressed in traditional clothing. We encountered families like this in places of worship throughout our stay, and if you politely ask for permission to take a photo, they often say yes. Young people also visit, but more often with friends for their 20th birthday, dressed in formal attire. You’ll also see a young married couple. The bride’s outfit and makeup remind me of *Star Wars*—Princess Amidala, to be exact!



Above, Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) in Kyoto, a wooden structure covered in gold leaf, dating back to 1397. It’s very popular, but the crowd spreads out along the paths bordering the small lake, offering sublime views of the pavilion, which stands alone and reflects in the water. And below, Ginkaku-ji, or the Silver Pavilion, still in Kyoto, which only has silver in the phoenix that crowns it. Built in 1482, it was meant to rival the Golden Pavilion, but war efforts drained the budget allocated to the building. The gardens of this Zen temple are gorgeous in early November—the maple trees are starting to turn red. A lovely little trail leads up above the gardens, offering stunning views of the pavilion.

We’ve been lucky enough to visit several countries in East Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar) and have seen countless sites. Japan’s heritage is extraordinary. The architectural quality, construction techniques, building structures, materials, and finishes are remarkable—the landscaping, orientation... Harmony is everywhere. As an example, below is a detail of the beautiful ceramic tiles covering most temples, and Tenjuan Temple (Kyoto), a little gem among Zen temples.

Sometimes, the scale is massive. Below, we’re in Nara (40 minutes from Kyoto by train), within the grounds of Todai-ji Temple, and here’s the Daibutsu-den (Great Buddha Hall), a monumental structure built to house a colossal Buddha.



This building is the largest wooden structure in the world. Originally from the 8th century, it’s been rebuilt twice. This version dates back to the 17th century, like the current bronze Buddha, which stands 18 meters tall. In the drawing, I included a priest so you can get an idea of the size of the "baby" (I’m talking about Buddha, not the priest).



That’s all for today! I’m almost done with this travel journal, but there are still a few beautiful moments left to share.

Ama... zing! 🙂

Fab... ulous! 🙂

Thanks Jean Luc!

Sacred Stop: Mount Koya

The final highlight of this travel journal: Mount Koya, a sacred mountain that’s home to over 100 monasteries and temples on a plateau at 1,000 meters above sea level. It’s been a pilgrimage site for over 1,000 years, which explains its deeply rooted tradition of hospitality—one that’s gradually opened up to tourism. You come here to spend a night in a monastery and take part in the various ceremonies (though the quality of welcome can vary; for us, Shojoshin was great).



As this page shows, getting there is an adventure: it’s only 120 km from Kyoto, but by public transport, you first take the train to Osaka, then the subway to catch the Sakai Line (a small railcar), followed by the funicular, and finally the bus. Everything connects seamlessly... but it still takes about 3 hours total. That said, the scenery makes the time fly. The Chumon Gate welcomes you before you finally arrive in the village of Koyasan, surrounded by mountains and forests. Upon arriving at the monastery hosting us, we attend the fire ceremony. The next morning, we join the morning service at 6 AM (autumn schedule—it’s earlier in summer).

Then we set off to explore the 117 temples and monasteries... the setting is idyllic. Nature is everywhere. With nights growing colder at this altitude (1,000 meters), the maples and ginkgos burst into color. It’s breathtaking.



I’ll spare you the details of all the sights to see—117 buildings packed into one village means endless possibilities!!!





Tonight, we’re treated to a dinner in the purest tradition, served in a private room at the monastery. I try umeboshi—the famous pickled, vinegary plum—known for its countless benefits (though, for me, the taste is awful). It’s worth a shot... but I know what I *won’t* be bringing back from this trip! The next morning, we stroll through Okuno-in Cemetery, the most sacred in Japan. Beneath towering, centuries-old trees, it’s said to hold over 200,000 graves, including those of famous figures. It’s a mystical place—dark but not eerie, peaceful, where the sense of time fades away.

I’ll pause for a moment on the Jizo.



We’ve seen them throughout our trip. Small stone statues, often adorned with a knitted red hat or a sort of “bib,” sometimes a cape—these are benevolent deities, protectors of souls, especially those of children. In cemeteries, they’re everywhere, revered by parents who’ve lost a child for the protection they offer. More broadly, they symbolize compassion for all living beings. You’ll also find them along paths, watching over lost travelers.

That’s the end of this travel journal!

On the shinkansen taking us back to Tokyo for our last two nights, all the images from our trip are already racing through my mind. So many countries have delighted and touched me, and when I leave them, I feel a pang in my heart because I know there are so many places I’d still love to visit that I’m not sure I’ll return. But this time, I don’t feel that way—I already know I’ll be back.

And then, suddenly, on the horizon, a familiar silhouette... Mount Fuji... It played hard to get when we went to Hakone, but now it’s revealing itself to us, a teasing brown shape...

For a few minutes, it keeps us company, slowly wrapping itself in clouds. 🏴‍☠️



This final sketch, one of my favorites, is where I’ll leave you. It’s directly inspired by a photo we took in Asakusa, where we went back for some shopping. I hope you enjoyed this illustrated journey. Either way, I loved sharing it with you!

Awesome travel journal and gorgeous drawings. Well done! 🙂

Great travel journal and amazing drawings. Bravo! 🙂

Thanks! 😉 Michel, glad you liked it.

Thank you and well done! I hope you’ll make another illustrated travel journal with drawings for Oman, even though I know putting together a travel journal is really time-consuming.

I’d love to have your talent for drawing. Some time ago, I bought a book to learn how to draw and illustrate travel journals, but I never got around to it. So I make paper journals without drawings but with collages and a few photos.

Your drawings are really beautiful, so delicate. They add so much originality to this travel journal. It’s so generous of you to share all of this! 🙂

Thank you and well done! I hope you’ll make another illustrated travel journal with drawings for Oman, even though I know making a travel journal is very time-consuming.

Thanks so much, Marie. Oman—I think I’ll get started on it, yes! I just need to set aside some time...

I’d love to have your talent for drawing. Some time ago, I bought a book to learn how to draw and illustrate travel journals, but I never got around to it. So I make paper journals without drawings but with collages and a few photos.

Actually, I’ve been lucky enough to keep drawing since I was a kid, even if there were periods when I did it less. But journals with collages and photos are great too.

Your drawings are really beautiful, so delicate. They add so much to the uniqueness of this travel journal. It’s so generous of you to share all of this! 🙂

Thanks, Kate. I think Japan kinda lived in me while I was drawing!

I just checked out your Laos-Thailand travel journal. It brought back such great memories, even if we didn’t necessarily love the same spots. It’s amazing how much little details can make a difference! It’s made me want to share my own experience from that trip here soon—VoyageForum wasn’t open for posting back then, so I shared it on another site. But this time, it’ll be photos, not drawings!

I’m really enjoying this beautiful travel journal—it’s extraordinary, original, and so informative. Bravo and thank you!

I’m discovering this beautiful travel journal with so much pleasure: extraordinary, original, and insightful—bravo and thank you!

Hi Frédérique, thank you for your kind words. Positive feedback is really appreciated and so encouraging! :)

Pencil strokes, a few touches of color, flat ink, bold lines, fine details... vanishing lines that gracefully sketch a sensitive poetry. Here, gray is luminous, black is peaceful, red is vibrant. The slender (or rounded) silhouettes are elegant (or playful), the buildings majestic... A sharp eye that embraces the immense, the tiny, and captures life all around with a unique talent. A delicacy like a comfort for the soul.

Tell me, Fabhyene, in this lost century that offers only battles, couldn’t you lay down your silky inks, your precise brushes, your meticulous dots, your washed-out washes on the world’s chaos? Restore splendor to the wonders gradually buried under madness. Straighten the horizon... ...and redraw, just like here, the future to re-enchant it?

Wow, Kola, your message really resonates with me! Thank you for your words.

Drawing is a way to capture the harmony of things—or at least to choose your own world, because you can also draw chaos and darkness, despair. Clearly, that wasn’t my choice here. It’s also a form of meditation, and I realize that almost unconsciously, I’ve put emotions and feelings onto paper too. That said, my power stops there... but hey, that’s not so bad...😉

Hi Fabienne, I already had a longing for Japan before reading this wonderful travel journal. Bravo and thank you for its originality and the serenity it exudes—a truly wonderful moment spent! !

Hello Fabienne, I’d already been dreaming of Japan before reading this wonderful travel journal… Bravo and thank you for its originality and the serenity it radiates—a truly wonderful moment spent!

Thank you so much, Bruno! I’m so happy that’s the feeling it conveys. It’s a fascinating country, sometimes disorienting, but often rejuvenating (especially when you step off the beaten path).