As darkness falls over the city of Kyoto, enter the vermillion gates of Shinto and venture deep into the forested mountainside. Enter a sacred garden brimming with mysteries and veiled in a ghostly atmosphere. But fear not — you will cast your artificial light into the darkness and illuminate the beauty of the Fushimi Inari Shrine.

Reach the location after sunset, when all of the tourists have retreated to their hotels for the day. Hit the iconic ‘tunnel of torii gates’ as well as hidden sub-shrines peppering the mountainside. Climb a short way up the mountain into spooky and otherworldly parts of the shrine grounds.

It is here that you will learn the secrets of light painting in this unique setting ripe with potential, using a variety of artificial lights to reveal the shrine’s details in the dark. Get coached on the best camera settings for light painting and on the subtle handling of light sources to create impressive images.