Hey, fellow photographer :) I just finished putting together a photobook of Japan myself... you won't be disappointed....... are you more of a nature photographer or what is the theme of your book? Just travel in general?

I'm studying the history behind it as much as I can, but more than likely I will do one small picture book mainly on geisha and their apprentices(can't remember the name atm), and a more in depth book about the progress of japan in the last hundred years with a heavy emphasis on the contrast between where it is now compared to the fuedal nation it was not long ago.

I'll pm you with my skype and msn, maybe we can talk more about your book and travels.

I guess you are referring to the Maiko, you can find a lot of them willing to perform a show for you at a lower cost around Gion, its more like "internship" to them, so try your luck around Gion.

My interest in the culture and history spawned as a kid when my dad work there with my uncle :)

Maiko was it. I will definately include that in the plan, thanks for the tip. Honestly I think most americans are just as interested in the maiko as the geisha, but both will get a lot of coverage in the picture book.

My interest kind of came about through anime and wwII histroy as a kid, ever since then I've wanted to go. I would definately regret it if I never got to visit japan in my lifetime. Luckily I was born in a time and place where it's not unusual to do so.

Its a very open country now. Though, be really really careful around Namba - Dotonbori (Osaka) and Shinjuku area. As much as the country being open, the modern Yakusa are still very traditional, they seem have carried over the "twisted" patriotism thought from the Shinsengumi (late Edo - Meiji period), and they don't like "foreigner" much.

Is there anything I should avoid doing, or is that just a general "tread lightly" kind of warning?

I've never quite understood how the yakuza operate, or really much of anything about them. So any info would be appreciated.

World's most expensive cities 2007
1. Moscow
2. London
3. Seoul
4. Tokyo
5. Hong Kong
6. Copenhagen
7. Geneva
8. Osaka
9. Zurich
10. Oslo
11. Milan
12. St. Petersburg (Russia)
13. Paris
14. Singapore
15. New York City
16. Dublin
17. Tel Aviv

source: cnn
18. Rome
19. Vienna
20. Beijing