JAPAN IS A PLACE OF BEAUTY AND MYSTERY.

It is also a land where the modern and the ancestral combine in endlessly fascinating patterns. Through the creative camera work of three consummate photographers, Japanscapes sets out to explore this country of startling contrasts.

American Ben Simmons captures the postmodern Blade Runner chic of urban Japan in a way rarely encountered on color film. With an uncanny eye for urban scenery and the fleeting shutter chance, Simmons' catches the colors of Japan's cities, the vibrancy of its architectural monuments, and the candid episodes in its citizen's lives.

British native Johnny Hymas gently unveils the understated elegance of the Japanese countryside. His three-decade love affair with the landscapes of rural Japan has led him to nearly every corner of the country. He portrays nature at its serene and dignified best (the silvery waters of the East China Sea, long-legged herons fishing at daybreak), and his unstinting affection for the ways of the farmers and fishermen as they work the heartlands and coastal waters is apparent in every shot.

Slovenian Gorazd Vilhar focuses on Japan's spiritual legacy. He has sought out the sites of centuries-old practices, often gaining entrance to rituals and celebrations few outsiders have a chance to see. His images capture the measured rhythms of Shinto and Buddhist customs and record the artful refinement of Zen gardens, traditional architecture, geisha in the Gion, and other aspects of old Japan the inquisitive visitor may still glimpse today.

Complementing this grand photo-journey is the informed commentary of three expatriate writers. Noted architect and artist Azby Brown contributes a penetrating introduction on the art of unearthing the real Japan. Reporter Lucille M. Craft provides a lyrical look at city life today, and author Charlotte Anderson rounds out the volume with a captivating overview of Japan's cultural traditions. In its images and insights, Japanscapes offers a refreshingly new take on why Japan remains one of the most intriguing countries in the world.