Photos: the RPO tours Japan

This month the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra returned to Japan with Music Director Vasily Petrenko and pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, visiting Fukuoka, Tokyo, Nagaya, Tachikawa, Niigata and Osaka. We'd like to thank everyone who came to hear and support us – we had such a special time!

Read on to see what we got up to on tour.

Sunday 6 September: Fukuoka

Our first stop was the ACROS Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall, where we performed an all-Rachmaninoff programme with his Symphony No.2 and Piano Concerto No.2.

The RPO rehearsing with Nobu at the Fukuoka ACROS hall

Two images of an RPO player sticking an RPO sticker to a backstage wall and then giving a thumbs up

Second Violin Sali-Wyn Ryan put the RPO on the wall of visiting orchestras backstage

Monday 7 – Wednesday 9 September: Tokyo

We then had a three-day stop in Tokyo, performing at the Suntory Hall on Monday and Wednesday, with a free day on Tuesday when we enjoyed the local sights.

The RPO and Nobuyuki Tsujii receiving applause at Suntory Hall in Tokyo

A message from Joe Hisaishi to the RPO - 'this is a Japenese snack called 'Taiyaki', it has a pacake-like texture and is filled with sweet red bean paste. Please eat it using paper'

A player pointing at an RPO sticker backstage

Vasily Petrenko conducting the RPO with Nobu playing behind him

Vasily Petrenko, players and Sarah Bardwell posing with representatives from dunhill

Vasily Petrenko signing programmes outside the Hall

The RPO's Composer-in-Association, Joe Hisaishi, generously gifted us some delicious snacks

Credit: Rikimaru Hotta

Representatives from dunhill, the Official Luxury Clothier to the RPO, attended the concert at Suntory Hall on Wednesday.

Our Music Director Vasily Petrenko took some time to greet fans after the concert on Wednesday.

Inês Delgado visited Kamakura and the Great Buddha statue on her free day.

RPO cellist Naomi Watts went tea-making with fellow players Katy Ayling and Catriona Parker

Thursday 10 September: Nagoya

We then took the bullet train to Nagoya and performed in the Aichi Prefectural Arts Theatre.

The RPO standing on stage and receiving applause

Friday 11 September: Tachiwaka

Our next stop was Tachikawa Stage Garden.

Four bass players smiling at the back of a bus

The RPO rehearsing in Tachikawa Stage Garden

The RPO standing to receive applause in Tachikawa Stage Garden

The double basses on their way to Tachiwaka

Saturday 12 September: Niigata

The penultimate concert on tour was at the Niigata Ryutopia Performing Arts Center.

Sunday 13 September: Osaka

The final concert of our tour was a matinee in Osaka's Festival Hall, where we performed Tcherepnin Prelude to La Princesse Lointaine, Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No.2, and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.5.