Photography Guide To Tokyo by Pat Kay v1.1

PAT KAY’S PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE TO:
Tokyo
Photography locations, tips and
techniques for capturing Tokyo.
In this guide:
3 People, places, & cultures 105 Locations / Taitō
5 This is Tokyo 115 Locations / Bunkyō
6 Quick facts 119 Locations / Nakano
7 Photography in Tokyo 126 Locations / Meguro
10 The seasons 131 Locations / Side trips
13 Photography locations 147 Major event and festivals
15 Locations / Shinjuku 149 Food notes
31 Locations / Shibuya 152 Accommodation notes
52 Locations / Minato 155 Transport notes
61 Locations / Chiyoda 157 Culture notes
72 Locations / Chūō 161 Basic Japanese words and phrases
79 Locations / Kōtō 165 Thank you
95 Locations / Sumida 166 About Pat

People,
places, &
cultures
For travellers.
For photographers.
For the curious.
When it comes to travel and photography, I

think about 3 things: People, Place and Culture.
I strive to document all 3 of these things
whenever I travel anywhere. I strive to collect
experiences over collecting things, and it’s
integral for me to document those experiences
along the way.
I want that for you, too. So it’s my mission to

help people like you - travellers, photographers,
the curious - find and capture the best
experiences the world has to offer.
This guide is a way for you to choose which

experiences of People, Place and Culture
resonate with you the most, so that you can
express yourself in your own unique way at
these locations. It’s about showing you the
places that resonate with me, and to see if you
like them too.
That’s why this guide is different to any general

travel guides or any “Top 10 Instagram spots in
Tokyo” blog posts out there - these are the
locations where my work has come from, and
I’ve been fortunate to have had my work
showcased or sponsored by Instagram, Sony,
Microsoft, Adobe, DJI, numerous tourism
boards, the World Photography Organisation
and many more.
There are many types of locations in this guide

- the touristy, the uncommon, the “off-the-
beaten-path”. Think of it as your own personal,
local tour guide of Tokyo; showing you all the
hidden gems that would take you weeks and
months to discover on your own, and sharing
tips from a professional travel photographer on
how best to capture them too.
So, whether you’re a beginner or experienced

photographer, or whether you’re a
photographer at all, if you love travel and you
want to make the most out of your photography
and your trip to Tokyo, this guide is for you.
Happy travels.
❤,
Pat.
This is
attached to it - and as my love for this city has grown,
so has the depth of my knowledge of it.
Being one of the largest cities on earth means you
Tokyo could spend a decade living in this city and still not
know all of it. There’s just so much to Tokyo - weirdly

themed cafes, tourist attractions made from a
pedestrian crossing, go karts that roam the streets,

claustrophobic accomodation (capsule hotels), the
juxtaposition between historic culture and a modern

The busiest city on earth. The origin and mecca of
society. Whether it’s food, stays, people, place or
many beloved sub-cultures. Night life. Culture. Food;
culture, whatever your jam is, there’s sure to be
oh, the food. Japan’s capital city really has it all.
something here for you.
Tokyo is a place that has been dear to my heart for my

When it comes to places though, Tokyo has many
entire life, even though it’s only as an adult that I’ve
locations to visit; plenty touristy, and plenty not so.
come to visit it. It holds the origin stories or the
Bright neon lights, a seemingly endless skyline,
perpetuation of many sub-cultures that I (and many
densely packed urban sprawls, run-down shops of
others) have grown to love: consumer electronics,
eras past, modern buildings of the future, interesting
gaming, parts of motorsport, anime, ramen (my
characters around every turn and an unlimited
favourite) and so much more.
amount of stories to experience.
It’s a city I’ve visited many many times, and having

Let me show you why this city is my favourite city in
collectively spent months there now, obsessed with
the world.
discovering and documenting every inch of the city
from Koto, Shinjuku and beyond, I’ve grown very

Quick
facts
Tokyo is the capital of Japan, and
combined with the greater Tokyo
districts is the most populated city in
the world.
23 wards
Tokyo has 23 “wards”, also known as cities.
37+ million
Which, in total, house a population of over 37
million people.
25% of Japan
Contributing to 25% of Japan’s overall
population.
Photography in
Tokyo
The yellow trains of the Ginza line during cherry blossom season
Tokyo is the busiest city on earth. The combination of the tallest peaks you’ll find in Tokyo are the ones
its dense metropolitan buildings mixed with its long, belonging to the numerous skyscrapers that decorate
rich, traditional culture make this city unique in a way the seemingly never-ending skyline.
that’s not found anywhere else in the world.
And yet, if you have a calling for nature, Tokyo is

One moment you could be photographing some of highly connected with Japan’s finest natural beauties
the most unique architecture you’ve ever seen. The via Shinkansen (bullet train), so consider a short trip
next, you could be taking a street photo of an to places like the wonderful Mount Fuji or the
interesting person wearing a mask. You might whimsical Nagano.

document your experience in a packed, body to body,
peak hour Tokyo train, or stare for hours trying to find With so many things to see and do in Tokyo and
the end of the skyline view at Tokyo Skytree. beyond, what you’ll find here during your trip to Tokyo
is one of the most diverse, interesting and varied

As the metropolis spans for over 14 kilometres, you experiences to capture on planet earth.
won’t find any traditional landscapes here. Instead,

Tripod etiquette
Tripods are generally accepted in Tokyo as non- how much space you are occupying in a busy street.
professional tools. Japan in general has a very large
native photography scene, and combined with a high Some locations request that you don’t use tripods at
amount of tourism, most people are generally all. Usually these are the paid locations such as the
accepting with tripods. observation decks in Roppongi hills or Tokyo Skytree.

Tripods in these locations just take up too much
One thing to note here is to be very aware of your space. If you absolutely need a tripod in these areas,
surroundings. There’s always many people consider using a Gorillapod or something similar.
everywhere, especially in Tokyo, so be aware to mind
Street photography etiquette

Generally, the street photography etiquette here is have their shutter sounds permanently activated (yes,
similar to most parts of the world. even on your iPhone) to discourage photographs of
unsolicited and unclassy nature.

It’s not illegal in any sense to take photos in a public
place whether of a crowd or of an individual person. On the whole, though, if you’re not bothering people,
they won’t bother you back.
That being said, privacy is taken pretty seriously in

Japan; to the point where all Japanese smartphones
You don’t need a drone for this view. Just visit the Tokyo Skytree instead!
Drone laws in Tokyo

Contrary to popular belief, it’s actually perfectly legal districts that have additional geo-zoned areas with
and straight-forward to fly drones in Tokyo and Japan additional restrictions.
in general, it’s just hard to find the right place to do it.

When combined with the rules for not flying around
The rules are simple to understand, however due to sites where people gather, densely inhabited districts,
the sheer size and density of Tokyo, finding a place to and in conjunction with the Tokyo Metropolitan
safely follow them can be challenging. Government’s ban on flying drones in any one of it’s
81 metropolitan parks and gardens, it’s actually pretty
Simply put, you cannot fly in airspace around airports, hard to actually find a location to launch from and fly
above densely inhabited districts (which is much of over safely.
Tokyo) or above 150m AGL (above ground level).

Once/if you do, stay below 150m AGL, at least
In addition, there are several clustered areas around 30metres away from people, buildings and cars.
Chiyoda, Shibuya, Chuo, Minato and Shinagawa Maintain a visual line of sight on your drone, and
don’t hang anything from it that may drop.
For more information:
Visit the Civil Aviation Bureau’s official rules - http://www.mlit.go.jp/en/koku/uas.html

Check the FlySafe map from DJI - https://www.dji.com/au/flysafe/geo-map
The seasons
Tokyo’s 4 seasons are drastically visually different from one another.
Experience the rare snow events of Winter, cherry blossoms in Spring, rain and
umbrellas of Summer and the orange hues of Autumn.
Winter
• December to February
• 9 C during the day (avg)
• 2 C at night (avg)
• Dry, cool
Winter time, one of my favourite times of year to visit Japan.
Enjoy the chilly air with hot ramen, sake and Kotatsu (a small table
with a heavy blanket and heater underneath). If you’re super
lucky, it actually snows in Tokyo for 1 or 2 days of the year on

average. See if you’re lucky enough to catch it!
Also, the air is typically the clearest at this time of year and
presents the most visible time to see Mt Fuji from one of the
many observation decks in Tokyo.
Mt Fuji from Fujiyoshida, a day trip from Tokyo
Spring
• March to May
• Dry
Spring time in Tokyo (or any part of Japan, really) is a magical affair.
The city comes alive with white and pink cherry blossoms (“Sakura”
in Japanese) that spread all throughout the city.
Tokyo is typically one of the first major cities in Japan where cherry
blossoms bloom. Because of that, Tokyo is a great place to start if

you decide to chase the Sakura up and down Japan.
Summer
• June to August
• Very humid, rainy
Summertime in Tokyo is hot. Like, really hot. And wet too.
With an average of 29 C during the day, realistically many days

feel like over 35 C, with an average humidity of 60-80%. It’s not
only heat hot, but sticky hot too.
During the summer, especially in the earlier part of the season,

Tokyo experiences a lot of rain, which photogenically, is
awesome. Japan is known for its clear umbrellas, and especially

at night, the combination of umbrellas, bright neon lights and
reflections from all the water turn Tokyo into a colourful paradise
if you don’t mind getting a little wet.
Autumn
• September to November
• Humid in September, drops late October
September is still humid from the summer, but it’s also one of
the only times of the year where if you want to do a day trip to
Mt Fuji, that you can actually climb it.
The rest of Autumn sees Tokyo’s foliage slowly progress from

green to red, with peak Autumn colours from mid to late
November in Tokyo.
Image by @kohki on Instagram

Photography
locations
The finest visual experiences in Tokyo or just a short
trip away from it.
Tokyo Metropolis
The 23 special wards of Tokyo metropolis
represent the main city area of all of Tokyo.
Combined with the Greater Tokyo Area, Tokyo

becomes the most populous metropolitan city in
the world.
As such, there’s a lot of ground to cover. But to

keep it easy for you, most of the photography
locations are located in the inner 11 city

districts of the metropolis.
How the locations are organised
Locations are organised under district.
This is so you can organise your travel
depending on where you are staying, planning

optimal routes based on proximity.
Look out for the red dot for locations that
I consider to be the best in Tokyo.

PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS
Shinjuku
2 / A PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE TO: TOKYO
BEST OF TOKYO
Kabukicho
SHINJUKU
STYLE Architecture, Night, Portrait, Street

PRICE Free
ADDRESS 1-chōme-23 Kabukichō, 歌舞伎町 Shinjuku City, Tōkyō-to 160-0021, Japan
HOURS Public - Open 24 hours
WEBSITE -
Shinjuku / Kabukicho
Kabukicho is one of the busiest areas of Tokyo Kabukicho, however, is a bit of a tourist trap.
and is essentially the red light district of it too. Expect food to cost just a little bit more here, to
be street hustled to go in to bars and various
It features one of the highest densities of neon entertainment joints, and to pay for things you
lights in all of Tokyo; the signs of bars, shouldn’t be paying for.
restaurants, karaoke joints, and varying

degrees of adult entertainment lighting up the Fortunately, while that all sounds a bit rough, it
often-crowded streets. actually isn’t bad at all. And in fact, when it

comes to Tokyo, this is actually as bad as it
Regardless of all the walks of life you’ll find gets, which is super tame when compared to
here, it’s actually still a very safe to adventure other Asian countries (I’m looking at you,
in, so don’t be discouraged to discover what’s Thailand).

here. After all, this location is one of the many
classic scenes people think of when they think A small price to pay for one of the best
of Tokyo. locations in Tokyo, I’d say.
Shinjuku / Kabukicho Photography notes
Start your journey at Kabukicho Ichibangai
(pictured previously). If you’ve never been
to Tokyo before, you’ve for sure seen the
image of this gate. Walk up and down the
streets, exploring and getting deep into
Kabukicho. See if you can spot Godzilla.
Experiment with panning shots, long

exposures of crowds walking, and even
hyperlapses up and down the streets.
There’s plenty of culture to capture here
and plenty of ways to capture it.
TRIPOD USAGE vanishing-point perspectives. Many

Generally okay in non crowded spaces, interesting people to capture also.
but there aren’t many. Try not to set up
BEST TIME AND SEASON TO VISIT
tripods in front of shops here. Some
shop owners can get a bit unhappy Visit at night for all the neon light action.
when they see people do that.

Most of Kabukicho is the same all year
SCENE DESCRIPTION
round.
Somewhat full sized roads that cars
occasionally come down. An insane
amount of neons and many long-shot-
BEST OF TOKYO
Omoide Yokocho
SHINJUKU
STYLE Night, Portrait, Street
PRICE Free (unless you want to eat, which is a highly recommended experience)
ADDRESS 1 Chome-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
HOURS Public - Open 24 hours (restaurants open from 6ish)
WEBSITE shinjuku-omoide.com
Shinjuku / Omoide Yokocho
I call this place “Instagram Alley”, Classic Japan.

because, well, you’ve certainly seen a
photograph from it before on Instagram. Like its cousin in Kabukicho, Golden Gai;
Omoide Yokocho maintains a post war,
Omoide Yokocho means “Memory Lane” Showa-era looking decor and has an
in Japanese. It’s a chaotic and energetic incredible amount of ambience.
series of alleyways that’s rich in tiny
restaurants, lights, sounds and smells. It’s a highly recommended place to visit
for cultural immersion, and the best
It’s a Yakitori haven. A place for ramen. A part? Once you’re done experiencing
place for curry. Yakiniku. Think Izakaya’s and capturing the space, you can sit
- bars with little nibbles to eat on - all down to enjoy a delicious meal.
crammed into tiny shops that can only fit
half a dozen people in a single row.
Shinjuku / Omoide Yokocho
Photography notes
It’s a chaotic place. Prepare for lots of crowds,
especially from dinner time all the way to 11pm.

It’s worth the hustle and bustle, though.
Omoide Yokocho features flowers hanging above
the walkway all up and down the alley. They

change with the seasons. When it’s cherry
blossom time, they put pink cherry blossoms up.

In the winter, they have the most gorgeous white
flowers. In the summer, green. In autumn, orange.

See which ones you end up getting!
TRIPOD USAGE BEST TIME AND SEASON TO VISIT
Please don’t be that person with the Every single season provides something
tripod here. The spaces here are different. Try each one. Visit at night
absolutely too tight when it’s busy. when all the shops are open, but also
visit during the day for a different vibe. In
SCENE DESCRIPTION
the rain during the day it’s empty and
Tight alleyways no wider than 2 or 3 quite a different experience if you’ve
people. Long lines of sight up and down seen it packed out.
the alleys with a knot in the middle.
Shops all along the sides. Overhanging
flowers that change with the seasons.
Golden Gai
SHINJUKU
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 1 Chome-1-6 Kabukicho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0021, Japan
HOURS Public - Open 24 hours (Bars open from 8pm)
WEBSITE goldengai.jp
Shinjuku / Golden Gai
Golden Gai is quite a special place in Omoide Yokocho, however Golden Gai
Tokyo. It’s a series of 6 small alleyways is a place you go for drinks rather than
and home to 280 bars and restaurants Yakitori.
crammed into a tiny space located just
next to Kabukicho. With doorways barely larger than
shoulder width (seriously, some Western
It’s a dimly-lit, scruffy looking, but guys will have trouble getting through
charming area. A rare location that has some doors), Golden Gai’s numerous
kept its post-war era looks and is in stark pubs and taverns are a popular watering
contrast to its neighbouring neon hole among locals and tourists alike,
flashiness next door. with many businesses hopeful to entice
passing people with happy hour drinks
The compactness and somewhat rough and small nibbles in their occasionally
and unpolished vibe of Golden Gai is themed taverns (look for the
similar to what you’ll find at the nearby photography one, it’s pretty cool).
Photography notes
This area of town is flourishes a little later, with people starting to arrive from 9pm
onwards. If you’re interested in capturing empty but lit scenes, arrive just a little before
this time.
Commercial photography here is actually not allowed, and there have been some
reports of people being thrown out of this area for having their cameras out. Just be
discreet and don’t get in anyones way and you should be fine.
TRIPOD USAGE
Small neon signs and delicate lights
Don’t use tripods here. Any tripod usage outside each tavern. Dark. moody.
will alert the security (there are cameras)
and they’ll probably ask you to leave. BEST TIME AND SEASON TO VISIT
Most of Kabukicho is the same all year

SCENE DESCRIPTION
round. Very little variances with seasons.
Narrow alleys perhaps 3 people wide.
Some alleys are only 1 person wide.
Yodobashi camera
SHINJUKU
STYLE Street, Portrait
PRICE Free on the street
ADDRESS 1-chōme-17 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tōkyō-to 160-0023, Japan
WEBSITE -
Shinjuku / Kabukicho A strange one to recommend, but
this area of Shinjuku is a favourite
among locals to capture street
images, especially when it’s raining
at night.
A less crowded alternative for street

photography than the more famous
Kabukicho on the other side of the
station, the area around Yodobashi
camera is an area of lit-up neon that
provides great background for
documenting the essence of the
city.
Photography notes
The best time to go is a night when all the neon are lit up. Even better to go at night
and while it’s raining, where the wet ground also lights up from the reflections of the
bright neons. It’s a spectacle of colour and vibrancy. A great metaphor to illustrate
the soul of Tokyo.
There are plenty interesting characters around this area too, there’s interesting bars,
food shops, and there’s even a Pokémon stop with a full set up of chairs and
everything for players to game. Lots of interesting characters here.
Tripod usage is fine here. The roads are plenty Go at night when all the neon are lit up. Even
wide enough. Just be wary that cars do come better if you can go at night during the rain, as
through here, so be wary of your surroundings. the reflections with the neons turn this place
into a colourful wonderland.

SCENE DESCRIPTION
A classic Tokyo grid of streets scenario here.

Straight roads lined with shops and plenty of
colours.
Skyscraper district
SHINJUKU
STYLE Architecture, Cityscape, Night, Portrait, Street
PRICE Free
ADDRESS Japan, 〒160-0023 Tōkyō-to, Shinjuku City, Nishishinjuku, 都道4号

WEBSITE -
Shinjuku / Skyscraper district
Everyone knows the east side of being a business district, it’s a surreal
Shinjuku station - Kabukicho, Memory feeling watching so many people
lane, Golden Gai etc. But over on the dressed in business attire walk in and
west side in the heart of Nishi-Shinjuku out of these massive buildings -
lies something a bit different. especially during peak hour.
Aptly named “Skyscraper district”, this For you architecture lovers, some
small portion of Shinjuku features as notable and interesting buildings
many as 27+ skyscrapers wrapped include the Mode Gakuen Cocoon
around just a few blocks. Tower, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Building, Shinjuku Sompo Japan
The density of it all makes you really feel Building, and Shinjuku Park Tower.
like you’re in the heart of the city, and
Shinjuku / Skyscraper district
Photography notes
Skyscraper district is a great location
to wander around in to capture some
street, portrait or cityscape
photography, but it also makes a
good subject to take an image of
from afar, like atop the Tokyo Skytree,
for example.
Most of the skyscrapers are in the

middle of Nishi-Shinjuku, and there
are even some buildings you can go
up into the observatories of (like the
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Building).
TRIPOD USAGE
No problem, plenty of space

everywhere.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
Numerous skyscrapers bunched

together in a business district.
Visit during peak hour to watch all the

businesspeople, at night for
cityscapes, or during the day and in
good light for portrait and street
photography.
Yasuyo hall
SHINJUKU
STYLE Architecture
PRICE Free
ADDRESS Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 3 Chome−37−11 YASUYO BLDG
HOURS Public (outside) - Open 24 hours

WEBSITE yasuyo-hall.com
Shinjuku / Yasuyo hall
Location description
A quick entry for you architecture lovers.
Yasuyo hall, located just outside the south-east exit of Shinjuku station, looks at home
as part of the fabric of the city, until you stop to appreciate just how unique it really is.
Built in 1969, this quirky building designed by Nobumichi Akashi looks like a column
of nuts on a screw-head, each nut tightened off-axis from one another.
It’s home to a restaurant called Kakiden, a salon shop, some offices, and of course,
the Yasuyo hall itself.
Photography notes
At night, the Yasuyo hall lights up an orange/yellow, illuminating itself and its
surroundings. Great for a long exposure.
Also consider coming during golden hour, where the metal facade reflects its interior
and combined with exterior sunlight, it makes the entire building light up gold.
TRIPOD USAGE
No problem.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
A remarkable building on an unremarkable Shinjuku street. Looks like nuts wrapped

around a bolt.
Golden hour or at night.

Shibuya
BEST OF TOKYO
Shibuya crossing
SHIBUYA
STYLE Cityscape, Night, Portrait, Street
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 2 Chome-2, 2-chōme-2 Dōgenzaka, Shibuya City, Tōkyō-to 150-0043, Japan
WEBSITE -
Shibuya / Shibuya crossing
The world’s busiest crosswalk in the In reality, ultimately it’s just a big,
world’s most populated city. normal, pedestrian crossing. However
the sheer amount of people makes it a
At peak times, Shibuya crossing has spectacle in and of itself, with hundreds
literally thousands of people walking of businesses surrounding the crossing
across it every two minutes. Walking it offering many different vantage points
yourself for the first time is certainly a while stopping for a bite to eat or drink.
surreal experience and one that
travellers across the globe talk about It’s famous for a reason, ya know?
after they’ve visited Tokyo.
Photography notes
There are so many places to capture Shibuya crossing.
Of course, the obvious is right in the middle of the street. You see many people lining
up at the front of the crowds, waiting for their moment to run onto the temporarily
empty road the instant the light turns green.
However there are many more vantage points to capture the crossing from at
surrounding perspectives.
Some good locations are:
Shibuya station bridge

There’s an overpass on the south end of the crossing. It connects with the station and
provides a great overview facing north.
Mag’s park rooftop view

Mag’s park rooftop provides a birds eye view of the crossing. It’s a perfect location for
sunset into the night, and is one of my favourite views in all of Tokyo.
Shibuya Hikarie Mall

Just off to the east of the crossing, there’s a shopping mall called “Shibuya Hikarie”.
On the 11th floor there’s a “Sky lobby” level, giving you a cool but somewhat far view
of the crossing. Bring a longer lens if you want this view.
TRIPOD USAGE
Depending on where you’re

capturing the crossing, tripod usage
may or may not be okay. Perhaps if
you are on the Shibuya station
overpass you can get away with it,
but the crowds here and on street
level are generally pretty chaotic.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
It’s a very wide, multi-directional,

busy crosswalk. There’s just so
many people everywhere. At peak
times over 2000 people cross every
2 minutes.
Be prepared for that.
The crossing doesn’t change by the

season, but the best times to visit
are peak hour, sunset or blue hour
when all the neons are lit up.
BEST OF TOKYO
Tokyu plaza entrance

SHIBUYA
STYLE Architecture, Portrait, Street
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 4-chōme-30-3 Jingūmae, Shibuya City, Tōkyō-to 150-0001, Japan

HOURS 11am - 9pm
WEBSITE omohara.tokyu-plaza.com
Shibuya / Tokyu plaza entrance
The insane entryway to Tokyu plaza Omotesando Harajuku is most certainly

something you’ve seen in Instagram many times before.
The entry to the plaza is filled with a multitude of mirrors, all facing in slightly
different directions, giving a “crystal universe” effect upon entering the trendy plaza.
It’s somewhat of an icon in this area now, and a popular destination for tourists too.
It’s not uncommon to see a line of people waiting up the top to take the classic
image you’ve probably seen before.
Have your own go at it though, of course. After all, it’s different when you’ve captured
it yourself.
Shibuya / Tokyu plaza entrance Photography notes
Just be wary of the crowds and lines here.
If you come earlier in the morning when it first opens (around 11am), you’re more
likely to have less people in frame, which could be good if that’s what you’re looking
for.
For a bit of a different look, try to come when it’s raining and stick in a red umbrella for
a bit of a pop. There’s a bunch of different ways to shoot this, get creative!
As a side note, sometimes they have advertising on the stairs or down at the landing.
Sometimes it’s unavoidable and has to be removed in post.
TRIPOD USAGE SCENE DESCRIPTION
Probably okay down the bottom at the An entryway to a plaza with many many
landing, but probably not okay up the mirrors. Wide entry at the bottom which
top. Either way, you’re either going to be narrows into a small corridor and 2
in someone’s shot or preventing escalators up the top. You’re able to
someone from shooting, so be wary of shoot from both ends.
others on this one.
No variation for seasons. Best to visit

when it opens when it’s quiet.
BEST OF TOKYO
Takeshita street
SHIBUYA
STYLE Portrait, Street
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 1 Chome-17 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan

WEBSITE takeshita-street.com
Shibuya / Takeshita street
Takeshita street is one of those crazy streets that are absolutely jam-packed with
people.
But that’s why it’s awesome.
It’s such a spectacle to see so many people gathered in one place, day in, day out.
You’ll see a plethora of weird and wonderful people and places here.
A street filled with cosplay (people dressing up in costumes), high fashion, crazy
stores and eclectic food. It’s a cultural melting pot that houses many different sub-
cultures within Japan and shows just how diverse Japanese people are.
Shibuya / Takeshita street Photography notes
This is a great location to come from lunchtime to early evening. From lunchtime,
people start to pack in and the atmosphere starts to build. It sustains until the early
evening, where the crowds start to dwindle from 7pm.
It’s also a great location to come both during good light or when it’s raining. Either
way you’ll be sure to get some interesting things to shoot.
Bring a longer lens and capture the long streets, use a shorter lens for all the street
portrait possibilities around here, or go for something fast for the neons at night.
When you’re finished, consider exploring the Tokyu Plaza mirrors the next block over,
or check out the rest of Harajuku.
Not advised. There’s way too many Best to visit from lunchtime to early
people in too tight of a space here. evening.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
A densely packed pedestrian road filled

with people, food, high fashion and low
markets.
Meiji jingu
SHIBUYA
STYLE Culture, Portrait, Street
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 1-1 Yoyogikamizonochō, Shibuya City, Tōkyō-to 151-8557, Japan

WEBSITE meijijingu.or.jp
Shibuya / Meiji jingu
Meiji Jingu is a large urban park within right next to Harajuku station - a break-away
from the urban insanity of Shibuya. Tokyo’s equivalent of New York’s central park.
It’s huge and lush from corner to corner, with many things to see like sake barrels and
Torii gates adorning the main pathway to its central shrine, Meiji Shrine.
It’s an amazing and peaceful walk throughout, a place you can get lost in for hours if
you wanted to.
Shibuya / Meiji jingu Photography notes
Like most everywhere in Tokyo, Meiji Jingu
although tranquil, is usually quite busy with

tourists and locals on the way to pay their respects
at the temple.
Most times of the year, the forest is lush, green

and vibrant, teeming with density and life. During
the Autumn season, the park lights up warm

colours with the yellow, orange and red tones of
the Autumn leaves.
There are long lines of sight and many intricate

details to capture as you walk through the park. Be
sure to bring a few different focal lengths, as it’s

quite a large park.
Many of the paths are quite wide here, Golden hours provide great light and
so tripods are not an issue. shadow into the paths, but sunrise/
sunset light may be too low to light the
SCENE DESCRIPTION
paths. Come at different seasons for
Like walking through a forest with wide different coloured foliage.
pathways. A clean path surrounded by
trees. Brown/earthy toned Torii gates.
Big temple at the end of the walk.
Center Gai
SHIBUYA
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 12-3 Udagawachō, Shibuya City, Tōkyō-to 150-0042, Japan

WEBSITE center-gai.jp
Shibuya / Center Gai
Location description
Center Gai is a shopping street located right next to Shibuya crossing; A
recommended stop after you’ve explored the world’s busiest crosswalk.
Best explored from east to west, Shibuya Center Gai is a tightly packed alley with
signs and neon everywhere. Similar in look and feel to Shinjuku’s Kabukicho, but a
little less lit up and filled with more young adults and trendy people.
In fact, the town centre is also home to many clubs and hip eats, making the
demographic here a chaotic mix of tourists and young Japanese people.
Photography notes
Photographing this area is similar to photographing Kabukicho. It’s best seen at night
when all the neon and signs light up every inch of the street.
There are several opportunities for vanishing point-style images, and although
compression doesn’t work as well here because the street isn’t that long, there are
many details to pick out and many interesting people to photograph.
TRIPOD USAGE
It could be done, but depending on the time of night you go, you may find yourself
quickly surrounded by many people. Pick your times carefully and be careful of
posting up in front of a shop, you’ll get told off immediately.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
One really busy main street with many streets leading in to it. The main street is
somewhat tight, and it’s more of a walking street than a driving street.
No variation for seasons. Best to visit at night when the lights are on.
🌸 CHERRY BLOSSOM LOCATION
Sakuragaokacho streets
SHIBUYA
STYLE Portrait, Sakura, Street
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 2 Sakuragaokachō, Shibuya City, Tōkyō-to 150-0031, Japan

WEBSITE -
Shibuya / Sakuragaokacho streets
Festival lanterns during the Sakuragaokacho cherry blossom festival
Behind Shibuya station, in the spring at most times of the year you’d think it
time when the cherry blossoms bloom, was just another street.
this street is a Tokyo hidden gem.
But in the middle of Sakuragaokacho,
It’s not somewhere you’ll find in most connected to Shibuya station south,
guidebooks and blogs, but it is a great there’s a slightly winding downhill street
location to take photos of the cherry with overhanging cherry blossom trees
blossom trees if you come at the right draping over the winding road.
time of year.
It’s spectacular, and a very easy stop-
Surrounding this road is just your over since you’ll likely be at Shibuya
regular, run-of-the-mill Tokyo-looking station sometime along your journey in
street. There’s a combini, some Tokyo.
restaurants, some residential area, and
Shibuya / Sakuragaokacho streets
Photography notes
Stand across the intersection at the
provided location to photograph the
archway, or stand on the pedestrian
crossing itself.
Consider putting a person into the

frame for scale, or waiting for the
right time to photograph an iconic
Japanese taxi.
TRIPOD USAGE
At the provided location you’ll find a

staircase which is a great location to
shoot from. Underneath that, if you
hop the barrier there will be no foot
traffic - a great spot to plant a tripod.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
An uphill curvy road with heavy

painted lines on both sides of the
road. An archway of cherry trees
hang over the road.
Sunrise, sunset and golden hour, all

great times to go. However at night,
strategically placed lights illuminate
the trees also, making this location
great to shoot at almost any time of
day or night. Best to come during
cherry blossom season though, as
that’s where the magic happens.
Nonbei Yokocho
SHIBUYA
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 1-chōme-25 Shibuya, Shibuya City, Tōkyō-to 150-0002, Japan

HOURS Open 24 hours (Shops open from 5pm)
WEBSITE nonbei.tokyo
Shibuya / Nonbei yokocho “Drunkard’s alley”. A fairly descriptive
name for what you’ll find here.
Much of the same style and

substance as what you’ll find in the
neighbouring Golden Gai of Shinjuku,
Nonbei yokocho is a tiny street of
even tinier bars, izakaya, and funny
shops, most restricted to serving 4 to
8 people at a time because of how
small they are.
Still, it’s a great old town vibe in the

heart of the city, and definitely worth
a quick beer and a photograph or two
if you’re around.
Photography notes
Much like Golden gai, be aware of the
darkness around these streets. It’s a
perfectly safe area, but there’s little
light, so bring a fast lens or tripod.
TRIPOD USAGE
Plenty of space around here.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
Tight alleyways filled with remnants

of the old town, very aesthetic.
Best to visit at night. No change with

seasons.
Minato
BEST OF TOKYO
Roppongi hills
MINATO
STYLE Cityscape, Night
PRICE ¥1800 + ¥500 for Sky Deck
ADDRESS 6 Chome-11-1 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-6108, Japan
HOURS 10am - 11pm (Sky deck from 11am - 8pm)
WEBSITE roppongihills.com
Minato / Roppongi hills
For a classic view of the sprawling Tokyo city skyline, the view at Roppongi hills
observatory is one of the best - especially for viewing the Tokyo tower.
It’s a proper observatory here, with a viewing deck that’s quite crowded especially if
you’re planning your visit at sunset or night time.
However it also does have a “Sky Deck”, which is essentially the rooftop helipad from
which you can view the city for an extra 500 yen. This view provides a completely
unobstructed, 360 degree view of the city and is worth the extra few dollars to visit.
Minato / Roppongi hills
Photography notes
To fight the glare shooting through glass,
bring a Lens skirt or black towel with you to
block any surrounding light and use a
polariser.
If you decide to go up to the Sky Deck, just

know that they don’t allow tripods up there,
so bring a fast lens with you, or even use a
Gorillapod which they usually don’t strictly
count as a ‘tripod’.
Observatory deck usage is fine, but it’s The observatory is always open for
pretty crowded. No tripods allowed up sunset, but also consider staying for
on Sky Deck. blue hour/night. Tokyo comes alive at
night. No seasonality changes here.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
A skyline-level view of the city, mostly

facing Tokyo Tower. Sky Deck gives a
360 degree view.
Keyakizaka dōri
MINATO
STYLE Cherry blossom, Night, Street
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 1 Chome-5 Azabujuban, Minato City, Tōkyō-to 106-0045, Japan
WEBSITE -
Minato / Keyakizaka dori
Walking around Keyakizaka dōri and its
surrounding loop road during cherry
blossom season is a magnificent sight.
Both the straight lines and curved side
streets have cherry blossom trees that
overhang the road in such abundance it
feels like a fairy tale. Just beautiful.
During Christmas, the trees on the main

road are also lit up - make sure not to
miss it!
Photography notes
While the main street of Keyakizaka dōri is a great location for images during cherry
blossom and Christmas seasons, don't miss out the loop road to the south of the main
street during the cherry blossoms.
Consider spending some time to walk down onto the road, or venture up on to the
overpass.
No problem. There’s plenty of space Sunrise/sunset, during cherry blossom

available for tripod usage during the day season or Christmas.
and night.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
A couple of roads, one straight, one

curved, with cherry blossom trees that
overhang.
Tokyo tower surrounds

MINATO
PRICE Free
ADDRESS -
WEBSITE tokyotower.co.jp/en.html
Minato / Tokyo tower surrounds
View from the Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo tower is one of the many icons of the the skyline, but is better to look at than to look
Tokyo skyline and is sometimes confused with from.
the Tokyo Skytree.

The tower also features 3 main light modes: A
It takes inspiration from the Paris Eiffel tower Summer version (orange with white bands) for
with its lattice design, but is both taller and most of the year, and a Winter version (mostly
lighter than the iconic french tower. orange). A “Diamond veil” of 7 colours appears
on Saturdays between 8 to 10pm only.
It stands at a tall 333 metres high, which

sounds tall, but it’s certainly small compared to There are also special light colours depending
the Tokyo Skytree at 634 metres (the tallest on events that are on around the city.
tower in the world),
That doesn’t mean it’s any less charming,
though. Tokyo tower is still an amazing piece of

Minato / Tokyo tower surrounds
Photography notes
Tokyo tower is a better photographic
subject than it is an observatory.
Compared to the Skytree at almost

double the height, the view from
Tokyo tower is nice, but its view is
less stunning compared to viewing
the tower itself from somewhere like
Roppongi hills or Mori tower.
It’s the surrounding area of Tokyo

tower that’s worth capturing, instead.
Consider roaming the streets around

the tower, visiting one of the many
vantage points or observatories
around this area like the
aforementioned Roppongi hills or
look for rooftop bars or retail shops
with vantage points.
TRIPOD USAGE
With so many different vantage

points, there’s lots of places to set up
tripods. Go for it.
Visit at night for the full experience.

Tokyo tower lit up is gorgeous, even
though during the day it’s no slouch
either.
Chiyoda
BEST OF TOKYO
Chidorigafuchi park
CHIYODA
STYLE Cherry blossom, Cityscape, Landscape, Night, Portrait, Street (all the things)
PRICE Free - Boat rental: ¥800 per half hour
ADDRESS 2 Chome-1 Kudanminami, Chiyoda City, Tōkyō-to 102-0074, Japan
WEBSITE city.chiyoda.lg.jp/index.html
Chiyoda / Chidorigafuchi park
During the cherry blossom season, providing a different experience and

Chidorigafuchi park is one of the best perspective - it’s an activity that’s highly
locations in Tokyo to capture them. recommended during the cherry
blossom season. Just prepare to line up
While Chidorigafuchi park is quite large, for it.
there is one specific section on the
north-west side of the park that is the Otherwise, at other times of the year, the
most beautiful. This starts from the Boen entire park is lush with green foliage
entrance, all the way to Green Way. covering the numerous moats and water
features.
Half way through this 1km walk from
between these two points is the boat For those who like to walk, a stroll
rental service, where you can rent a row around the entire park will take just
boat (or foot-powered boat that looks under 2 hours.
like a swan) to get onto the water,
Chiyoda / Chidorigafuchi park
Photography notes
Due to the sheer size of the park, there’s simply
too many compositions and views to mention,

however if you’re into landscapes, cityscapes or
portraits, that’s a great thing. Just make sure you

allocate ample time exploring this entire area - it’s
quite large.
By the way, during cherry blossom season, it’s like

a mosh pit here. Prepare yourself for people.
It’s also highly recommended to rent a boat during
cherry blossom season. Boat rentals open a little

earlier at 9am, which is also the best time to beat
the lines.
During peak season, forget it. Unless you like As early in the morning as you can to get an
the idea of setting your tripod up in a mosh pit. empty-ish scene - before 9pm for a boatless
At all other times though, go for it. scene. Come during cherry blossom season -
it’s one of the best in all of Tokyo.

SCENE DESCRIPTION
A large park with valleys and a river. The river

has cherry blossom trees that overhang the
river. The river spans quite long, so there’s

many compositions to be had here.
Tokyo international forum

CHIYODA
STYLE Architecture, Portrait
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 3-chōme-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tōkyō-to 100-0005, Japan
HOURS 7am - 11:30pm
WEBSITE t-i-forum.co.jp/
Chiyoda / Tokyo international forum
Oh, you architecture lovers are gonna and at night when the walls, beams and
get a kick out of this one. walkways are lit up.
Tokyo international forum is a multi- When people aren’t stuck gawking at the
purpose exhibition centre with one hell entrance of this beautiful building,
of an entrance. they’re sitting in one of the 5000+ seats
inside the theatre which is home to
Its foyer is a multi-level, 57.5 metre high many different kinds of events from
masterpiece designed by architect plays, operas, festivals, conventions and
Rafael Viñoly in 1989. A timeless piece more.
that looks amazing both during the day
Chiyoda / Tokyo international forum
Photography notes
The main foyer area is open for free
during the day and night, even if you
aren’t there to see anything.
I’d recommend you check out the

different floors for the varying
perspectives of the metal truss
walkways that criss-cross the centre
of the space.
Go during an overcast day for a white,

bright look, or at night for a colourful,
moody look.
TRIPOD USAGE
It's a private place, so you may or may

not be asked to put your tripod away.
Give it a go though, trying never hurt.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
An exhibition centre with a big open

foyer featuring steel truss and glass
features.
Anytime with the light you’re looking

for. No change with the seasons.
Akihabara
CHIYODA
STYLE Street
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 秋葉原 Taito City, Tokyo 110-0006 Japan (link goes to "Super Potato")
HOURS Public - Open 24 hours (most shops open from 11am)
WEBSITE -
Chiyoda / Akihabara
If this was a guide on experiencing Tokyo, Akihabara would be a “Best of Tokyo”
listing, for sure. But because this is a photography guide, it’s not. But it’s in here
because I really encourage you to explore the many shops, buildings and alleyways of
Akihabara, not just for the photos, but for the experience.
In Akihabara, you’ll find a plethora of electronics shops, ranging from tiny, one-man fit-
outs to big department stores. There’s what the Japanese call “Otaku” culture here,
which means “Die hard”, like die hard fan. A place for die hard fans of anime, manga,
video game culture, card game culture and many other amazing sub-cultures Japan is
famous for.
There are “maid cafes” where waitresses are served by cosplayers (people dressing
up), and it’s not weird at all (well, maybe for you, but not for them). “Super Potato” sells
all the retro game systems and games you could ever want; like a time vortex of
pristine condition collectables. There’s a shop that sells robots. Yes. Robots.
I could go on all day, but all the weird and wonderful things of Japan are in this hot
zone and I highly recommend having an open mind and exploring them here.
Photography notes
Most shops are quite tight when it comes to space, so consider a small backpack and
a wide lens when it comes to adventuring and documenting your experiences.
TRIPOD USAGE
Capturing images of the buildings from the street is totally fine.
Many shops open from 11am.

Hie shrine
CHIYODA
STYLE Culture, architecture
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 2 Chome-10 Nagatacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0014
HOURS 5am - 6pm
WEBSITE hiejinja.net
Chiyoda / Hie shrine
For a little slice of Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari shrine experience, come to Hie shrine.
Hie shrine is one of Tokyo’s biggest and most important temples, with many festivals
passing through this shrine located in central Tokyo.
Off to the side entrance of this Shinto shrine, a pathway up the back of the shrine is
decorated with many Torii gates encapsulating the stairs. It’s pretty reminiscent of
other “Thousand Torii” experiences in Japan, with these particular Torii gates being a
little thinner, but just as colourful as others.
Photography notes
The path is quite tight, so bring a wide lens.
Also, consider coming early - the path isn’t that long, and to obtain an empty scene
image especially in a place that’s popular like this is quite difficult.
TRIPOD USAGE
Sure, why not. Just watch out for people here, the spaces are quite tight.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
Dozens of red Torii gates frame a path of stairs up the side of a hill and into a temple.
In the morning, while it’s quiet. Mostly green around the gates most times of the year,
warm colours during autumn.
Chūō
Tokyu Plaza ginza

CHUO
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 5 Chome-2-1 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
HOURS 11am - 9pm
WEBSITE ginza.tokyu-plaza.com
Chūō / Tokyu Plaza Ginza
Kiriko terrace at Tokyo Plaza Ginza is a crossing a heavily painted intersection

classy joint that reflects the upper-class never really gets old.
district it’s based in.
It’s definitely not as big as Shibuya
It’s a nice, polished rooftop terrace and crossing, and it’s most certainly not as
lounge, with the rooftop providing a top- busy either. But the lines on this
down view of the 4-way intersection intersection do make for a pretty
outside - a view that is usually reserved photograph.
for drones or people with special access
to high vantage points. Plus, you can do it from the comfort of a
lounge while eating or drinking. Ace.
The intersection is a classic Tokyo urban
sprawl - a sight of a hundred people
Chūō / Tokyu Plaza Ginza Photography notes
The overall scene here is very wide,
but remember to think broadly with
your compositions - there are plenty
of telephoto-style images to be made
here too.
Note that you are shooting through

glass. It’s recommended to either to
use a polariser to cut through the
glare depending on the time of day
you are shooting, or bringing a Lens
Skirt or other window glare
prevention contraption.
TRIPOD USAGE
It's a private place, so you may or may

not be asked to put your tripod away.
Give it a go though, trying never hurt.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
An observatory-style setup, shooting

through glass at a wide cityscape
scene of a 4-way intersection. Lots of
white lines and people crossing every
2 minutes.
As Tokyu plaza has opening and

closing times, generally you won’t be
able to get a sunrise shot from this
vantage point. Golden hour and
sunrise is fantastic however, and
night time is pretty great too.
Yurakucho yokocho
CHUO
STYLE Street
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 2-chōme-1 Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda City, Tōkyō-to 100-0006
HOURS Public - Open 24 hours (shops open from 6ish)
WEBSITE -
Chūō / Yurakucho yokocho
Oh gosh, just the thought brings back good vibes all around, and of course,
the wonderful smells of yokocho’s in wonderful smells of authentic Japanese
Tokyo. cuisine.
Yokocho literally means “side alley” in And the best part about documenting
Japanese, but commonly across Japan, Japanese life at a Yokocho? Sitting down
they also refer to a collection of bars and and experiencing it yourself right after, of
restaurants that are usually off a main course.
road.
Yurakucho yokocho is notably
Typically, they’re some of my favourite aesthetically pleasing at night. Follow
types of places to visit and experience. the train line south and venture around
The restaurants are tiny, there’s food and the small side streets and tunnels that
drinks and people, there’s laughter and hide around every corner here.
Chūō / Yurakucho yokocho Photography notes
If you like street photography, you’ll love this place.
It’s full of lights and vanishing points and people. Especially just as it gets dark, the
city starts to turn its lights on, illuminating every dark corner around this place.
I’d recommend especially exploring the various tunnels that cut underneath the train
line - they make for some cool framing and vanishing point images.
Not a problem. Just don’t linger too long Visit at night for most of the action.
in front of any shops.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
A series of streets and under-train-line

tunnels littered with small bars and
restaurants. Lots of lights, smoke and
ambience.
Kōtō
The SOHO
KOTO
STYLE Architecture
PRICE Private
ADDRESS 2-chōme-7-4 Aomi, Koto City, Tōkyō-to 135-0064, Japan
HOURS Private
WEBSITE -
Koto / The SOHO
The SOHO is a private block of colourful giving The SOHO a unique look not
apartments and offices in Odaiba. really found anywhere else.
It’s a pretty commonly visited place This guide is not instructing you to go
thanks to Instagram and is now quite there, as it’s illegal to trespass on private
popular despite the fact that it’s a private property. If you’re invited into the
residence. complex though, that’s a different story.
There’s a good reason (and good

intention) that people sneak in to this
place though. Its varying levels of
apartments are adorned with a rainbow
of different colours decorating the place,
Koto / The SOHO
Photography notes
Because of the distance of the shots,
you don’t need a super wide angle
like you would expect on most
architecture images.
Just outside of the frame, the colours

stop and are instead replaced by
steel grates that actually produce a
lot of moiré on your images, so
they’re worth cropping out.
Take a 16-35mm with you, but you’ll

probably end up using 24mm+.
TRIPOD USAGE
Unless you’re invited, best not to set

up too long here.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
Apartment blocks with multi-

coloured stripes on the facade of
every level. A large, open courtyard
allows vision over all 4 walls of the
complex.
Mid day where the light streams

down the middle of the apartment
block, or at night when every floor is
lit up.
Rainbow bridge
KOTO
STYLE Architecture, Cityscape
PRICE From 160¥ for train fare
ADDRESS 3 Chome Kaigan, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0000, Japan
HOURS 9am - 6pm for walking across, 5am - 12pm for train
WEBSITE shutoko.jp/fun/lightup/rainbowbridge/
Koto / Rainbow bridge
Rainbow bridge is one of Tokyo’s most Running between Shimbashi and

iconic bridges, connecting the entirely Toyosu stations, you can catch the train
man-made island of Odaiba with the rest back and forth through the different
of Tokyo. districts, with the most interesting parts
between Shibaurafuto and Odaiba-
While there are many perspectives of Kaihinkoen stations, featuring a loop-de-
Rainbow bridge to capture both on and loop and underground cage-like tunnel
off the bridge, one of the most as the train makes its way towards the
interesting is via the driverless train on island.
the elevated Yurikamome line.
Koto / Rainbow bridge
Photography notes
Due to the train not having a driver, the front
seat of the train as its moving forwards (and

backwards) is completely empty, providing a
front row seat for you to make images from.
Try setting your camera down on one of the

ledges on the front glass, shoot with a lazy
shutter speed of 1/4sec while the train is

moving, and play around with the “zooming”
effect this technique gives your images.
Also note that like every train in Tokyo,

during peak hours the train gets packed. It’s
advised to get on/off the train at the end

stations, where you can line up for the first
or last carriage before it arrives and then be

the first on the train.
TRIPOD USAGE
You could probably squeeze one in, but the
window seats have ledges you can rest your

camera on.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
A driverless train on an elevated railway
track.
Due to it being a train line, you’re restricted
to train times - look these up before you go.

Day time and night time are very different
experiences, but the lazy shutter technique

is possible for both. Try them both and see
which one you like the best!

BEST OF TOKYO
teamLab Borderless
KOTO
STYLE Architecture, Low light, Portrait
PRICE ¥3200 per person
ADDRESS Japan, 〒135-0064 Tokyo, Koto City, Aomi, 1 Chome−3-8 お台場パレットタウン

HOURS 10am - 7pm
WEBSITE borderless.teamlab.art
Koto / teamLab Borderless
teamLab’s permanent exhibition-slash- With such experience behind them, it’s

museum contains over 50 immersive no wonder they can easily fill the giant
artworks spanning digital and physical, space. The exhibition is organised into 5
audio and visual in a gigantic 10,000 main areas: Borderless world, Athletics
square metre, uniquely designed space. Forest, Future park, Forest of lamps and
EN tea house. An organisation that
It’s the result of what happens when houses the 50+ artworks.
technology and art combine in
innovative ways, and for teamLab, it’s the It’s an experience you won’t get
culmination of 17 years of experience, anywhere else in the world, a spectacle
with new and old works curated and of light and technology. Somewhere
created by the self-proclaimed ultra- definitely worth Instagramming over.
technologist group.
Some notable artworks:
• Forest of resonating lamps

• Crystal world
• Universe of water particles where people gather
• Floating nest
• Memory of topography
• Light cave
The “Forest of resonating lamps” is perhaps the poster-child for the entire borderless
experience, and is essentially the hardest to get in to. Expect to queue to get in,
unless going really early.
Also upon entry, only expect a short 2-3 minute experience, although you can line up
again if you like.
The rest of the exhibition isn’t like that though, just the Forest of resonating lamps.
Photography notes
Although many artworks feature bright lights,
there are many that don’t. Bring a fast lens to

compensate. Seriously. There are almost pitch
black installations here and a f/1.4 lens really

helps.
Also, consider bringing a model to shoot as a
subject, even if you don’t usually do portraiture.

This is a fantastic place for taking portraits, and
having a subject in many of the artworks adds

another dimension to your images.
Note that no bags are allowed in the exhibition. It’s
a “1 body, 1 lens”-type affair. Unless of course, you
can fit an additional lens in your pocket 😉 .
Strictly no tripods allowed. Sorry. Get there early when it opens at 10am for your
best chances at the fewest amount of people.
SCENE DESCRIPTION Luckily, they have a limit for how many people
Interactive artworks mostly based on light can be in a session at a single time, but still, it’s
manipulation. Maybe dark installations, but enough people to get in your shots.
many bright ones too.
No seasonal changes. It’s a permanent

exhibition too.
BEST OF TOKYO
teamLab Planets
KOTO
STYLE Architecture, Low light, Portrait
PRICE ¥2700 per person
ADDRESS 6 Chome-1-1 6 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0061, Japan

HOURS 10am - 10pm
WEBSITE planets.teamlab.art/tokyo/
Koto / teamLab Planets
teamLab’s other exhibition, Planets, It’s also a limited experience. This entire
might seem similar from the outside, but exhibition will only be around until Fall
as an immersive, interactive exhibition, 2020. Better get around to it, then.
it’s anything but.
Notable artworks:
With artworks that require you to
occasionally get knee deep in • The Infinite Crystal Universe
luminescent water, wade through • Expanding Three-Dimensional
bouncy rooms and floating plastic balls, Existence in Transforming Space
Planets is interactive version to its sister • Drawing on the Water Surface
exhibition, Borderless. Created by the Dance of Koi and
People
Koto / teamLab Planets
Photography notes
All the same suggestions apply here
as they do in teamLab Borderless. It’s
dark, bring a fast lens, and strongly
consider bringing a model here to
shoot as a subject.
Again, you’re not allowed a bag, so

it’s a “1 body, 1 lens”-type affair.
Consider a really wide angle lens, as
many installations are quite tight, and
especially for the “Infinite Crystal
Universe” artwork, a wide angle shot
really helps capture the immense
scale the mirrors give illusion to.
TRIPOD USAGE
Strictly no tripods allowed. Sorry.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
Interactive artworks mostly based on

light manipulation. Maybe dark
installations, but many bright ones
too.
Get there early when it opens at

10am for your best chances at the
fewest amount of people. Luckily,
they have a limit for how many people
can be in a session at a single time,
but still, it’s enough people to get in
your shots.
Fukagawa Fudōdō
KOTO
STYLE Culture
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 1-chōme-17-13 Tomioka, 江東区 Koto City, Tōkyō-to 135-0047, Japan

HOURS -
WEBSITE fukagawafudou.gr.jp
Kōtō / Fukagawa Fudōdō
Naritasan Fukagawa Fudōdō is a unique temple originally founded in the Edo-period,
and is one of the oldest wooden buildings in the Kōtō district.
It’s also a very unique one. It’s main hall is just as you’d expect from an old shrine, but
go a little deeper and you’ll find a beautiful prayer gallery of 10,000 small crystal
Gorinto’s that line the outskirts of the temple.
On the outside, while the main hall is quite unassuming, right next to it is the new hall,
a modern, cube-shaped building adorned with black, white and gold Sanskrit.
Photography notes
Inside the temple, I’ve been told that there’s now no photography allowed (the header
shot was taken years ago), but I’m sure a few phone pictures here and there wouldn’t
hurt anyone =). Photos or not, it’s still stunning and definitely worth the experience.
No tripods inside or on the shrine grounds Go in the morning before too many people
allowed. show up for the most peaceful experience.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
A shrine with a mix of old and new cultures.
Unique prayer gallery in the old main building.

Sumida
BEST OF TOKYO
Tokyo Skytree
SUMIDA
PRICE ¥3100 per adult
ADDRESS 1-chōme-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida City, Tōkyō-to 131-0045, Japan
HOURS 8am - 9pm (Last entry at 8pm)
WEBSITE tokyo-skytree.jp
Sumida / Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo Skytree is officially the tallest tower in the And what an observatory it is, delivering a 360
world, and the second tallest structure in the degree vantage point of what is arguably the
world after the Burj Khalifa. It stands at a mighty best cityscape view in all of Tokyo.
634 metres (2080ft) - it’s insanely tall. It’s a lot

larger in person than it is in photos. It’s this kind of view, in the tallest tower in the
world, that shows you just how large of a city

Of course, with a structure this tall, it has a Tokyo is. You can barely see the end of the city.
great use for broadcasting, and it’s used as a It sprawls as far as the eye can see. Unreal.
beacon for all major Tokyo television and radio
channels. It also has some great restaurants at Although it is quite expensive to enter the
the top. And while that’s great, the main thing observatory, it’s certainly worth it. If not for the
here is that it’s an observatory. cityscape view, then to say that you’ve been
atop the tallest tower in the world.
Photography notes
Of course with such a view, (in typical Tokyo fashion) comes your typical abundance
of tourists.
Tokyo Skytree has a lot of tourists. They really do jam in as many people as possible
up there. Be prepared to fight off the hordes of people for a good spot. If you are
looking for a sunset to blue hour transition, get there early and scout around for some
good compositions, set up camp and stake your spot until the sun sets.
On a clear day, you can even see the top of Mt Fuji in the distance, it’s the view that
faces south-west.
Although you might be tempted to capture just the wide shot, consider bringing a
longer lens too. There are a countless number of compositions to pick off with a
telephoto lens. A 100-400mm or 70-200mm lens comes in handy quite a lot here.
Also keep in mind that you’ll be shooting through glass, and most of the time the
glass is too far for you to put a lens skirt on. Use a polariser to help cut through the
glare if you need to.
TRIPOD USAGE
Unfortunately here you’ll have to go

tripodless. There are way too many
people here, and every time I’ve been
here I’ve been told off for using one. If
you want to timelapse, set up a bag
or something similar and guard it.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
360 degree views of Tokyo, shooting

through glass. The glass is tilted at a
30 degree angle away from you
which has the nice effect of
somewhat minimising glare.
Come for golden hour and stay till

night. It’s amazing to watch all the
lights turn on.
No major change with seasons, but

Mt Fuji is most visible in the Winter
time.
Jikken bridge
SUMIDA
STYLE Cityscape
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 5 Chome-13 Narihira, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-0002, Japan
WEBSITE -
Sumida / Jikken bridge
Jikken bridge is a very simple scene
that shows Tokyo Skytree in its full
glory.
It bridges over a canal that lines up

directly with the east side of the
Skytree. It features water that’s dark
and highly reflective, framing the
Skytree within its canal.
Photography notes
Most of the time the water is quite
still, giving ample opportunity for a
nice reflection. However, check the
forecast for wind, as the canal and its
reflection is highly sensitive to even
the slightest wind, throwing off that
perfect mirror reflection.
TRIPOD USAGE
Totally fine.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
A bridge over a canal facing the

Tokyo Skytree.
At sunset. The sun sets behind the

Tokyo Skytree, which provides an
amazing silhouette of the tower and
great opportunity for the best colour.
Sumida park
SUMIDA
STYLE Cherry blossom, Portrait, Street
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 1 Chome-2-5 Mukojima, Sumida City, Tokyo 131-0033, Japan
WEBSITE visit-sumida.jp
Sumida / Sumida park
Cherry blossoms everywhere. Literally. On the south-east end, an actual park

itself is a beautiful getaway from the
Counting both sides of the river that chaos of the city. It features a little lake,
Sumida park covers, there are literally with reflections of the Tokyo Skytree,
hundreds (almost 1000) of cherry trees and the small hills that surround it are
planted up and down the river. bathed in glorious overhanging cherry
trees. This is a very popular spot for
It’s a gorgeous location during Sakura “hanami” (cherry blossom viewing) and
season, and a great pit stop before hanging out with friends.
visiting something more chaotic, like the
neighbouring Tokyo Skytree or Senso-ji
temple.
Shinjuku / Kabukicho
Photography notes
There’s a lot to capture here so make sure
to block off a bit of time. You can walk up
and down both sides of the river here, but
in my opinion, the east side is better than
the west (if I had to choose).
Make sure to visit the park with the pond

previously mentioned, it’s a great little spot.
Totally fine. Cherry blossom season. Come during

sunrise for a beautiful, quiet scene.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
A split park across two sides of Sumida

river. Hundreds of cherry trees lining the
water’s edge.
Taitō
BEST OF TOKYO
Sensō-ji
TAITO
STYLE Architecture, Landscape, Portrait, Street
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan
HOURS Open 24 hours
WEBSITE senso-ji.jp
Taito / Senso-ji
Senso-ji, built in the year 645 is Tokyo’s sell little trinkets, souvenirs, little snacks
oldest temple. It was built for the and drinks. It’s worth stopping at a few,
goddess Kannon, the goddess of mercy, they’re very cute and you might even
and it’s one of Tokyo’s largest, most find one of your favourite snacks here.
popular and most vibrant temples.
Past Nakamise lies the main hall of the
To arrive at the Senso-ji temple, you temple, alongside a 5-storied pagoda.
have to enter through a large gate called You’ll often find people paying their
the Kaminarimon (Thunder gate). respects, with a little shop selling
incense for you to try for yourself.
From here, the path to the temple is a
200 meter long street of shops known as
“Nakamise”. These are tiny shops that
Taito / Senso-ji
Photography notes
This is a location where I’d encourage coming at a
time where there are a lot of people. The

combination of shops, people and energy in this
place really make the atmosphere come alive.
Capture people praying, or the long line of sight

down the road, the huge temple at the end and the
details along the way. There’s plenty of

experiences to be had at this temple.
Consider coming at night also, when all the shops
are shut. The street is still lit up, and it has an eerie
vibe to it. That’s also the time you can probably put
down a tripod if you wish.
TRIPOD USAGE After the shops is another gate with a

During the day is not advised. You’ll have big lantern, followed by the main
too many people knocking into you. At building and pagoda.
night when all the shops are closed and
there’s not many people about will be BEST TIME AND SEASON TO VISIT
fine though. Consider coming just before golden

hour, where the light still hits the middle
SCENE DESCRIPTION
of the shopping street. Also consider
A huge gate with a giant lantern guards coming at night when all the shops are
the entrance, leading into a long street closed and things are quiet.
of shops about 20 metres wide in total.
Ameyoko
TAITO
STYLE Street
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 4 Chome-9-1 4 Ueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan
HOURS 10am - 8pm
WEBSITE ameyoko.net
Taito / Ameyoko
As one of the busiest markets in Tokyo, The area of Ameyoko is actually broken
Ameyoko market in Ueno is a great up in to two streets - the left side, which
place to experience the culture and get has a more rustic and rough vibe, and
lost in the vibe of Japan. right, a more traditional shop-style
street.
Short for “Ameya Yokocho”, Ameyoko
used to be home to black market trades Spend some time here wandering the
during World War II, but is now home to streets and photographing the locals,
rows of shops selling most everything then stop for a bite to eat while you’re
from seafood to street food, electronics there!
to trinkets, clothes to shoes. You can find
almost everything here wandering
through the hazy street.
Taito / Ameyoko Photography notes
As with all market-style places in Japan, while many people aren’t partial to having
their photograph taken, there are some stalls and people who do mind, so just be
courteous of people and be wary not to obstruct anyone as it’s a very very busy place
at most times of the day.
TRIPOD USAGE
street, forking off into two streets, the left
While it’s a public area and no one is side with more rustic markets, the right
really going to harass you if you decide with more brick and mortar-style
to do it, just be mindful that there are markets.
literally thousands of people in the
market at any given time, so mind your BEST TIME AND SEASON TO VISIT
space. Ameyoko market opens at 10am, get

there early if you want an emptier scene,
SCENE DESCRIPTION
and in the mid afternoon if you want the
From Ueno station, it’s a single-lane most amount of people and good light
market with shops on both sides of the streaming through the street.
Ueno park
TAITO
STYLE Cherry blossoms
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 5-20 Uenokōen, Taito City, Tōkyō-to 110-0007, Japan
WEBSITE kensetsu.metro.tokyo.jp/jimusho/toubuk/ueno/kouenannai.html
Taito / Ueno park
Ueno park is one of Tokyo’s most that line its main path towards its
popular city parks, and for good reason. entrance gate.
Its 54 hectares are covered with many
things to do, from the numerous It’s a stunning sight, one that attracts not
museums dedicated to royalty, art, only throngs of people, but throngs of
culture, nature and science, the Ueno hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties
Zoo, and the stunning Shinobazuno too. Just the sight of everyone enjoying
pond. the blossoms with each other is enough
to put you in a good mood.
Perhaps one of the most stunning
attractions this famous park is known for
though, is the thousand cherry trees
Taito / Ueno park
Photography notes
Mind the crowds. There’s a tonne here. If
you’d like your compositions filled with
people (I quite like that look actually), mid-
afternoons are best. There’s still plenty of
people about, and the light starts to get
nice. The walkways in this park are quite
wide, bringing lots of natural light into
almost every scene.
Come at the mid-end of cherry blossom

season to watch all the leaves fall - with the
thousand cherry trees here, it’s super
beautiful.
TRIPOD USAGE
Come at sunrise if you wish to use a tripod. At all other times of the day, crowds are
quite insane here.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
A park with 1000+ cherry trees that line the walkway to the main entrance of the park.
Cherry blossom season.

Bunkyō
Bunkyo Civic Center

BUNKYO
STYLE Architecture, Cityscape, Landscape, Night
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 〒112-8555 東京都文京区春日1丁目16−21 文京シビックセンター25階

HOURS 9am - 8:30pm
WEBSITE city.bunkyo.lg.jp
Bunkyo / Bunkyo Civic Center
If you’re a traveller on a budget but still want a great view, look no further than Bunkyo
Civic Center.
The 25th floor of this civic center has a 270 degree view of Tokyo located right in the
middle of the city.
On the west side, you have a view of the Skyscraper District of Shinjuku, Kita city to
the north, and of course, Tokyo Skytree and Sumida to the east. All for free.
On clear days, this is a location where you can spot Mt Fuji hiding in the background
next to the skyline of Shinjuku. I’ve yet to see this in person, but maybe you might get
lucky 😉 .
Bunkyo / Bunkyo Civic Center
Photography notes
There’s a small ledge in front of all the
glass, which is a great spot to set up small
tripods.
Also, all the the glass is angled

downwards, which helps with the glare,
but still, you are shooting through glass, so
expect your images to be just a tad less
sharp, and to have unexpected flares
unless you use something like a LensSkirt
or other glare fighting tool.
No problem here. There’s also a nice Sunrise unfortunately isn’t possible here
little ledge in front of all the glass that due to the opening time, so golden hour
you can rest small tripods on. and sunset is your best option.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
An observatory 25 floors up. Smack

bang in the middle of the city.
Nakano
Nakano Sunmall
NAKANO
STYLE Street
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 5-chōme-63-3 Nakano, Nakano City, Tōkyō-to 164-0001, Japan
HOURS Open 24 hours
WEBSITE www.heart-beat-nakano.com/street/48.html
Nakano / Nakano Sunmall
Nakano Sunmall is a classic sight in side streets that branch off it include
Japan, but with a bit of a twist. many Izakaya and other tiny shops that
are very photogenic.
You’ll find these outdoor (but covered)
shopping streets almost everywhere in Some of these streets have have
Japan. They’re really popular and easily decorations hanging from above in little
recognisable with their high ceilings and triangles, and the tight quarters allows
transparent roofs letting the light in. for some great discovery of local shops
and interesting things to do.
What makes Nakano Sunmall’s 225
meter long street a little different though
is aside from the game centers, food,
pharmacies and markets that line it, the
Nakano / Nakano Sunmall
Photography notes
The rustic but clean nature of the
street makes it a great place to shoot.
Some alleyways are quite long, so
compression shots with longer
lenses work well here.
Come at night also to watch the little

triangles that overhang the streets
light up!
TRIPOD USAGE
Fine to use. Be wary that some

streets, as small as they seem, can fit
cars through them.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
Tight laneways filled with character

from the shops that reside here.
Visit during the day for the light to

come through the laneways, or at
night when the triangle signs are lit
up.
Arai 5-chrome footbridge

NAKANO
STYLE Cherry blossom, Street
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 5 Chome-32 Arai, Nakano City, Tōkyō-to 165-0026, Japan
WEBSITE -
Nakano / Arai 5-chrome footbridge
A simple, local location that’s great at passing trains, and just so happens to
one particular time of the year. Cherry have a beautiful cherry blossom tree in
blossom season. front of it to frame your composition
with.
During this time, the yellow trains along
the Seibu Shinjuku line flash by in an It’s a very popular spot among locals
instant in front of a pedestrian though, so depending on the time you
footbridge. go, you may have to wait your turn for an
image.
This footbridge crosses over the road
and lines up perfectly with the road and It’s beautiful, though. Worth the wait.
Nakano / Arai 5-chrome footbridge
Photography notes
This is a fairly local spot, so there will

definitely be people here during busy
season.
The train comes by fast, but you have

plenty of warning - the railroad
crossing sound plays and the gates
come down on the road, all you have
to do is wait and press the shutter at
the right time. Be quick though. A fast
reaction time is necessary to capture
the first few frames of the beginning
of the train.
TRIPOD USAGE
Totally fine, the bridge is big enough

to fit tripods.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
Shooting from an overpass, behind

overhanging cherry blossom trees
and through to a scene of a railroad
crossing.
Come when the light is good, during

sunrise or sunset. Come during
cherry blossom season.
Meguro
BEST OF TOKYO
Meguro River
MEGURO
STYLE Cherry blossom, Cityscape, Landscape, Night, Portrait, Street (all the things)
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 1-chōme-13-8 Kamimeguro, Meguro City, Tōkyō-to 153-0051, Japan
WEBSITE city.meguro.tokyo.jp
Meguro / Meguro river
Meguro river is one of the most beautiful checking out each footbridge to see
locations for cherry blossoms in all of which one you like the best.
Tokyo.
The tight canals and footbridges
It’s a river canal lined top to bottom with eventually breaks out into a much wider
overhanging cherry blossoms that scene after Meguro river park. The canal
bloom and then gently fall into the river. is much wider here, but cherry blossoms
still line both sides of the canal.
Starting from Meguro sky garden, along
its length lies a series of footbridges that If you’re around town during cherry
each provide slightly different blossom season, this is a must visit.
perspectives and cherry blossom
arrangements such that it’s worth
Photography notes
No matter what time of cherry blossom season, Meguro river is busy.
Of course, arriving at sunrise before the crowds come is going to give you the best
chance at getting the spot that you want, but luckily most compositions shooting
down the river wont actually show many people, so Meguro river is able to be
captured well at almost any time of day.
At night, the entire river is lined with lights that illuminate all the cherry blossoms and
it is most certainly worth revisiting as it looks completely different to the daytime
scene.
It’s tight, and there’s going to be a mosh Any time of day or night during cherry
pit of people behind you. If you can blossom season. Come at sunrise for
manage to jostle your way in, though, it less crowds, or come at night for the full
may be worth it. crowd (also cool).
SCENE DESCRIPTION
A river canal lined entirely with

overhanging cherry blossoms. A series
of intersecting bridges you can use to
shoot down the canal.
Side trips
KANAGAWA
Kawasaki warehouse
STYLE Portrait
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 3-7 Nisshincho, Kawasaki Ward, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-0024, Japan
HOURS 9am - 11:45pm
WEBSITE warehousenet.jp
Kanagawa / Kawasaki warehouse
Although it’s not exactly in Tokyo, Kawasaki warehouse and Kanagawa for that matter
are right next to Tokyo, just a 45 minute train ride from Shinjuku station.
And for a journey under an hour, Kawasaki warehouse provides an experience that’s
well worth the travel time.
It’s an arcade warehouse styled to look like the old walled city of Hong Kong’s
Kowloon and it’s unlike any arcade you’ve ever seen before.
Well, you’ve probably seen it on Instagram, but regardless, it’s worth going to anyway.
Kanagawa / Kawasaki warehouse
Photography notes
My biggest piece of advice here is to bring a model and pretend like you’re actually
playing arcade games (or actually play some, they’re fun!).
With the sudden influx of popularity from Instagram, the staff are more vigilant than
ever with looking for photographers who aren’t actually playing (or paying money) to
kick out.
By bringing a model, not only do you have someone to shoot, but you also have
someone to play games with. I’d recommend before shooting to go inside, play a few
games, take a few images, and slowly work your way down the building.
Also note that some areas are quite dark, with the only sources of light being the
dimly lit neons that sit in the corners. Bring a fast lens to combat this.
No tripods allowed. Sorry Go right when it opens for the least

amount of people. No change with
SCENE DESCRIPTION
seasons.
A multi-levelled arcade warehouse,
themed and styled like the old walled
Hong Kong city of Kowloon.
FUJIYOSHIDA
Fujiyoshida
STYLE Landscape, Street
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 2-chōme-5-1 Kamiyoshida, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0005, Japan
WEBSITE -
Fujiyoshida
Fujiyoshida and Fujikawaguchiko are sacred and celebrated mountain. It

two of my absolute all time favourite becomes not only the backdrop, but the
places to visit in all of Japan, and you can reference point by which you experience
get here in under 2 hours by either car this area. It’s a great thing it’s so
or train. beautiful, then.
This part of the country is an amazingly Visit the sleepy, quiet town of
refreshing break from the hustle and Fujiyoshida which still retains a lot of its
bustle of city life; a down-tempo retreat rural, rustic charm, head up to Chureito
for the senses. Pagoda for a classic “postcard” shot, or
even start a climb up Mt Fuji from here
Out here, the greatest thing you’ll notice (highly recommended, but only available
is the sheer size of Mt Fuji, Japan’s most for 3 weeks in the year).
Fujiyoshida
Photography notes
The town itself has a lot to discover if
you’re after that rural look. There are many
compositions to be had on the side streets
and main streets aligning with Fujisan
itself. It’s a quiet town though, so don’t
expect too much activity especially
compared to a place like Tokyo.
No problem, lots of space and most Anytime outside of the summer seasons
people are totally fine with is best, unless you’re actually climbing
photographers in this area. Mt Fuji. Mt Fuji is notorious for being
rather shy, it seems to love attracting
SCENE DESCRIPTION
clouds to itself. Sunrise is always your
A small, sleepy town that sits at the base best time to capture it, as there are the
of Japan’s tallest mountain. least amounts of cloud at this time.
FUJIYOSHIDA
Chureito pagoda
STYLE Landscape
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 3353−1 Arakura, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0011, Japan
HOURS Open 24 hours
WEBSITE -
Fujiyoshida / Chureito pagoda
The quintessential “Postcard” image of Japan. Chureito pagoda is a 5-storied pagoda

that features a clear backdrop of Mt Fuji. During cherry blossom season, the
surrounding trees bloom a white/pink, and during Autumn, they fire up with warm
colours.
It’s an absolutely stunning location.
Just be prepared for the 400 steps it takes to get up here. I promise it’s worth it
though.
Fujiyoshida / Chureito pagoda
Photography notes
This is a very popular spot for tourists and
photographers alike. Sunrises are highly

recommended here, and even then, you’ll still find
yourself with other early-morning photographers

too. Stay a little while longer and the tourists will
surely roll in.
When it gets too crowded, the foreground of your

compositions may be compromised, so try to get
up against the fence if you can, or shoot a little

further back.
Generally accepted except when there The best time to shoot is during sunrise.
are crowds. Go in the morning for your For sure. Best time to visit is Cherry
best chance of planting a tripod down. blossom season, but it’s also quite hard
to time peak bloom here. It’s great all
SCENE DESCRIPTION
year round though.
A gorgeous scene of a pagoda with Mt
Fuji in the background, set in a lush
mountain that changes its foliage colour
depending on the season.
FUJIKAWAGUCHIKO
Lake Kawaguchi
STYLE Landscape
PRICE Free
ADDRESS Kawaguchi, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0304, Japan
WEBSITE -
Fujikawaguchiko / Kawaguchiko
One of my favourite places in all of For the best views, the north-north-east
Japan. side of the lake near Komaya Ryokan or
the north side at Oishi park provides the
Lake Kawaguchi is one of the Fuji Five two best vantage points around the
Lakes, and as a peaceful getaway, it also entire lake.
sports one of the best views of the
sacred mountain you can get. If you’re feeling adventurous too, the
entire 20km of the lake is able to be
It’s a somewhat awkward place to get to cycled, with bike rentals usually costing
by public transport with no direct train around ¥400 - ¥600 per hour. This ride
here, but it’s worth it. (with sightseeing stops) will take you a
couple of hours, but it’s glorious and
very calming.
Fujikawaguchiko / Kawaguchiko
Photography notes
This is one of the rare locations in Japan
that isn’t illegal to fly drones in, so you’ll
probably see a few here if not flying one
yourself.
Also, Mt Fuji is notorious for being

“shy” (covered in clouds), but sunrise
provides the lowest chance for cloud
coverage, so if you can’t see Fujisan during
the middle of the day, try at sunrise.
No problem All times of year are good, with Winter

providing the best visibility, Spring
SCENE DESCRIPTION
providing a gamble but Cherry
A lake/resort town that sits in front of blossoms, and Autumn providing great
Japan’s biggest and most sacred visibility with Koyo (Autumn leaves).
mountain.
HAKONE
Hakone Shrine
STYLE Landscape
PRICE Free
ADDRESS 80-1 Motohakone, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0522, Japan
WEBSITE hakonejinja.or.jp
Hakone / Hakone shrine
Under 2 hours out from the busy streets stairs and its surrounding tall forest
of Tokyo lies Hakone Shrine, a shrine leads to a peaceful main building
that sits at the base of Mount Hakone, nestled quietly in a clearing.
enveloped by forest.
It’s certainly a peaceful experience, one
Hakone shrine is a unique shinto shrine that would most certainly augment the
that starts in the beautiful Lake Ashi with peace and quiet you come to Hakone for
a massive, floating Torii gate. anyway, as Hakone is known as a
relaxing Onsen town.
From there, the shrine expands up the
mountain and a short 5 minute walk up
Hakone / Hakone shrine
Photography notes
The main image everyone captures here is
one of “Hakone Jinjya Heiwa-no-Torii” (The
first image of this entry). It’s the one that
sits floating in Lake Ashi, and it’s most
certainly the place to visit here for
photographs. If you’re visiting during
tourist hours though, expect to line up to
take a shot of it however.
The forest that the shrine is encased in

features very tall trees and longish paths,
so bring a wide lens if you can.
Generally not advised in a shrine, but if Great at all times of year, especially
there’s no one around at Heiwa-no-Torii, during Autumn with the fall colours.
then why not.
SCENE DESCRIPTION
A shinto shrine camouflaged in forest at

the base of a mountain. Mt Fuji in the
background.
Major events
and festivals
Japan absolutely loves festivals. Like, really loves
them.
Most if not many local “Matsuri” (festivals) are

celebrations led by countless shrines across
Japan. They’re a celebration of the “Kami” (a
Shinto deity) each shrine represents, and it’s a
special time where the Kami are taken out of the
shrine and paraded around town in either a
barrage of people, music and chaos, or rhythmic,
meditative calm.
With an estimated 190,000 shrines spread all

across Japan, and the vast majority of them
having their own local annual festivals,
regardless of the time of month you visit
throughout Japan, you’re likely to be able to
encounter a festival during your time there.
Also, it’s probably no surprise that Tokyo loves to

party, with notable events occurring in addition
to its local festivals, with some interesting events
being adapted from Western culture, like
Halloween.
Major event dates
January August
2nd - Emperor’s New Year greeting 11th - Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri*
11th - Tokyo Auto salon 25th - Azabu Juban Noryo Festival
March October
3rd - Tokyo Marathon 31st - Shibuya Halloween*
Late - Cherry blossom season*
November
May Mid - Koyo (autumn) Season
2nd - Meiji Shrine Spring Festival
15th - Kanda Matsuri* December
17th - Sanja Matsuri* 2nd - Chichibu night festival
June Note: Events with an Asterix are highly

7th - Sannō Matsuri* recommended events. Also please note to
double check the dates, as they can and will
July change year to year.
12th - Mitama Matsuri
27th - Sumida River fireworks
28th - Shinjuku Eisa festival
Food
notes
Of course, no trip to
Japan would be complete
without a thorough
experience of its unique
cuisine.
Spend your nights out eating at tiny Average food prices

Izakaya’s (bars with small snack food), or
go cheap and eat at “combini’s” (Japan’s 900¥ - Restaurant meal
famous convenience stores), or even 300¥ - Beer, can

stand up while eating your ramen.
150¥ - Water, 600ml bottle
700¥ - Ramen, large meal

There’s enough food to experience to
700¥ - Mcdonald’s meal
warrant it’s own guide, so I’ll let you
discover this on your own. But oh boy, 300¥ - Yakitori stick
you’re in for a treat. 150¥ - Convenience store Onigiri
160¥ - Vending machine hot coffee can

Ramen
The “commoners food”. An approachable Regardless of the style and the place, make
noodle soup that was appropriated from sure to make a slurping noise while you eat!
China and turned into a worldwide sensation. It’s a sign of appreciation of the food and not
All across Japan you’ll find many many at all impolite.
different styles of ramen - thick broths, thin
broths, thick noodles, thin noodles, ramen My favourite ramen joints in Tokyo:
with fried lard, or bamboo shoots, or eggs.
Fūunji - Far and away my favourite.
You’ll find ramen at speciality ramen shops, at Kichitora - Get the Tsukemen (dipping
Izakaya’s, bars. You’ll find it at train stations noodles)
(yes, on the platform while waiting for a train), AFURI - A fresh, light bowl
you’ll find standing up ramen joints, street Ichiran - The “McDonald’s” of ramen in
ramen, and even ramen from vending Japan, but still a very solid bowl you can find
machines. across the country.
Sushi
When it comes to iconic cuisine, nothing Sushi in Japan and especially in Tokyo is
screams Japan more than Sushi. The another “Common food”. There are many
combination of rice and seafood is ubiquitous many varying levels of Sushi, from ¥100 sushi
throughout the world and of course, it’s the served by a robot, all the way to ¥1000 per
best in Japan. plate of sushi hand-made in front of you at an
upscale sushi bar.
Nigiri is possibly the most common you’ll find
here - Slices of raw fish over rice. Although Whichever you decide and whatever part of
Maki and Sashimi are also extremely the globe you come from, you’ll be in for a
common too. good time if you’re a sushi lover.
Soba & Udon

Back to noodles for a moment, with Soba and Udon is a thick noodle made from wheat
Udon - both unique takes on noodles that is flour, however unlike Soba, it’s usually served
specific to Japan. in a soup in a bowl with toppings like
scallions, prawns or egg. Like Soba, it can be
Soba is a type of noodle made from served with hot or cold.
buckwheat that is usually thinner than ramen
or udon. Usually served with Soy sauce and
either hot or cold.
Also try
• Yakitori • Shabu Shabu
• Curry (with rice or udon) • Real Miso soup
• Tempura (anything!) • Onigiri
• Gyukatsu • Gyudon
• Tonkatsu • Chankonabe
• Okonomiyaki • Mochi & Dango
Accommodation
notes
When it comes to places to stay, Tokyo has every
budget and every type of traveller covered.
If you’re travelling on a budget, Tokyo has Average accommodation prices (per night)
some of the finest hostels and capsules out
there. 1500¥ - 4000¥ - Hostel
2500¥ - 5000¥ - Average capsule hotel

Speaking of which, capsule hotels are a
6000¥ - 50,000¥ - Western hotel
Japan special - read the next page for more
6000¥ - 40,000¥ - Ryokan
on these special pods.
And of course, if you’ve got a bit more to

spend, Tokyo has all the top luxury hotels
available too!
You literally sleep in a bookshelf at Book & Bed Ikebukuro
Capsule hotels
Capsule hotels are an accomodation type that’s fairly In Japanese culture, you usually see business men
unique to Japan. and women (salarymen) stay at a capsule hotel after a

long night of work, where they’re unable to get home
Essentially, they’re hotels where you sleep in a small in time, or it makes more sense to stay in the city after
capsule, big enough for you to lay down or sit up in, their shift.
but rarely tall enough for you to stand in (unless it’s an

upmarket capsule hotel like “The Millennials in After getting used to capsule hotels though, for me, I
Shibuya”). actually tend to use capsule hotels for most of my

solo travels to Japan, as they’re very clean, modern,
They usually feature a locker and suitcase storage have working spaces, cheap, and usually quite local
area for your stuff, a shared bathroom (with private to busy areas of the city. Did I mention that some of
showers), and are usually either mixed dorms or them are also themed?
organised by gender.
Airbnb
Airbnb’s have taken a huge hit in Tokyo.
What was once a growing market due to increasing tourism was recently literally slashed in half
by the recent (2018) minpaku law which now requires all hosts to have licences for regulated
lodging, and in addition, hosts can only rent out their houses for 180 days in the year.
Responses in both private and registered accomodation (like hotels and hostels) have caused
Tokyo Airbnb’s to, by-and-large, increase in price, while hotels and hostels have swooped in to
clean up the remaining demand led by tourists.
That being said though, it’s still possible to find a great deal on an Airbnb, especially around the
Yamanote line (Shibuya, Shinjuku etc), and it’s still the only place to find those uniquely styled
apartments that you just don’t get anywhere else.
Booking.com
In my opinion (and not sponsored), it’s the and you can book way ahead in advance to
best site to find affordable accomodation in secure a spot.
Tokyo.
Also after booking a few times, they apply
Booking.com has one of the widest ranges a .genius discount to every stay, giving you
out there, you don’t have to pay upfront, 10-15% off every purchase. Win.
Transport
notes
As you’d expect from any modern city,
there’s many ways to get around town, but
some methods are better than others…
Trains
Easily the best way to get around town. The only thing to consider is that they can be
confusing. There are many private lines, and
If you do a little forward planning, it may be although they all connect to one another in
beneficial for you to get a JR (Japan Rail) Rail some way, not all lines are JR. Pay attention to
pass. This gives you unlimited travel on all JR which lines you need to get on to - it might be
local trains and JR Shinkansen (bullet train). a bit confusing at first.
Super handy especially if you’re travelling
large distances from city to city. Also, grab yourself an IC card (A Suica or
Pasmo). It’s a reloadable card you can use for
Locally, trains in general are the best way to every line. Together with Google Maps (which
get around. They’re fast, clean, always on works really well for local trains in Tokyo),
time and they come every few minutes. getting around the city is a breeze once you
There’s almost always a station near where get used to it.
you need to go, if not within a 10-15 minute
walk to the destination.
Busses
Busses, as always, are a reliable method of travel, although in Tokyo, especially the metropolitan
areas, trains are far more efficient.
Busses are still great though, although the etiquette for paying is reversed or different depending
on the city you’re in. In Tokyo it’s straight forward - tap on when you get on. Tap off when you get
off. In other cities though, sometimes you tap only when you get off. Or sometimes there’s
actually someone who takes payment on every bus other than the driver.
Also, if you’re really budget-conscious and want to travel long distances, the overnight bus is the
cheapest option from doing a long haul from Tokyo to Kyoto, for example.
I’m probably making this taxi look faster than it was actually travelling…
Taxi
Are really, really expensive in Tokyo.
Yeah, they’re cool, with their self-opening and self-closing doors and super neat interiors. But
just be wary that the average taxi price in Tokyo is 10-30% more expensive than the average first-
world country taxi price.
Although, with trains stopping at midnight and starting again at 5am, sometimes on a big night
out there’s no other real option.
Culture If you’re looking to assimilate
into the culture effectively, here’s
notes some tips on some Japan-

centric things to keep in mind.
Collectivist culture
Japan has a collectivist culture. What this means is that opposed to most of western society
which has an individualistic culture which focuses on the self, Japan’s culture is very much
focused on the ideals of a group-dominant society.
In this type of society you’ll find behaviours that promote selflessness, rather than individualistic
promotion. People working in groups and communities more often. Families and local
communities playing more of a central role in daily lives. People doing what’s best for society. An
avoidance for confrontation. A praise for the quality of ones relationships rather than
individualistic traits.
How this manifests in day-to-day Japanese actions varies wildly, especially among the younger
generation, but if you find yourself in a situation of overt kindness in a social setting by a
complete stranger, this is usually why.
Working culture
The Japanese sure are a hard-working bunch.
While most business operate during your typical 9am to
5pm hours, the working culture in Japan (and especially
in Tokyo) could be viewed from a westerners
perspective as a harsh environment.
It’s not uncommon to see people working 12 hours

days, only to need daily release by going to bars and
clubs after work still in their suits. A typical Japanese
salaryman (or woman) may work up to 60 hour weeks,
with many workers during the year not taking their paid
vacation time due to them feeling guilty about
burdening their colleagues.
You see the effects of this everywhere. People napping

all the time on trains and busses. People sleeping on
park benches. People partying at karaoke bars till 5am
because they missed the last trains after 12. If you see
any of this behaviour, now you know why. It’s totally
normal though. Even if it is unhealthy.
Noise
You’ll find that most situations in Japan, you’ll be in the quiet. Whether that’s on a bus or a train,
on a sidewalk or in a mall. People generally keep to themselves and keep quiet, as being loud
and rowdy disturbs the surrounding peace and draws attention to you - something Japanese
people avoid.
Especially in trains, where even talking on your phone is very much frowned upon. Try to keep
quiet when you can - read the room. If everyone is keeping quiet, follow suit.
Masks
If you come from a Western country, one of aren’t sick also wear masks to prevent
the first things you’ll notice when you arrive in themselves from getting sick. This is very very
Japan is the vast number of people wearing common, especially in the winter months and
face masks. change of seasons when people are
susceptible to the flu.
Don’t be alarmed though. It’s not a plague or
anything. This is just the culture kicking in. Plus, when it’s cold, it’s nice to have
something warm on your face.
People who are sick wear masks to prevent
germs from spreading. That’s all. People who
Drinking laws
Drinking laws are fairly relaxed in Japan.
You can buy alcohol at every convenience store, there are even vending machines on the street
selling alcohol. You’re also allowed to openly drink alcohol on the street, too.
Of course, the legal drinking and buying age of alcohol is 20, and everyone still obeys that.
Also, in a group setting, it’s rude to pour a drink for yourself. Generally speaking, you pour a drink
for your drinking partners and they pour yours for you.
The word for “Cheers” in Japanese is “Kampai” (say it with some heart!).
Money and tipping
Despite your visions about how ‘tech-forward’ Japan is, Japan is still very much a cash-based
society.
As a general rule, always carry cash with you at all times. It’s also useful to fill up an IC card
(Suica, Pasmo etc), as not only can you use it for transport, but many places (like almost all
convenience stores) accept them as forms of payment.
Also, tipping is not customary nor required here. In fact, it’s generally frowned upon, and you may
even get denied when trying to tip people. Accept the fact that service workers will do everything
they can to provide the best service to you at the price you’re expected to pay. It’s that straight
forward. A smile and learning how to say thank you (Arigatou gozaimasu) authentically is a much
nicer alternative.
SIM cards and internet

The 3 big mobile carriers in Japan are NTT DoCoMo, KDDI and SoftBank mobile.
As long as you’re getting a SIM card that aligns with one of those carriers, you’re golden.
Especially in Tokyo, there are a lot of traveller SIM’s available that provide data-specific prepaid
plans for a set period of time (10gb over 30 days, for example). You can find these at all the big
department stores like Yodobashi camera, BIC camera, Odakyu department store, Isetan etc.
Other options for mobile internet are pocket wifi, but personally I prefer a travel sim as it allows
you to be independent and doesn’t require carrying an additional device.
All throughout the city, general internet speeds are very good. Internet in households and
apartments generally have fast download speed and decent enough upload speed for things like
uploading YouTube videos.
Basic
Japanese
words and
phrases
I’m sure you’ve heard that Japanese is a very
difficult language to learn and study, and it is.
But thankfully for us English speakers, Japanese
has been romanised into what’s called “Romaji”,
which if you’re not super serious about learning
everything there is to know about Japanese
language, is more than enough to babble some
words to communicate what you need to say.
Of course, it’s not a replacement for learning

actual Japanese though.
Romaji breaks down pretty easily into English

letters you can start to pronounce, but there’s a
bit of a catch with how they pronounce vowels…
Pronounciation
Essentially, the vowels (A,E,I,O,U) are the same,
but they’re pronounced differently. From there,
you take the consonant that surrounds it and
you can essentially pronounce the word
effectively (although the Japanese find
consonants like ‘L’ and ‘V’ etc difficult to
pronounce).
It works like this:
A - Pronounced “Ah”. Like in “Far”.

E - Pronounced “Eh”. Like in “Edge”.
I - Pronounced “Ee”. Like in “See”.
O - Pronounced “Oh”. Like in “Moe”.
U - Pronounced “Oo”. Like in “Moo”.
So if you take the word “Sashimi”, it pronounces

down into: Sahsheemee. Or if it’s the word
“Atsui”, which means “Hot”, you would
pronounce it as Ahtsooee.
Basic words & phrases
• Yes - Hai • After you (letting someone go first) - Dozo
• No - Iie (“iie”, pronounced “eeee-eh” … • That’s okay - Daijoubu
although you really don’t have to hold those • It’s good - Ii desu yo
first “e”s that long.) • That’s good - Ii ne (pronounced “eeee-
• Thank you - Arigatou neh”)
• Thank you very much - Arigatou • I’m well, thanks - Genki desu
gozaimasu • Amazing - Sugoi (prepare to hear this a
• Thanks (but also can be used for hello or lot.)
goodbye in the right context) - Domo • Please - Kudasai (when casually
• You’re welcome - Douitashimashite requesting a known object),
• Excuse me, sorry, pardon me or thank you Onegaishimasu (for known or abstract
for your trouble - Sumimasen objects or to say it with a bit of style)
• I am sorry - Gomennasai (give it some
emotion)
Greetings Conveniences
• Good morning - Ohayo gozaimasu • Convenience store - Konbini
• Good afternoon - Konnichiwa • Supermarket - Suupaa
• Good evening - Konbanwa • Restaurant - Resutoran
• Good night (time for sleep) - Oyasumi nasai • Toilet - Toire
• Nice to meet you - Hajimemashite • Bathroom - Tearai
• Bye - Jaa ne or Mata ne • Hotel - Hoteru
• Goodbye (won’t see them for awhile) - • Airport - Kuukou
Sayonara • Station - Eki (pronouced “eh-ki”. E.g: Shibuya
Eki = Shibuya station)
• Taxi - Takushi (pronouced “Tah-koo-shi”,
almost like the English “Taxi”)
Food Help
• Delicious – Oishii • English – Eigo (pronouced “eh-ee-go”)
• Let’s eat, thanks for the food – Itadakimasu • Do you speak English? – Eigo ga
• Thank you for the food (after) – hanasemasu ka?
Gochisousama deshita • I don’t know – Shirimasen
• I’m hungry – Onaka ga sukimashita, Onaka • Where is it? – Dokodesu ka? (tip: combine
suita (casual) this before a place. E.g: Shibyua-eki wa
• I don’t/ I cannot eat X – Taberaremasen dokodesu ka? = Where is Shibuya station?)
(e.g: Sushi taberaremasen = I don’t eat sushi) • Do you have X? – X Arimasu ka? (e.g:
• Cheers! – Kanpai! (give it some enthusiasm) Ramen ga arimasu ka? = Do you have
• Water – Mizu (o mizu kudasai = Water, ramen?)
please!) • Why? – Doushite
• Beer – Bi ru • What – Nani
• To drink – Nomimasu (combine with the “O” • I understand – Wakarimashita
particle to show the object, E.g: biru o • I don’t understand – Wakarimasen
nomimasu = drink beer)
• Ramen refill – Kaedama (you know, the
important stuff)
Numbers
• One – Ichi
Common adjectives • Two – Ni
• Three – San
• Amazing – Sugoi (prepare to hear this a lot.) • Four – Shi
• Happy – Ureshi • Five – Go
• Okay – Daijoubu • Six – Roku
• Near – Chikai • Seven – Nana
• Far – Tooi • Eight – Hachi
• Good – Ii (Pronounced “eeee”) • Nine – Kyu
• Bad – Warui • Ten – Juu
• Fun – Tanoshi • 100 – Hyaku
• Hot – Atsui • 1000 – Sen
• Cold – Samui • 10000 – Man
• Yen – En (E.g: “Hyaku en”)
Thank you!
I really hope you’ve enjoyed reading this guide as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it! I truly love and
have a very strong passion for Tokyo, and I really hope that came through in this guide.
More importantly though, I sincerely hope it helps you in some way on your travels to Tokyo,
Japan and beyond. If you’ve got any suggestions or questions about this guide, photography or
travel in general, feel free to shoot me an email at hey@patkay.com.
Happy travels.
PS. Because this guide is a digital one, if you see any mistakes or anything that needs changing, feel free to email
me with the change. I’ll check it out and update it and everyone will get access to your changes too!
About Pat
I’m an award-winning freelance travel photographer and multi-disciplinary content creator based
in Sydney, Australia.
With a passion for travel and adventure, I specialise in exploring the contrast between nature and
urban, through landscape, cityscape, aerial, lifestyle and street photography.
As a photographer, I’ve also been fortunate enough to be sponsored by Sony Australia Digital
Imaging and have worked with many Fortune 500 brands such as Microsoft, Samsung, Nike,
Adidas, Sony, Adobe, Ford, DJI, Instagram and more.
Get in touch:
• My website - patkay.com
• Email - hey@patkay.com
• Instagram - @pat_kay
• Facebook - /heypatkay
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PAT KAY’S PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE TO:

5 This is Tokyo 115 Locations / Bunkyō

6 Quick facts 119 Locations / Nakano

7 Photography in Tokyo 126 Locations / Meguro

10 The seasons 131 Locations / Side trips

13 Photography locations 147 Major event and festivals

15 Locations / Shinjuku 149 Food notes

31 Locations / Shibuya 152 Accommodation notes

52 Locations / Minato 155 Transport notes

61 Locations / Chiyoda 157 Culture notes

72 Locations / Chūō 161 Basic Japanese words and phrases

79 Locations / Kōtō 165 Thank you

95 Locations / Sumida 166 About Pat

When it comes to travel and photography, I

I want that for you, too. So it’s my mission to

This guide is a way for you to choose which

That’s why this guide is different to any general

There are many types of locations in this guide

So, whether you’re a beginner or experienced

so has the depth of my knowledge of it.

Being one of the largest cities on earth means you

know all of it. There’s just so much to Tokyo - weirdly

pedestrian crossing, go karts that roam the streets,

juxtaposition between historic culture and a modern

Tokyo is a place that has been dear to my heart for my

It’s a city I’ve visited many many times, and having

from Koto, Shinjuku and beyond, I’ve grown very

And yet, if you have a calling for nature, Tokyo is

interesting person wearing a mask. You might whimsical Nagano.

is one of the most diverse, interesting and varied

won’t find any traditional landscapes here. Instead,

accepting with tripods. observation decks in Roppongi hills or Tokyo Skytree.

everywhere, especially in Tokyo, so be aware to mind

Street photography etiquette

unsolicited and unclassy nature.

That being said, privacy is taken pretty seriously in

Drone laws in Tokyo

in general, it’s just hard to find the right place to do it.

Tokyo) or above 150m AGL (above ground level).

don’t hang anything from it that may drop.

For more information:

Visit the Civil Aviation Bureau’s official rules - http://www.mlit.go.jp/en/koku/uas.html

Winter time, one of my favourite times of year to visit Japan.

lucky, it actually snows in Tokyo for 1 or 2 days of the year on

Mt Fuji from Fujiyoshida, a day trip from Tokyo

blossoms bloom. Because of that, Tokyo is a great place to start if

Summertime in Tokyo is hot. Like, really hot. And wet too.

With an average of 29 C during the day, realistically many days

only heat hot, but sticky hot too.

During the summer, especially in the earlier part of the season,

awesome. Japan is known for its clear umbrellas, and especially

Mt Fuji, that you can actually climb it.

The rest of Autumn sees Tokyo’s foliage slowly progress from

Image by @kohki on Instagram

represent the main city area of all of Tokyo.

Combined with the Greater Tokyo Area, Tokyo

As such, there’s a lot of ground to cover. But to

locations are located in the inner 11 city

How the locations are organised

Locations are organised under district.

This is so you can organise your travel

depending on where you are staying, planning

Look out for the red dot for locations that