Photographing Tokyo’s Cherry Blossom During the Pandemic
2020 was a difficult year, largely due to the hardship caused by the coronavirus. While it didn’t cause me any true difficulties, it completely ruined my flower photography schedule, as I tried to avoid going out as much as possible. However, I was determined to get some good photos of the cherry blossoms, which led me back to my favorite place, Aoyama Cemetery.
Changes leading up the 2020 cherry blossom season
The year was marked by some sad losses. We lost many people in 2020 but one of the most public was that of comedian Ken Shimura (on IMDb) due to COVID-19. While I wasn’t a fan, his five-decade career made him a constant in the Japanese media landscape. His sudden absence underscored the reality of the situation and changed the way I approached my observation of the city that spring.
Weather presented its own set of challenges. Two days of heavy rain had physically weathered the trees across the city, making it difficult to find intact flowers. I felt a sense of urgency to document the end of the season before the petals were entirely lost.
Visiting Aoyama Cemetery during the 2020 pandemic
To avoid the morning commute and the general public, I caught the first train of the day to Gaienmae Station. My goal was to reach Aoyama Cemetery early, complete my photography, and return home before the streets became active. I had visited the site a few days prior, but that wasn’t a great photo session, so I needed to see the season through to its conclusion.
My timing was good. The morning light was clear, and the flowers remained in full bloom despite the recent rain. While many consider various parks to be the best places for cherry blossoms in Tokyo, the cemetery offers a different perspective. It’s guaranteed to be peaceful. It’s rare to find a person in my frames, unless I plan it so.
Photography results: Hanami with the Fujifilm X-T2
Capturing these images during hanami in 2020 gave me an outlet. In a period of significant uncertainty, the physical act of framing a shot and adjusting settings offered a sense of normality. The blossoms were at their peak, which gave me a sense of relief. I was happy to know that something hadn’t changed. The visit allowed me to get some images that proved the year wasn’t a total loss.
My photography gear for this shoot
- Camera body: Fujifilm X-T2
- Lens: Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
This kit was good for my morning shoot. It handled the low light of dawn and the increasing brightness of the sunrise without the need for frequent lens changes, not that I needed any. The other good thing was that this combo wasn’t too heavy. I could move around the cemetery quickly and I wasn’t weighed down. That is one of the good things about crop cameras, they have a weight advantage. For pandemic 2020, the XF 16-55mm was perfect. I got in early and I got out early.
Were the 2020 Aoyama Cemetery cherry blossoms worth it?
To be honest, I was a little hesitant walking on the streets of Tokyo in 2020. Covid-19 concerned me, but I wanted my life to be as normal as possible. It wasn’t going to stop me from getting my cherry blossom photos.
Are you ready to see more of this cemetery? I’ve compiled the [Aoyama Cemetery Photo Guide] which has all the information you need to know about it.
