Yushukan Museum: A Photographer’s Guide Part of the famous Yasukuni Shrine, the Yushukan Museum offers a deep dive into Japan’s military history, with an extensive collection of swords, armor, aircraft, and tanks. Military history enthusiasts will find enough to stay occupied for hours, but photographers should be aware of a few important restrictions. First, it’s…
US-Japan Friendship Cup Championships 2024: Photos & Results Fifty buff competitors muscled it out on stage for trophies and prizes at the 2024 US-Japan Friendship Cup Championships, and I was there to see it all. Held at the Taiyo Recreation Community Center on Yokota Airbase, this event is a cornerstone of bodybuilding in Japan. Organizer…
Nezu Shrine Azalea Festival 2017 Spring in Tokyo is synonymous with color, and few places promise a spectacle quite like the Bunkyo Azalea Festival at Nezu Shrine. However, travel photography is often a game of timing, and even the best plans can fall victim to a busy schedule. On May 1, 2017, I finally arrived…
Aoyama Cemetery Cherry Blossoms: 2018 Photo Gallery I found myself back with the Aoyama Cemetery cherry blossoms in 2018. While I had hoped for a sunny day, the clouds had other plans. Still, the beauty of the sakura trees has a way of making you forget everything else, and I had a wonderful time. Photographing…
Yasukuni Shrine Photo Guide Located in the heart of Chiyoda, Yasukuni Shrine carries a gravity that few other places in Tokyo can match. Founded by Emperor Meiji in 1869, it serves as a memorial for those who gave their lives for Japan, spanning from the Boshin War through World War II. Today, it draws five…
AnimeJapan 2017 Photography: Cosplay and Models AnimeJapan 2017 was a visual playground of cosplay, intricate models, and larger-than-life characters. For a photographer like me, it wasn’t just an event. It was a collection of unforgettable moments, lessons learned, and yes, a few regrets. Join me as I revisit the experience. There were many great things…
Asakusa Samba Carnival 2024: Photography & Highlights It was a hot one in every sense of the word. The 2024 Asakusa Samba Carnival was a roaring success. But performers and the parade had to sizzle under an unseasonable mid-September sun. With temperatures soaring into the mid-thirties, the heat was as intense as the action. For…
The Sangenjaya Gorilla: Tokyo’s Quirky King Kong Statue In a city guarded by giant robots and occasionally terrorized by Godzilla, you might think you’ve seen it all. But venture away from the neon-drenched tourist hubs into the charming neighborhood of Sangenjaya, and you’ll find another titan hiding in plain sight. King Kong is perched majestically…
Gokokuji Temple: A Tokyo Photo Guide Tokyo is a city of contrasts, but few places offer the serenity and visual splendor of Gokokuji. While it boasts stunning historical architecture, it is the atmosphere that truly captivates. In spring, it becomes as pretty as a picture, framed by soft blooms. A bronze Buddha sits meditatively in…
28th Yokohama Custom Hot Rod Show Report (2019) Stepping into the Pacifico Yokohama for the 28th Yokohama Custom Hot Rod Show was like entering a different dimension. It was 2019, and the air was thick with the anticipation of thousands of petrolheads in seventh heaven. From the moment I walked in, I was surrounded by…
Nezu Shrine: A Photography Guide to an Edo-Era Sanctuary Nezu Shrine commands a quiet confidence in a city known for its kinetic energy. It may not possess the global name recognition of other Tokyo heavyweights, but the atmosphere here more than compensates for the lack of crowds. Two things define this location: the history, which…
Japan Cricket Blast: A Tokyo Photo Story The sharp crack of a plastic bat hitting a ball, followed by a flurry of small legs and excited shouts, isn’t the typical sound of a park in Akishima, Tokyo. But this was the scene at the 2020 Japan Cricket Blast Mayor’s Cup. It was my first chance…
Asakusa Kaminarimon Bon Odori 2026: A Photo & Visitor Guide Asakusa Kaminarimon Bon Odori 2026 details The event is divided into three 30-minute sessions starting at 5:30 to prevent overcrowding and heatstroke. When you have danced once, please retire so others can join. Japan’s Bon Odori is a traditional dance festival (or matsuri in Japanese)…
Yanaka Cemetery: A Walk Through Tokyo’s History In a quiet corner of Tokyo’s Taito Ward lies Yanaka Cemetery, a place where history rests beneath canopies of cherry blossoms and towering trees. Here, you won’t find a grand, imperial-style mausoleum for the last shogun. Instead, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the man who oversaw the end of samurai rule,…
Toyokawa Inari Tokyo Betsuin: Tokyo’s Fox Temple Tucked away in the modern cityscape of Akasaka, Toyokawa Inari Tokyo Betsuin is a spiritual oasis guarded by an army of stone foxes. While other temples might have a handful of these divine messengers, this one is home to a staggering collection of what feels like a thousand….
Tokorozawa Aviation Museum Photo Guide Step into the cradle of Japanese aviation at the Tokorozawa Aviation Museum in Saitama Prefecture, a must-visit for aircraft photographers and history buffs alike. Located on the very site of Japan’s first airfield, this museum narrates the nation’s compelling relationship with flight. Whether you’re a seasoned aviation enthusiast or simply…
FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup 2018 in Odaiba The highlight of my photo life for 2018 was the FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup. I hadn’t photographed any type of motorsport until that point. My only experience with photographing cars was at the Tokyo Motor Show, which I attended the previous year. Things were about to change in…
Yushima Tenjin Plum Blossom Festival 2017: A Photo Archive In 2017, Yushima Tenjin was draped in clouds of plum blossoms. The beautiful flowers brought a unique blend of serenity and tradition. Photographers came to capture them. Students came in large numbers. The day had perfect skies, a large crowd, and nostalgia for the gear I…
Tama Cemetery Photo Guide: Tokyo’s Resting Place of Giants My first visit to Tama Cemetery was an eye-opener. A mere forty-minute train ride from the electric chaos of Shinjuku, I found myself in a sprawling, 128-hectare kingdom of silence. Here, beneath trees and enormous kanji-covered monoliths, rest the makers, shakers, and giants of Japan’s modern…
Inside Tokyo Auto Salon 2018: Beyond Bling The cavernous exhibit halls of Makuhari Messe were electric, overflowing with an outrageous sea of automotive fantasy. Vivid colors and gleaming chrome fought for attention under the constant, frantic strobe of camera flashes going off left, right, and center. Tokyo Auto Salon 2018 was here, and it was…