Autumn Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Trees and Supercars Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue is a premier Tokyo photography location known for its golden autumn leaves. During the peak season in late November, the street attracts an array of supercars and classic vehicles. This creates a unique opportunity to photograph high-end automotive design against a backdrop of brilliant…
Kaminarimon: Photographing the Sanja Festival 2026 The Sanja Festival 2026 at Kaminarimon featured a significant shift in crowds as the main Honsha Mikoshi toured local neighborhoods which could be followed by using GPS tracking. Photographers enjoyed neighborhood shrines at Thunder Gate, and opportunities for street portraits amidst preparations in the lead up to the 2028…
Japanese Women’s Cricket under Cherry Blossoms Photographing the 2021 Japan women’s national cricket squad trials in Sano offers a unique blend of professional sports and seasonal beauty. This gallery captures elite athletes during fitness tests and match play under blooming cherry blossoms. Using a Fujifilm X-T3, these images document the growth of cricket in Japan…
Mitama Festival 2017: Night Photography at Yasukuni Shrine The summer heat in Tokyo is undeniable, and 2017 was no exception. However, unlike my visit the previous year, I arrived at Yasukuni Shrine better prepared and ready to soak in the atmosphere. For the uninitiated, the Mitama Festival is designed to honor those who passed away…
Sanja Festival 2025: Seeing through crowds with the Canon R5 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here. The air in Asakusa crackled with energy. Shouts of “Wasshoi! Wasshoi!” echoed off the buildings. Teams of festival-goers, clad in traditional garb, heaved thousand-kilogram mikoshi (portable shrines) through the streets and…
Coppa di Tokyo 2024: The Day Classic Cars Conquered a City The Coppa di Tokyo 2024 was a premier regularity rally held on November 23, 2024, featuring nearly 100 vintage European and American classic cars. Starting at Shiodome’s “Italia Street,” the event sent pristine Ferraris, Porsches, and Alfa Romeos through iconic Tokyo districts like Asakusa…
The Kurayami Festival: Beyond the Shadows The Kurayami Matsuri (Darkness Festival) is a seven-day festival held every year from April 30 to May 6 at Fuchu’s Okunitama Shrine in Tokyo. It is one of the Kanto region’s oldest and most significant festivals, known for its “darkness” theme. The highlights are floats and mikoshi (portable shrines)…
Koenji Awa Odori 2024 Recap: Tokyo’s Biggest Dance Fest Every August, Koenji celebrates one of Japan’s most spirited traditions: the Awa Odori. Bringing the 400-year-old dance festival from its home in Tokushima Prefecture to the streets of the capital, the event sees the area around the station erupt in a frenzy of music and color….
Koenji Awa Odori: Tokyo’s Biggest Summer Dance Festival Every August, the streets of Koenji erupt in a vibrant celebration of music, dance, and tradition. The Koenji Awa Odori is Tokyo’s largest dance festival, a spectacular event that brings the 400-year-old tradition from Tokushima Prefecture to the heart of the city. With over 10,000 dancers and…
Tokyo Auto Salon 2022: Discover My Top 10 Cars Tokyo Auto Salon 2022 was a blast. While the venue at Makuhari Messe was filled with jaw-dropping engineering and cutting-edge concepts, veteran attendees might have noticed a shift in the atmosphere. The “hot models” that populated the booths in previous years were noticeably absent, but that…
Is the Imperial Palace Tour Worth It for Photographers? For photographers in Tokyo, the Imperial Palace presents a tantalizing opportunity. It has a free tour that takes you inside the grounds of Japan’s most famous castle. It’s a landscape of massive stone gates, historic keeps, and sprawling courtyards. But with a guided tour, time is…
All Japan Model & Hobby Show 2022: A First Look Stepping into the All Japan Model & Hobby Show for the first time was an assault on the senses, in the best way possible. While it “only” occupied two of Tokyo Big Sight‘s cavernous South Halls, the space was a wonderland buzzing with the energy…
Daigyoretsu Opens the Sanja Matsuri If you are planning your trip to a future event, read [Sanja Matsuri Daigyoretsu: A Photographer’s Guide]. To learn more about my first adventure at the 2018 Daigyoretsu, read on. The Sanja Matsuri (or Sanja Festival) is a cornerstone of Tokyo’s cultural calendar. It draws approximately two million visitors over…
The Plum Blossoms That Almost Weren’t: Yushima Tenjin 2018 I often talk about how photography can be a frustrating exercise in managing expectations. My 2018 trip to Yushima Tenjin was a perfect example. After a long, cold snap in Tokyo, I was worried the plum blossoms would be a complete no-show. My initial walk through…
Tokyo Auto Salon 2020: Photo Highlights from Makuhari Messe Working my way through Tokyo Auto Salon 2020 in a single day required a pragmatic approach to both observation and movement. With 438 exhibitors and approximately 800 vehicles distributed throughout the Makuhari Messe, the scale of the event is significant. During its three-day run from January…
Tokyo Auto Salon: A Photo Guide to Japan’s Custom Car Show Tokyo Auto Salon is Japan’s premier showcase of car customization and automotive excellence. It brings the latest modified vehicles, concept cars, and performance tech to Makuhari Messe. Car enthusiasts from all over the world come to see cutting-edge tuning and motorsports builds to eye-catching…
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…
A Guide to the Setagaya Ume Matsuri at Hanegi Park Hanegi Park’s plum blossoms rank right up there with the best in Tokyo. There are 650 of the trees. But not only are flowers great, the location and the vibe are amazing. This free winter event is for families, flower lovers and anyone looking for…
Sanja Festival: A Photography Guide for 2027 The Sanja Festival (Sanja Matsuri) is one of Tokyo’s largest Shinto festivals, held annually in May at Asakusa Shrine. For photographers in 2027, the event offers high-action shots of mikoshi (portable shrines), traditional parades, and Edo-style street culture. The best photography spots include the Kaminarimon Gate and the…
Sanja Matsuri 2018: Photos from Sensoji This post focuses on my photographic experience at Sanja Matsuri 2018. If you are planning a future trip to the event, check out my [Sanja Festival: A Photographer’s Guide] for full information. For years, work obligations kept me away from experiencing the Sanja Matsuri on a Saturday. 2018 finally…