• Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower

    ByRohan Gillett

    The Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower is a 204 meter skyscraper located in the Nishi-Shinjuku district of Tokyo. Completed in 2008 by Tange Associates, this 50 story educational building is famous for its curved shape and aluminum diagrid exterior. It is a premier destination for architectural photography in Japan. As an Amazon Associate I earn from…

  • Nakagin Capsule Tower: A Tokyo Photography Lesson

    ByRohan Gillett

    I’ve heard some photographers say photography can stop time. When you hit that shutter button, everything freezes. Do you believe that? It can’t. No way. Nothing controls time, least of all a camera. Yes, I know these people are simply misspeaking. But it annoys the heck out of me. It would be great if they…

  • Kyu-Iwasaki Gardens

    ByRohan Gillett

    Imagine stepping off a bustling Tokyo street and finding yourself in front of a 17th-century English manor. This isn’t a film set; it’s the Kyu-Iwasaki Gardens, a stunning time capsule of Meiji-era opulence. The famed British architect Josiah Conder designed it for the founder of Mitsubishi. This estate is a treasure trove for photographers and…

  • Harajuku’s Architectural Marvels

    ByRohan Gillett

    I’ve often found Tokyo’s architecture to be dominated by concrete, steel, and glass boxes. However, Harajuku is leading a change, with a wave of interesting and innovative designs. Here are ten buildings along or near Omotesando that showcase this architectural evolution. Omotesando Keyaki Building This might be my favorite piece of Harajuku architecture. Concrete and…

  • The Shinjuku Taxi

    ByRohan Gillett

    As dusk settles over Tokyo, the Shinjuku district undergoes a breathtaking metamorphosis. A symphony of neon ignites the sky, and the city’s pulse quickens. Amidst this vibrant chaos, one element reigns supreme: the ubiquitous taxi. With tens of thousands of cabs navigating the sprawling metropolis, they are an undeniable and essential feature of Shinjuku’s nocturnal…

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    Tokyo Big Sight

    ByRohan Gillett

    Tokyo Big Sight is an architectural beacon in Japan’s bustling capital. I’d planned my visit for weeks, hoping to capture the sun gleaming off its futuristic glass and titanium structures. But Tokyo’s weather had other plans. Faced with a flat, grey sky, I had a choice: go home disappointed, or embrace the mood. I chose…

  • Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

    ByRohan Gillett

    Journey into Japan’s architectural past at the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. It is a diverse collection that includes historical homes, traditional shops, and temples. Photographers can capture a side of Tokyo beyond its modern cityscape of concrete and steel. Every photograph taken here holds a piece of Japanese history, with some scenes providing insight…

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    Tokyo International Forum

    ByRohan Gillett

    It was a classic photographer’s dilemma: my original plan to shoot Yushima Tenjin’s famous plum blossoms in 2022 was a bust, as the flowers were far from blooming. I checked the internet scrambling for a new subject in a city full of icons. The place I found was something I’d never considered before: Tokyo International…

  • Finding a Subway Exit

    ByRohan Gillett

    A solitary figure emerges from a brightly lit subway exit into the Tokyo night. Many photographers have snapped this scene. It’s one of my favorites, too. For a long time, I wondered where this Shinjuku street photo was taken. I felt an overwhelming urge to solve it. The image was so evocative, I knew I…

  • A Lee Filters Super Stopper Review

    ByRohan Gillett

    In 2016, I added a new tool to my photography arsenal. I bought the Lee Filters 100mm x 100mm Super Stopper, a 15-stop neutral density (ND) filter. For those unfamiliar with this piece of gear, an ND filter is a high-quality piece of darkened glass or resin that attaches to the front of a camera…