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…
Photographing Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemum Exhibition 2021 Crisp air and a brilliant, cloudless blue sky provided the ideal backdrop for appreciating the vibrant colors of the annual chrysanthemum show at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in 2021. While the warmth of the sun made a jacket unnecessary, it was a small price to pay for such a…
Why My Polarizing Filter Failed Me at Shinjuku Gyoen A polarizing filter (or CPL filter) fails when there is a lack of direct, directional light to polarize. These filters work by cutting glare reflected at specific angles from non-metallic surfaces. In deep shade or overcast conditions, light is diffused and non-directional, meaning there is no…
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…
Photos of Hibiya Park Chrysanthemum Exhibition 2019 In the autumn of 2019, Hibiya Park, a green oasis in the heart of Tokyo, hosted a truly exceptional chrysanthemum exhibition. While the park is renowned for its magnificent rose displays that draw large crowds each year, the annual chrysanthemum show is a lesser-known yet equally captivating event….
How to Improve Flower Photos on a Cloudy Day The weather forecast promised sun, but Hanegi Park only had cloudy day flowers to offer me in February 2024. My heart sank. How could I capture the delicate beauty of the plum blossoms under flat, dreary light? The answer was easy: my flash. The trip to…
Rose festival 2021 at Kyu-Furukawa Gardens After a long lockdown in Tokyo, the Kyu-Furukawa Gardens Rose Festival 2021 was a much-anticipated floral escape. I woke up to an overcast sky, but I wasn’t about to let that dampen my spirits. A trip to one of my favorite places in the city for a dose of…
Aoyama Cemetery Cherry Blossoms: 2022 Report & Photo Tips Every spring, Tokyo transforms into a canvas of pink, and few places are as atmospheric as Aoyama Cemetery. While it might seem unusual to visit a graveyard for sightseeing, this location offers some of the most stunning photo opportunities in the city. In 2022, I grabbed…
Fading Beauty: Myohoji Hydrangeas in 2017 One of the last places I visited for hydrangeas (ajisai) in 2017 was Myōhōji Temple, tucked away in Tokyo’s Suginami Ward. I arrived quite late in the season, and many of the flowers were already beginning to fade. Still, the hour-long walk from my apartment was well worth it;…
Shinjuku Gyoen’s Unforgettable 2018 Cherry Blossoms Shinjuku Gyoen might be Tokyo’s most famous and most popular cherry blossom spots. You can read what gives it that reputation in [Shinjuku Gyoen is Tokyo’s Best Cherry Blossom Spot]. Now read on and learn more of my photographic adventures there in 2018. The 2018 cherry blossom season at…
Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemums 2018 Shinjuku Gyoen might be Tokyo’s most famous and most popular park. You can read what gives it that reputation in [Shinjuku Gyoen: A Photography Guide to Tokyo’s Urban Oasis]. Every year it puts on a chrysanthemum exhibit. Read on to learn more of my photography adventures there in 2018. The 2018…
Nogawa Park Photo Guide Nestled in the western suburbs of Tokyo, Nogawa Park offers a tranquil escape with a unique history—it was once a golf course. While it may not boast the historical prestige of Tokyo’s Edo-period gardens, for the discerning photographer, Nogawa Park is a seasonal treasure trove. It reveals its true beauty in…
Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens Photo Guide If you are looking for a Tokyo photo spot that has a little bit of everything, Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens is it. From history and beautiful bridges to flowers and temples, this park delivers. Birdwatchers love it, too. Some might say it is perfect. Well, if it’s not, it must be…
Hanegi Park Plum Blossoms: 2023 Photography Guide For me, the Hanegi Park plum blossoms heralded the arrival of spring in 2023. While winter wasn’t truly over, seeing the tranquil park burst with fragrant pink and white blooms made it feel that way. Yes, warmer weather wasn’t far away. Visiting Hanegi Park during plum blossom season…
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…
Hanegi Park Plum Blossoms of 2017 In 2017, my visit to Hanegi Park near for the annual plum blossom season was nothing short of magical. That particular week in Tokyo was graced with brilliant blue skies just like at Yushima Tenjin a week earlier. It was a memorable season for flower photography. A serene Tokyo…
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…
Rikugien Gardens Photo Guide Rikugien Gardens is another of Tokyo’s Edo-period parks. Many people consider it to be one of the city’s best. While it isn’t big, it is beautiful. Scenes from classical waka poetry famously inspired its design. A Yamanote line station is only a few minutes walk away making it easily accessible. Main…
The Transformation of the Kanda River Sakura As some of you might know, I live in Suginami Ward’s Takaido-Higashi. I’m lucky because in spring, many great cherry blossom spots are near my house. Shinjuku Gyoen isn’t far and neither is Inokashira Park. But luckily two more are within easy walking distance. One is Zenpukuji Park…