As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here. 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…
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 photo locations at Rikugien…
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 and the other is the Kanda River,…
Next to the pop-culture center of Harajuku, Yoyogi Park offers a natural mix of splendor and urban charm. For photographers, this expansive green space is a playground of endless photo opportunities. Whether you love cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, or rockabilly dancing, a story lies around every corner. On any warm day, Yoyogi Park, or Yoyogi…
For most people, 2020 was a bad year. For photographers like me, cancelled events and empty streets filled Tokyo which was a disaster. That’s why the Spring Rose Festival at Kyu-Furukawa Gardens felt like such a gift. In a year of so much gray, these flowers were a much-needed splash of color and a reminder…
Recently, my professional life took an unexpected turn. One of the companies I work for lost a major contract, leaving many teachers, myself included, looking for new jobs. The timing couldn’t have been worse, coinciding exactly with the official opening of the Tokyo cherry blossom season at Yasukuni Shrine on March 19. I want to…
Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue is one of Tokyo’s most iconic autumn destinations, and for good reason. It is lined with 146 majestic ginkgo trees that lead to the outer gardens of Meiji Shrine. When autumn arrives, the leaves ignite into a brilliant gold, creating a stunning spectacle that draws huge crowds of Tokyoites and…
I went to Shiba Park in spring 2020. The weather was cool, the sky was a perfect, cloudless blue that made the pinks of the blossoms even more vibrant. Looking back, it was the kind of day that was made for flower photography. The plum blossoms of Shiba Park 2020 There wasn’t much difference from…
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 at the shrine to capture…
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 sakura under overcast skies The previous day…
Hanegi Park’s plum blossoms in 2022 weren’t just a feast for the eyes. They offered a glimpse of hope for both Tokyo’s spirit and the future of photography. Beneath the blooms, I found myself reflecting on more than seasonal beauty. As shutters clicked around me, something was clear. Even in a smartphone-dominated world, ‘real cameras’…
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 one Sunday afternoon, the vibrant spirit of…
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 the courtyard, backed by a historic…
I photographed the Kanda River cherry blossoms again in 2020. That year, I had planned to photograph some new places. But due to the pandemic, that didn’t happen. It was a disastrous flower photography season. At least I had something close to home to fall back on. In retrospect, I was lucky. Traveling far by…
A guide to Kaminarimon Bon Odori in Asakusa! Get tips for 2026, see photos of the traditional dance, & learn how to shoot this memorable Tokyo cultural event.
Imagine stepping off a bustling Tokyo street and into a scene from the English countryside, complete with a stone manor and a fragrant rose garden. This isn’t a dream; it’s the Kyu-Furukawa Gardens, a stunning example of Taisho-era elegance and a photographer’s paradise. You can’t get much more English than that, can you? Josiah Conder,…
I’ve never been a big fan of sunflowers. So, I thought I wouldn’t enjoy this festival as much as others like hanami, Nezu Shrine’s azaleas, and Kameido Tenjin’s plum blossoms. But, I had a change of heart after spending time with them in Kiyose City in 2018. It was fun photographing them, even though it…
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 used long ago. Yushima Tenjin is a Mecca for…
Archival Note: This post was originally published in November 2021. It is presented here as part of the Tokyo Snapped archive, documenting one of the city’s many flower festivals. There are days when you set out to document a location, and then there are days when you simply get lost in the viewfinder. In November…
The Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall was born from two enormous tragedies. One was the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake; the other was the 1945 Bombing of Tokyo. Each event claimed over 100,000 lives that Tokyo hasn’t forgotten. Within these grounds, tribute is paid not only to the victims of quake and fire, but also to those…