Kameido Tenjin Wisteria Festival 2021
Photographing the Kameido Tenjin wisteria in 2021 at sunset with views of Tokyo Skytree. Essential tips for photographers.
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A Rainy Day at Takahata-Fudoson
I was caught at Tokyo’s Takahata-Fudoson temple without an umbrella. See hydrangea & Jizo photos taken in the wet. A rewarding photography trip in 2022!
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Asagaya Tanabata Festival 2017
See Tokyo’s Asagaya Tanabata Festival 2017! Marvel at colorful, giant papier-mâché dolls in Suginami’s Asagaya Pearl Center shopping arcade.
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Asagaya Tanabata Festival Guide
Experience Tokyo’s Asagaya Tanabata Festival! See incredible papier-mâché figures (haribote) of pop culture icons like One Piece. A unique August celebration.
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Photographing the Return of Koenji Awa Odori
Photographing Koenji Awa Odori 2023: Tips for capturing Tokyo’s massive dance festival with 12,000 dancers & 1 million spectators. See photos!
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Koenji Awa Odori 2024 Recap
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. This is no small street fair. It’s Tokyo’s biggest…
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Koenji Awa Odori Guide
Tokyo Snapped is supported by its readers. As an Amazon and Klook Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. [Full Disclosure]. 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…
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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; even past their peak, the blooms…
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Asakusa Samba Carnival 2024
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…
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Asakusa Kaminarimon Bon Odori 2026
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.
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Kiyose Sunflower Festival 2018
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…
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Surviving the Sumida River Fireworks Festival
The Sumida River Fireworks Festival is Tokyo’s largest pyrotechnic event, held annually on the last Saturday of July. To survive the extreme crowds, visitors should arrive at least three hours early, secure a viewing spot in Asakusa or Ryogoku, carry a portable fan, and pre-load their Suica cards for a seamless exit. Do you want…
