Getting Out of My Comfort Zone at Koenji Awa Odori 2025
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I did something different for Koenji Awa Odori 2025. Until this time, I shot all of them along Konan Street. I got good shots there, and while it was crowded, I could always find a place to shoot. There was never a need to go anywhere else. I assumed that the station area would be far too crowded to get to, so why go there? But this time, I felt the need to change.
How many times have I been to the Koenji Awa Odori? Two articles about it are on this blog, but I published many more on a previous one. They all had one thing in common: Konan Street. In 2025, I would do the same thing again? That triggered something in my brain.
Is there a flaw in my photography? It’s the need to search for “safe” things. I want to show Tokyo, which means getting the best photos I can. Risk-taking isn’t a part of my mindset. Is it a lack of curiosity, or just the powerful allure of the comfort zone?
Koenji Awa Odori 2025 broke my photography routine
But I was looking around on the internet before the event, and I saw shots taken on Koenji Pal shopping street, a local shopping mall. It’s close to the station. A thought hit me, let’s do something different. And that is exactly what I did. I took my first Koenji Awa Odori photos from a different location for the first time. I’d shoot under a roof.
First shots in the covered shotengai
I arrived for Koenji Awa Odori 2025 a little later than usual, and proceeded to the shotengai, the covered shopping arcade that runs from the station. My new approach paid off immediately. While still at the top of the mall, I heard a familiar tune coming from taiko (drums), flutes (fue), and gongs (kane). I picked up the pace and soon came across Koroku-ren (小六連) warming up for the festival. They even called the public to dance with them. I’d never seen that before. My decision to go somewhere new was already vindicated. And it got better.
Getting closer for photos
Koenji Pal shopping street is long and narrow, with a spectating crowd on both sides. The mall isn’t even half the width of Konan Street. I shot the dancers mostly from an almost head-on position. The narrow confines of the arcade created an intimacy similar to that of the Shimokitazawa event. I wasn’t just capturing a dance troupe; I was close enough to see their intense concentration, the beads of sweat on their brow, and the intricate weave of their happi coats. The cheering wasn’t distant; it was a wall of energy right beside the performers.
The lesson: Growth is outside the comfort zone
As I eventually moved to Konan Street for the more familiar shots, the contrast was stark. This experience has been a startling revelation. How many other photos have I missed because I stuck to what was safe? My goal for next time is already set: I’ll be back in that arcade, hunting for that perfect head-on shot. It’s a reminder that true growth in photography doesn’t come from a perfect location, but from the intentional decision to seek a new perspective.
Planning your own visit?
This article covered Koenji Awa Odori 2025. For everything you need to know about attending and that means dates, photo spots, and insider tips—look at our guide [Koenji Awa Odori: Tokyo’s Biggest Summer Dance Festival].
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