Kaminarimon: Photographing the Sanja Festival 2026 The Sanja Festival 2026 at Kaminarimon featured a significant shift in crowds as the main Honsha Mikoshi toured local neighborhoods which could be followed by using GPS tracking. Photographers enjoyed neighborhood shrines at Thunder Gate, and opportunities for street portraits amidst preparations in the lead up to the 2028…
The Kurayami Festival: Beyond the Shadows The Kurayami Matsuri (Darkness Festival) is a seven-day festival held every year from April 30 to May 6 at Fuchu’s Okunitama Shrine in Tokyo. It is one of the Kanto region’s oldest and most significant festivals, known for its “darkness” theme. The highlights are floats and mikoshi (portable shrines)…
How to Find Your Next Tokyo Photo Spot As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here. Living in this city is like a double-edged sword. Everyone wants to come here for their holidays and take photographs. So while I love Shibuya, Meiji Shrine and Sensoji, there are times I…
The Photographer’s Guide to Tokyo’s Historic Cemeteries Do you know the word, taphophile? It means individuals who have an appreciation for cemeteries, gravestones, and the art, culture, and stories they represent. Another word to describe them is tombstone tourist, which seems less confronting. If you are one of those, Tokyo is one of the best…
Taira no Masakado: Rebel Samurai Who Haunts and Guards Tokyo Taira no Masakado was a 10th-century warrior who led a rebellion against the Imperial Court. Following his death, he became one of Japan’s Three Great Onryo (vengeful spirits). Today, he is worshipped as a guardian of Tokyo at his “head mound” grave in Otemachi to…