Zojoji Tanabata Festival 2022 The Zojoji Tanabata Festival is a traditional Japanese celebration held every July at Zojoji Temple. It features thousands of hand-lit candles arranged like the Milky Way, set against the backdrop of Tokyo Tower. This event is a prime location for night photography and experiencing ancient Japanese folklore within a modern city…
Uonami Light Trails Photo Guide Uonami in Shiinamachi is a premier spot for Tokyo night photography, famous for its layered neon signs and Showa era architecture. By using long exposure techniques and photo stacking, photographers can capture cinematic light trails that mirror the futuristic aesthetic of films like Blade Runner. As an Amazon Associate I…
Getting Out of My Comfort Zone at Koenji Awa Odori 2025 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here. 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,…
Free Tokyo Bay Views at Caretta Shiodome Sky View Caretta Shiodome Sky View is a free observation area on the 46th floor of the Dentsu Building in Tokyo. Located 200 meters above ground, it offers panoramic vistas of Tokyo Bay, Rainbow Bridge, and Odaiba. It is a premier spot for photographers because tripods are permitted…
Does Tokyo Look Like Coruscant? Tokyo often resembles Coruscant from the Star Wars universe because of its vast urban sprawl and dense architecture. Photographers can capture this sci-fi aesthetic best from the I-Link Tower in Chiba. The 45th-floor viewing deck offers a perfect perspective of the city’s endless concrete, steel, and glass horizon. Coruscant? Does…
Mitama Festival 2017: Night Photography at Yasukuni Shrine The Mitama Festival 2017 at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine was a spectacular display of Japanese tradition, featuring over 30,000 glowing yellow lanterns. This mid-summer celebration is a prime location for night photography, offering a unique atmosphere where photographers capture the ‘matsuri’ spirit, traditional dances, and the iconic illuminated…
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)…
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…
The Colossal Fantasy Fortress of Akihabara In neon-lit Tokyo, long-exposure photography is very popular. If you want to learn how the technique is done, read [How to Take Long-Exposure Photographs: A Beginner’s Guide]. But you can read on now and see how I applied it in this article. Surrounded by maids and cosplayers, Akihabara’s colossal…
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…
Mitama Festival 2016 at Yasukuni Shrine: Photo Archive Imagine standing beneath a golden canopy of light, the summer air thick with humidity and history. This is the essence of the Mitama Festival (Mitama Matsuri). While Yasukuni Shrine is historically dedicated to the spirits of those who died defending Japan, the festival itself transcends politics. It…
How to Take Long-Exposure Photographs: A Beginner’s Guide Have you ever wondered how photographers capture stunning, colorful light trails in night cityscapes? The technique is called long-exposure photography. This guide will teach you how to make your own by looking at the gear and camera settings you need. Long-exposure photography camera gear First, stability is…
Shibuya Halloween 2017: A Photographic Prequel Halloween in Shibuya used to be a multi-day phenomenon. While the world looks forward to the big day, the initiated know that the energy in Shibuya once began building well before the big day. Before the crackdown, I and thousands of others would head to the famous crossing to…
Asakusa Kaminarimon Bon Odori 2026: A Photo & Visitor Guide Asakusa Kaminarimon Bon Odori 2026 details The event is divided into three 30-minute sessions starting at 5:30 to prevent overcrowding and heatstroke. When you have danced once, please retire so others can join. Japan’s Bon Odori is a traditional dance festival (or matsuri in Japanese)…
Shibuya Halloween 2017: A Party That Grew Too Big Shibuya Halloween 2017 was an experience on an entirely different scale. While I didn’t go to the main event that year I went to the “prequel”. What’s that I hear you ask? Well the event goes for a whole week! I went on the 29th and…
The Shinjuku Taxi: Lifeline of Tokyo’s Night As dusk settles over Tokyo, the Shinjuku district undergoes a breathtaking metamorphosis. A symphony of neon ignites the sky, and the city’s pulse quickens. Amidst this vibrant chaos, one element reigns supreme: the ubiquitous taxi. With tens of thousands of cabs navigating the sprawling metropolis, they are an…
Shibuya Halloween 2016: Photographing Japan’s Biggest Party Shibuya Halloween 2016 was one of the largest unofficial street parties in Tokyo’s history, drawing an estimated 70,000 costumed revelers to the Scramble Crossing. Unlike modern years with strict drinking bans and heavy policing, 2016 represented the peak of the event’s “wild” era, characterized by massive crowds, elaborate…