The Multiple Facets of Tōkyō

With more than 46 million people living in the greater Tōkyō area, it is arguably the biggest city in the world. As I got to explore the city camera in hand, I was able to discover so many different facets of Tokyo that made me fall in love with its complexity and uniqueness. I want to share with you which neighbourhood struck me most and some images to illustrate my thoughts.

Shibuya

Shibuya Crossing on a rainy night - Shot on Fujifilm X-T4 / Fujinon 18-55mm f2.8

Shibuya could be best described as a rich neighbourhood where malls and fancy stores are nestled around the busiest crossing in the entire world. A feeling of being in the center of the world overcomes you as you stand in the middle of the crossing watching the world pass you by. If you like to pass the time people watching, you can spend an infinite amount of time there.

Luckily for me, I got to experience Shibuya on a rainy night. Everyone was walking around with clear umbrellas. The shinyness of the asphalt made the photos look even more cinematic.

Entangled between skyscrapers, Shibuya nests a few back alleys or Yokocho as they are called in Japan. Tiny back alleyways hosting loads of bars and restaurant with a capacity of less than eight patrons. Similar to what Tokyo looked like in the post war era, these Yokocho are another excellent spot for photography.

Nonbei Yokocho - Tokyo, Japan - Shot on Fujifilm X-T4 18-55mm f2.8

Shimokitazawa

Shimokitazawa could be best described as a hip town where secondhand stores, coffee shops and record stores ornate the streets. A very cool residential feel surprisingly reside in this part of Tokyo. As a photographer, exploring Shimokitazawa is a must and I would recommend to do so during the day. I doubt this neighbourhood has enough light at night time to host some great night photography.

Another great thing about this neighbourhood is the lack of tourists. Way less known than its counter parts of Shinjuku and Shibuya, this place has a lot of personality and deserves an exploration as well. A perfect day would be to head to Shimokitazawa on a sunny morning, order a cup of delicious pour over black coffee in a modern concrete coffee shop. I would sit there and watch the morning unfold before me. My Fujifilm camera would sit right there on the table next to my steaming cup. I would people watch for a bit before walking the multiple shopping streets in search of a rare vintage record only these shops could host. Some lifestyle shots would be captured by the sensor of my camera as I would go about my day.

A shop front in Shimokitazawa - Tokyo, Japan - Shot on Fujifilm X-T3 16-80mm f4

Shinjuku

This might be the most famous neighbourhood of Tokyo. I would describe Shinjuku as being the heart of Tokyo with the tallest buildings hosting the biggest Japanese corporations, some of the best restaurants of the city and the red light district hosting a thousand bars, clubs and love hotels.

Walking in Shinjuku is such a unique experience that leaves you uneasy and uncomfortable but surprisingly keeps you coming for more. It is a part of Tokyo where the lights never dim and life won’t stop unfolding. From the young and restless going out to party, to the salaryman blowing his money on Pachinko and beer. From the young girls working in maid cafes dreaming of one day being a celebrity to the foreigner trying to survive and make ends meet in a country that’s so alien to him. Shinjuku has souls from all walks of life loosing themselves in the night. Trying to forget they are lonely, searching for human connection.

Train coming in Shinjuku Station - Tokyo, Japan - Shot on Fujifilm X-T4 16-80mm f4

From a photography standpoint, Shinjuku is arguably the most popular spot for street photography in Tokyo and for good reasons. So much life is happening in this part of town. It is bustling with people and activity and the train station is the biggest train station in the entire world…

If you explore Shinjuku in search of great photography, I would recommend to go at night as it is the most lit up and lively place in the city and the night activity makes for perfect shots.

In my opinion, Shinjuku might even be over shot as so many people go there and get the same photos day in day out.

Kagurazaka

Complete opposite from Shinjuku, Kagurazaka is a less known, still to be discovered by the masses neighbourhood. It is called the French quarter of Tokyo as it is know for its cobblestone streets and traditional vibes. It is common to encounter Geishas on their way to work in these tiny alleyways full of charm and traditions. To my surprise, when I explored this part of Tokyo I found it to be so unique that I was taken aback by its lack of tourists.

One of the side streets was hosting a old tavern like coffee shop where the cutest old man served me a cup of pour over coffee that might very well be the best coffee I tasted in my life.

Storefront in Kagurazaka - Tokyo, Japan - Shot on Fujifilm X-T4 16-80mm f4

Asakusa

Asakusa is mostly known for hosting the biggest most popular temple in all of Tokyo. The Senso-ji Temple.

Senso-ji Temple - Tokyo, Japan - Shot on Fujifilm X-T4 18-55mm f2.8

But to my surprise, what I loved the most while exploring Asakusa was Hoppy Street located north of the temple grounds. Hoppy street hosts an unlimited amount of bars and Izakayas and is such lively street compared to the rest of the neighbourhood. I wasn’t gonna bring a camera going out that night but ended up bringing one just in case and thank god I did. I was able to capture two of my favorite shots that evening that might even make it to print someday. One regret is we should have stopped for a drink that night but exhaustion prevented me from wanting to drink.

Hoppy street is such a vibe - Tokyo, Japan - Shot on Fujifilm X-T4 18-55mm f2.8

Harajuku

Known as the fashion capital of Japan, Harajuku has a different vibe from the other parts of Tokyo. One of my favourite part is the neighbourhood of Omotesando. With modern concrete low rise, hip shops and coffee houses, it is the Mecca of trendy clothing brands. Artists and creators all flock to this hub to find inspiration and work to achieve their dreams. It has recently become one of the most sought after neighbourhood and the real estate price is now out of reach.

From a photography stand point, Harajuku is great and modern. A day time walk is what I would recommend to do with a small factor camera in hand like a Fujifilm X100V. Capture the high fashion characters that roam Cat street, have a delicious donut at The Little Bakery Tokyo and a fancy cup of coffee at the Roastery. I would avoid Takeshita street altogether as it is overly crowded and a bit of a let down considering it is one of the most touristic spot in all of Tokyo.

Akihabara

Akihabara is where I enjoyed my night photography the most. Ornate with neon signs and bright lights similar to Shinjuku, it offers great photography opportunities with less chaotic vibes. It feels safer and cleaner and has many shopping attraction as well which makes it a well worth it neighbourhood to explore. If you are an anime / manga fan, you can find everything and anything you might be looking for in the many Otaku shops that populates Akiba. And lets not forget to mention Yodobashi Camera store known as the biggest camera related shop in all of Japan.

Along the main streets you can find the bright lit storefronts famous the world over. Train overpasses also make for great Japanese city vibes. Around the corner, you can start exploring the back streets of Akihabara with Ramen shops, Maid cafes and vending machines. It all screams Japan and feels like an authentic Tokyo experience. One more thing worth exploring in Akiba is Kanda Myojin Shrine, only a short walk away from the main parts of town and nestled on a hill. It is quite small and beautiful. Highly recommend a visit at night.

Train overpass in Akiba - Tokyo, Japan - Shot on Fujifilm X-T4 18-55mm f2.8

As you can already tell, I love Tokyo. Having just left I can’t wait to be back and explore some more. Just walk around and take it all in with no agenda, just a camera in hand. For more information on shooting photography in Tokyo, you can watch my video on the best spots for street photography.

Matane.