Shibuya’s main intersection
and a different view of the same intersection
Japanese Gadgets
Throughout my life, Japanese products & gadgets have played a significant role. The Walkman in the 80-ies profoundly changed my music listening habits. My first amplifier and the whole Hi-Fi stereo system were Japanese. So was my first color TV.
Both my electric and my acoustic guitars – all Japanese. Various other musical instruments I owned and own – all Japanese.
The gear boxes on most bicycles I ever drove were also Japanese. Various motorbikes I owned throughout my life were of Japanese make.
And even until now, Japanese brands dominate my life. For instance, most of the cloth I wear nowadays are from a well-known Japanese brand. So are the cars we drive.
And of course, all my photographic equipment is Japanese.
Yet, I never visited the country where all this is made or at least is conceived.
Also, I visited several times the Northern Capital: 北京 Bei Jing . So it was high time that I also see the great Eastern capital: 东京 Dong Jing better known as Tokyo.
I did not really know what to expect. Yet I had high expectations. And I was not disappointed. Not at all.
Let’s see some impressions first:
Religious paraphernalia…
Can it get any more Japanese ?
A beautiful, yet rare sight.
Shop entrance in Shibuya
Inside a shrine somewhere in Shinjuku
Everything symbolizes something…
Simply overwhelming !
I had visited BIG cities in the past, such as Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul – and never did I feel overwhelmed. But in Tokyo, I felt a bit like a villager who has come to town for the first time…
Underground train stations in which you can walk for 30 – 40 minutes from one end to the other and which have 16 different exits (some subdivided in 16A, 16B, etc… ).
Machines to operate to order a simple meal, all sorts of vending machines and and and…
The impressive skyline of Shinjuku
I have not figured out what those are about…
Street Photography…
Downtown Tokyo
A paradise for Street photographers
A busy intersection close to Ginza
Japanese clichés….
Tokyo – a velophile’s paradise
One thing I particularly loved about Tokyo is the Japanese attitude towards people on bicycles.
Anything goes.
Driving against one-way streets, driving on busy pedestrian ways, making wild, sudden U-turns on six-lane streets – all OK. No lights on the bike, no helmet, no rules – All good.
It’s not that I say this because I got away doing so. No, this is how the Japanese bikers do. And as we all know: ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans’.
Japan I love you for that !!!!
Bikers of the world unite and learn from the Japanese. Europe bikers, a revolution is what we need, not more stupid rules and regulations.
Anyway, I am digressing here. So some more impressions:
A few mirrors can go a long way…
Style is everything
Reflecting on reflections…
No music – no life… who could argue with that ?
The ‘normalcy’ of Harajuku…
Dolls in Harajuku
A very, very golden shrine…
Contrasts everywhere
What I found most interesting are the contrasts between ultra-modernity and deeply rooted traditions. One moment driving among the highest skyscrapers I have seen in Jinjuku. And then amid those concrete giants, one can find small tranquil temples and shrines.
Loud, bright, fast, vibrant Harajuku contrasts with huge, beautiful parks.
Speaking of parks. Tokyo has lots of them. Yoyogi park being the biggest and most ‘famous’ among them.
But in terms of beauty and ‘Japanese-ness’ the botanical gardens of Jinjuku were my favorite. This wonderful park has three distinctly different areas. An English garden, a ‘wild garden’ and a Japanese garden. Among those, the Japanese garden was my favorite.
one of many, many skylines of Tokyo
Somewhere close to Ginza
Just another beautiful day in Tokyo
The Japanese certainly love their hats
On the streets of Shibuya
Styling. What else ?
Harajuku – full on !
Everything is so pink around here…
and a bit too sweet for my taste…
FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Tokyo is full-on and there is no particular gear that I would recommend. Bring all you got ! And definitely bring a lens that can go as wide as 24 or wider.
I had my Canon EF-S 12-20 with me which I mounted with a Metabones adapter onto my Sony @7 R II. I also brought my Mitakon 50 / 0.95. And after the huge success of my Canon SH-X 50 in Vietnam I had brought this puppy with me again and used it quite a lot.
However, both the manual focus Mitakon and the very slowly focusing Canon SH-X 50 were less optimal because Tokyo is too fast. Everything happens here within the blink of an eye.
Tokyo is not a beautiful city, but there is a lot of beauty to be found and discovered. So to those who are willing to look and wander about Tokyo is certainly full of photographic oportunities and surprises.
A fellow photographer asked me whether I got to see the cherry blossom or Sakura in Tokyo. I was 2 or 3 weeks to late for that. But guess what. I could not care less because I am certainly not interested in exploiting photographic opportunities that have been photographed to death and beyond. Those who know my work will recognize that I am not a ‘me-too’ photographer.
My favorite park in Tokyo
The Botanical gardens in Shinjuku
I have also come to the conclusion that Tokyo would be a great place for a family vacation and has plenty of attractions for my 8-year-old daughter. What more reason (or excuse) do I need to return to Tokyo for some more… .
Truly’ DOMINIK
If you have enjoyed this article, please share it with others. Thank you !!
P.S.: If you Dear reader ever come to Tokyo and need a nice and affordable place to stay I can highly recommend the airbnb host Yopie, who has several lovely apartments in excellent locations. Check him out !
FOLLOW ME ON
Again, beautiful photos Dominik (needless to say). Thanks for helping me travel through Tokyo through your lens.
One question: If you can rank top cities you have been visited in terms of preference, where will you place Tokyo against Hanoi and Singapore on the list.
‘Til we meet. Take care and travel wildly.
Best regards,
Thank you Johny !
To answer your question: What tastes nicer – a bowl of good Pho or a Mango ? Or how about comparing a good steak against a nice cake…
Hard to compare, init… ? Same with the places I visit…
But in terms of raw beauty of a city your country’s capital is still my favorite… 😉
Cheers – DOMINIK
Beautiful photos again, Dominik! Tokyo is such a multi-faceted city. Love that mixing of the old and new, “normal” and totally extrovert – it’s fascinating. Even the contrast between the parks and nature with the skyscrapers is amazing to see.
Thank you Jaina. Glad you like them…
Your pics really point out the antagonisms that make this city so unique & vivid & fascinating. Everything seems to be possible…
Regarding the little stone figures:
https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kshitigarbha
Enjoy your next trip!
Thank you Petra ! I am glad you like the photos. Let me dedicate this series of photos to you as you have been influential in making me visit Tokyo. Also thanks for pointing out the article about the meaning of those figurines. Much apriciated.
DOMINIK
Thank you for another wonderful post. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing? My kind regards, Garnet.