Japan travel advice needed

Shostka said:
Wandering around Tokyo can be both very boring and interesting. I often wander around Tokyo to hunt rare cameras, visit book stores and museums, but I would never go out without any purposes. Even Akihabara, my favorite district in Tokyo, can easily bore me when I have no goods looking for. People walking in Japan, especially in Tokyo have their own "purposes" I think...


About film: I like to shoot Tokyo with Fujicolor100, the best film(I believe) for shooting daylights, green plants, cloudy days, indoors, and people in Japan, made by Fujifilm. If you are usually using Kodak or B/W, try Fujicolor100 in Japan!
images: Almaz103. MC Volna 50mmF1.8, Fujicolor100View attachment 4854332View attachment 4854333View attachment 4854334View attachment 4854335
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I have enough of my own film inventory, so do not plan to buy anything locally, but thanks for this “fujifilm” advice - I will surely take some with me (I have a lot of expired but cold stored Fujifilm Superia 100)!
 
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Back in my M8 days my son and I spent a week in Kyoto and loved it. We rented bicycles for the week and rode everywhere. Such a great way to experience a new world. The temples were wonderful, as was the bamboo forest of Arashiyama.

I took a 21, 35, and 75 but mainly used the 35. I don't see any special lens requirement beyond what you normally favor. Keep it simple and light.

On the way back we spent a day in Tokyo. We enjoyed Ginza very much. It was a Sunday and they close all the streets to cars. Lots of folks walking about. It's such a polite culture that it's hard to imagine people openly challenging one's shooting. No one seemed to mind mine.

Funny aside. We're both vegetarian and I had a Lonely Planet guide with the Japanese statement: I'm vegetarian. Please no meat, fish, foul, or eggs. Every restaurant we showed it to brought us the same dish - soba noodles in miso. I assume that's changed by now.

One from GInza:

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JohnWolf said:
Back in my M8 days my son and I spent a week in Kyoto and loved it. We rented bicycles for the week and rode everywhere. Such a great way to experience a new world. The temples were wonderful, as was the bamboo forest of Arashiyama.

I took a 21, 35, and 75 but mainly used the 35. I don't see any special lens requirement beyond what you normally favor. Keep it simple and light.

On the way back we spent a day in Tokyo. We enjoyed Ginza very much. It was a Sunday and they close all the streets to cars. Lots of folks walking about. It's such a polite culture that it's hard to imagine people openly challenging one's shooting. No one seemed to mind mine.

Funny aside. We're both vegetarian and I had a Lonely Planet guide with the Japanese statement: I'm vegetarian. Please no meat, fish, foul, or eggs. Every restaurant we showed it to brought us the same dish - soba noodles in miso. I assume that's changed by now.

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Thanks for sharing. I plan to keep it simple. I plan to have a couple of M bodies - Bessa R4M for wide angle (with Scopar 21mm), then Zeiss Ikon with 35mm and 50mm (I love aperture priority during any travel). Maybe 90mm (Elmarit- M) - for nature shots I like to have a telephoto lens. Normally I always take at least one P&S (Minolta TC1, I guess - I love it with slide film). Two years ago (when we travelled to US) I took two MF cameras as well (Rolleiflex and Fuji Professional GA645). It was a bit on the heavy side (35mm plus MF), but I do not regret it when I look back at those photos I took with my Rolleiflex in Grand Canyon or Monument Valley.
 
I've had delicious vegan Japanese and Chinese food, suspect it may usually be associated with Buddhist temples - my favorite Chinese place is actually operated by a temple.

To give you an idea how popular bathing is in Japan, there are even motion pictures of a down and out Roman architect (played by a not particularly Romanesque Abe Hiroshi) from the time of Hadrian, who mysteriously time-jumps to modern-day Japan, and becomes a hit back home by bringing Japanese bathing culture to Rome.



I've never visited this real-life resort, but it must be amazing:

 
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JeffS7444 said:
I've had delicious vegan Japanese and Chinese food, suspect it may usually be associated with Buddhist temples - my favorite Chinese place is actually operated by a temple.

To give you an idea how popular bathing is in Japan, there are even motion pictures of a down and out Roman architect (played by a not particularly Romanesque Abe Hiroshi) from the time of Hadrian, who mysteriously time-jumps to modern-day Japan, and becomes a hit back home by bringing Japanese bathing culture to Rome.



I've never visited this real-life resort, but it must be amazing:

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Yes, bathing in one of the resorts is something we are planning to experiece. Also - a visit to Kabuki theater and Sumo wrestling.
 
JeffS7444 said:
I've had delicious vegan Japanese and Chinese food, suspect it may usually be associated with Buddhist temples - my favorite Chinese place is actually operated by a temple.
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Good one! Buddhist temples in SE Asia have a centuries-old tradition of providing (free) hospitality and food to travellers and guests. I've visited many in my travels in many Asian countries. Without exception the food has been excellent - as I've found, vegan Buddhists are often culinary gourmets.

Not so much in Indonesia but in Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, visitors can easily find vegetarian and vegan eating-houses even in the smaller towns and certainly in the cities. Usually the night markets have at least one stall with non-meat dishes. Vegan food prices vary but mostly they are a little cheaper than the meat-based equivalents.

The ultimate vegetarian-vegan taste treat in Japan is the sushi bars. A lot of sushi and certainly sashimi are meat/fish protein based, but there are many varieties of sushi suitable for non-meat eaters.

Washed down with good local sake, especially when served hot on cold autumn or winter days, it's a true epicurean feast.
 
JeffS7444 said:
I've never visited this real-life resort, but it must be amazing:

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This is a crazy coincidence, I was at this Onsen about 3 weeks ago. My wife and I stayed at the Onsen Hotel across the street. I didn't post any pictures here from that trip because I didn't think they were good enough, but I'll post some now as proof of being there.

Shima Onsen
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Fujifilm X-T5
Fujinon XF 10-24mmm f4 lens
January 2025 - Gunma, Japan​
 
As a direct response to people suggesting how you might ask for directions: I counter that it is effectively impossible to navigate Tokyo without an internet-equipped smartphone. Maps are indispensable, and you will basically see even locals with their phones constantly showing maps and train schedules.

From a photography perspective, I've brought 35 and 40 and those are as tight as I'd ever go. I mostly use my phone in Japan because so much of it feels like a wide lens is the correct choice, at least to me. I don't take pictures of people as a general rule. It's such a crowded city that I think people are owed a little bit of their own privacy, even when on the street.

Japan is lovely. I've driven some (not in the cities), trained some, and flown around and it's tough to go wrong. There is so much to just... see.

I'm actually going there next week for a short driving trip around Kyushu.
 
Hmm. An "internet-equipped smartphone" didn't exist in 1992 and was just barely beginning to exist in 2002, the two times I was in Tokyo. I didn't have much trouble getting around the city ... I bought a map and kept it in my pocket. Same way I drove all over North America, Great Britain, and Europe for the first 50 years of my life. An internet-equipped smartphone makes it much more convenient to find my way, for sure. But it's not always reliable. Maps work when you have no power, no signal, etc. All you need is enough light to read the map... 😉

Yes, there's tons to see in Japan, almost everywhere. If I were going now, I'd bring my usual travel kit (up to three lenses from about 20 to about 90 mm) ... and find I use one or another of them more than 50% of the time ... as usual. 🙂

G
 
Godfrey said:
Hmm. An "internet-equipped smartphone" didn't exist in 1992 and was just barely beginning to exist in 2002, the two times I was in Tokyo. I didn't have much trouble getting around the city ... I bought a map and kept it in my pocket. Same way I drove all over North America, Great Britain, and Europe for the first 50 years of my life. An internet-equipped smartphone makes it much more convenient to find my way, for sure. But it's not always reliable. Maps work when you have no power, no signal, etc. All you need is enough light to read the map... 😉

Yes, there's tons to see in Japan, almost everywhere. If I were going now, I'd bring my usual travel kit (up to three lenses from about 20 to about 90 mm) ... and find I use one or another of them more than 50% of the time ... as usual. 🙂

G
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lol, I too remember traveling before smartphones. I liked collecting paper maps for everywhere I went and marking them up as I went. I have good suvinoeers from then. I do still prefer the modern method but I get the appeal (and the nostalgia).

Oh, other Japan thoughts: Hokkaido is great, especially if you are sick of cities. Domestic flights are confusingly (for my American brain) great. Getting a taxi is a huge hassle without a local phone number (you cannot use taxi apps without one) but that hardly ever matters because most Japanese cities have good public transit. Some places won't serve foreigners, it's probably ok (or at least that's my take). Spend a little time shopping if that's your thing, Japan really has mastered the idea of retail. I think I've taken more pictures in Japan than any other country, which is a strange thought.
 
After six trips to Japan in March, April, September and November, I’ll offer a very distilled few suggestions …

Summer in Japan is hot as hell. If you are travelling between June and September you will not want to be carrying any more than totally necessary. For me this means one camera and one lens, M262 and 28 Elmarit-M ASPH last September. On other trips (not in Summer) I’ve taken 35mm or 50mm as well and still used the wider lens the vast majority of the time.

Get away from the city centre and into the outskirts of Tokyo at a minimum. Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ginza are worth a day of your time, max. Then get out to Omote Sando side streets, and keep going. Spend as little time as possible in large cities, and get out to smaller towns and regional areas. Nikko, Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa (small city, but beautiful), Megome, Hakone. As far as the larger cities are concerned, Kyoto is far more appealing than Tokyo if you want to experience a slower pace with less congestion.

Avoid the tourist attractions that all the guide books implore you to visit. They are now totally overcrowded and generally unpleasant, unless you prefer to be in a crush of sweaty humans and unable to see the very attraction you went to visit through the crowds. Visit a local, unknown shotengai (covered shopping street) in a quiet neighbourhood. That’s where the best experiences of Japan await (and the photographic opportunities, IMO).

Take very comfortable, well cushioned and light walking shoes. You will be covering serious mileage on your feet every day.

Drink lots of water and chilled green tea (from Kombini or convenience stores, 7-Eleven, Family Mart, etc) and drop any ice-cream limits you currently impose on yourself. The dark chocolate covered vanilla ice-cream varieties available are a great way to stay cool 😉.

Google Translate speaks Japanese so you don’t have to, but learn the basics anyway, it’s only polite, and it makes a huge difference.

Have a great time!
 
Mute-on said:
After six trips to Japan in March, April, September and November, I’ll offer a very distilled few suggestions …

Summer in Japan is hot as hell. If you are travelling between June and September you will not want to be carrying any more than totally necessary. For me this means one camera and one lens, M262 and 28 Elmarit-M ASPH last September. On other trips (not in Summer) I’ve taken 35mm or 50mm as well and still used the wider lens the vast majority of the time.

Get away from the city centre and into the outskirts of Tokyo at a minimum. Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ginza are worth a day of your time, max. Then get out to Omote Sando side streets, and keep going. Spend as little time as possible in large cities, and get out to smaller towns and regional areas. Nikko, Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa (small city, but beautiful), Megome, Hakone. As far as the larger cities are concerned, Kyoto is far more appealing than Tokyo if you want to experience a slower pace with less congestion.

Avoid the tourist attractions that all the guide books implore you to visit. They are now totally overcrowded and generally unpleasant, unless you prefer to be in a crush of sweaty humans and unable to see the very attraction you went to visit through the crowds. Visit a local, unknown shotengai (covered shopping street) in a quiet neighbourhood. That’s where the best experiences of Japan await (and the photographic opportunities, IMO).

Take very comfortable, well cushioned and light walking shoes. You will be covering serious mileage on your feet every day.

Drink lots of water and chilled green tea (from Kombini or convenience stores, 7-Eleven, Family Mart, etc) and drop any ice-cream limits you currently impose on yourself. The dark chocolate covered vanilla ice-cream varieties available are a great way to stay cool 😉.

Google Translate speaks Japanese so you don’t have to, but learn the basics anyway, it’s only polite, and it makes a huge difference.

Have a great time!
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Thanks a lot. We travel in July - I know it’s hot, but so was Texas and Louisiana in July. I did some training in Alamogordo White Sands dunes when I got disoriented for some 20-30 min with my MF gear and now I “train” regularly in Finnish sauna 🙂 One camera is simply no go for me - I need at least color/BW separately. I won’t take my Graflex though 🙂 The tip to avoid tourist place is appreciated - that’s the plan, but you can’t visit Rome without seeing Colosseum, so it is going to be the compromise. My boys will surely enjoy the Japanese ice cream, personally I am “still water guy” (trying to keep my LDL in the normal range).
 
Ice cream from konbini? Oh come on now, soft-serve is readily available in many locations, and it's a great chance to explore less-familiar flavors, like purple sweet potato (good!). And let's not forget about more traditional summertime favorites, like kakigori. And unless things have changed dramatically since my last visit, vending machines are plentiful in most cities, and are another way to explore products you may never have considered. Some also dispense liquor. My most memorable vending machine purchase to date: Takoyaki (not bad).

I admit I like Japanese convenience stores for the onigiri, and the other food offerings can be a lot better than we usually see in USA convenience stores (Hawaii 7-11 stores excepted - they've gone more Japanese). Folks get into debates about which of the big chain stores (7-11, Lawson, Family Mart) have the best offerings, but my knowledge is pretty spotty there.

I haven't experienced extreme heat in Japan, but the humidity can have a person sweating from even light physical activity.

A little bonus when seeing the sights in Japan: Tickets purchased for admission to temples and other points of interest can be attractive and collectable items in their own right.
 
valdas said:
Thanks a lot. We travel in July - I know it’s hot, but so was Texas and Louisiana in July. I did some training in Alamogordo White Sands dunes when I got disoriented for some 20-30 min with my MF gear and now I “train” regularly in Finnish sauna 🙂 One camera is simply no go for me - I need at least color/BW separately. I won’t take my Graflex though 🙂 The tip to avoid tourist place is appreciated - that’s the plan, but you can’t visit Rome without seeing Colosseum, so it is going to be the compromise. My boys will surely enjoy the Japanese ice cream, personally I am “still water guy” (trying to keep my LDL in the normal range).
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Are you still on track for July? It's been quite a while since we've heard any updates on your plans.

All the best,
Mike
 
valdas said:
Absolutely. Everything is planned and booked. Now I just need to decide on cameras/film I take with me.
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We're totally here for the gear talk! What have you figured out since you began this thread? And what is on your itinerary?

My choices have changed a bit since my last post. I have acquired a Leica SL2S, and were I to do Japan again, it would be with that camera and the Zeiss Biogon 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon 35, and the Panasonic GX85 with Panasonic 9mm f1.7 and Olympus 25mm f1.8. Both cameras record excellent video, and the focal lengths are staggered along 18mm, 21mm, 35mm and 50mm. The GX85 is very discreet, and will shoot in places that the SL2S would be more conspicuous. The SL2S would be fine for everything else.
 
Archiver said:
We're totally here for the gear talk! What have you figured out since you began this thread? And what is on your itinerary?

My choices have changed a bit since my last post. I have acquired a Leica SL2S, and were I to do Japan again, it would be with that camera and the Zeiss Biogon 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon 35, and the Panasonic GX85 with Panasonic 9mm f1.7 and Olympus 25mm f1.8. Both cameras record excellent video, and the focal lengths are staggered along 18mm, 21mm, 35mm and 50mm. The GX85 is very discreet, and will shoot in places that the SL2S would be more conspicuous. The SL2S would be fine for everything else.
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We start from Tokyo where we stay several days, then two nights in Shizuoka (we will stay outside the city, close to the nature), then several days in Hiroshima and finally - a few days in Kyoto.
I have not decided on cameras yet. I normally don’t shoot digital, but maybe I will have my son to carry and shoot X-E1 with one or two lenses. I normally always take some light P&S (Minolta TC1, Contax T, Hexar AF). I also consider Bessa R4M with 21mm Skopar and maybe J3 which is small and light. The alternative is OM1 with several lenses (21mm, 35mm PC, maybe 50 or 85). The big question is should I take MF. GA645 is the lightest option I have today.
 
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