trip to Japan

P

panos

Established
Local time
10:57 AM
Joined
Jun 15, 2007
Messages
71
hi guys ,

i am thinking to take a trip to Japan to do street photography for a couple of weeks

i have never been there and i was wondering if any of you have been and can tell me few tips about Tokyo.

is it safe , cool places and stuff like that.

anything u know or heard.

will be quite helpful

thanks
panos:cool:
 
Japan's basically safe, especially when it comes to walking around with expensive camera gear. Use common sense, especially if you're after shots of the seedier side of Japan.

In not based in Tokyo, but Shibuya and neighbouring Harajuku are worth checking out for street photography 24/7.
 
I spent six weeks with my family in Nagoya. It was a very pleasant experience. Japanese people are used to seeing cameras being used in the streets. I was never bothered or annoyed while in Japan, except occasionally when being in an elevator or subway and then some older women would push us aside.
 
Last edited:
I live in Nagoya and can say that I've never been harassed on the street when taking photos. I've walked around with Bronica, Nikon, Leica, etc. and have been fine. Sometimes old-timers talk to you if you're using a TLR or something similarly nice :)
 
I currently work in Tokyo, and lug around my m3/cron/12mm 5.6 on a daily basis. I do get questioned politely at times by the occassional old man about how old/what camera that is. But in general, ppl here are pretty nice, and tend to mind their own business. I shoot 4x5 or 6x9 on the wkends and If you wanna meet up for a drink, do drop me a pm.
:)
 
Hi Panos,

If you have a special interest, you might want to drill down a little bit rather than arrive cold. It's very rainy now, and of course the summer can be hot and muggy. There's most likely a club or group or museum for what ever you are interested in, and that might lead to some more interesting experiences. Also a lot easier to make friends having a similar interest.

I had one visitor from Europe who was interested in active volcanoes and he had a great time in Western Japan… So pick your poison. The big cities are fun, and the remote areas are exceptional (but may be more difficult to navigate).

Plenty of shopping as mentioned in a number of threads. Don’t forget the museums (Fujifilm has one in Midtown, Leica has a showroom in Ginza, as does Cannon, etc). The big electronic shops are great. The Euro / Yen exchange rate might not be to your advantage right now…

CLH
 
Oh yes...

check this out too.

1. Take chuo rapid line from Shinjuku station.
2. Get off at first stop: Nakano.
3. Take the north exit.
4. Fujiya camera shop's round the corner from KFC.

or if with wife, avoid.

=)
 
If you have never been to Japan and try street photography, it is tough ... Japanese people in general don't like it much when their photo is taken by a stranger, especially a foreign stranger. In Tokyo , where lots of foreigner live, it is not that difficult if you choose the "correct" places.

Having some Japanese friends with similar interests makes it easier. Have a look at gramme_friday's photos at flickr. He lives in Sapporo (like me) and his photos are very good regarding "street photography".

Cheers,

maddoc
 
Trip to Japan

Trip to Japan

I've never been to Tokyo though have been to Kyoto twice and will go to Tokyo next April. In Kyoto I felt more at home doing street photography than in any of the many overseas places to which I have travelled. Photography is a part of Japanese culture and I can't wait to go back and wander through the streets again,feeling very at home.

Hope this helps.

Bon voyage,

Gary Haigh

South Australia
 

Attachments

  • Faded-signs-Japan-email.jpg
    Faded-signs-Japan-email.jpg
    24.2 KB · Views: 0
Danger

Danger

Yes street photography can be frightening--in Tokyo at least--these tough babes caught me taking a photo and gave me the scissors sign to show they wanted me to cut my film. You will see this same sign constantly, hold your ground and don't turn over your film.


2412635584_8fbd89aa7b_o.jpg
 
The only thing you have to watch out for is being perceived (or act) as a possible pervert. So photos from a low vantage point or pointing up while walking up the stairs can get you in to trouble. For the rest you can pretty much do anything anywhere if you have a bit of sense in your head. Some places don't like to have photographers around (like Golden Gai or Kabukicho - both in Shinjuku) with the hostesses and the doormen in long coats getting clients in.. But if you're quick or have that 'thing' about you you'll find that even there it's doable. If you're not used to that than avoid shooting there in the evening. I shoot from peoples rooftops, in little side streets, in the train etc etc and have occasionally run into a little problem but it has always been a problematic conversation. Never a fight, never any hassle.
So, go out and have fun. There is a lot of different stuff to see out here.
 
Last edited:
tanks guys

your info are very helpful

i will definitely be careful around the yazuka guys

thanks again

panos
 
these tough babes caught me taking a photo and gave me the scissors sign to show they wanted me to cut my film. You will see this same sign constantly
Click to expand...
I've seen young people using that sign all round Asia, but it's always been like the old hippy V sign and nothing to do with scissors.
 
steamer said:
Yes street photography can be frightening--in Tokyo at least--these tough babes caught me taking a photo and gave me the scissors sign to show they wanted me to cut my film. You will see this same sign constantly, hold your ground and don't turn over your film.
Click to expand...
hahahah, oh wow. way to go for wrong information :eek:

Many friend & family snapshots I see from japan are with the V-sign, just how people over here do things when they don't know how to pose. Your humour is very British for sure (-:
 
Last edited:
So you mean I made a fool of myself when I screamed "the only way you'll get my film is when you pry my cold dead fingers off this camera."

Of course this is the famous Vui sign, maybe the digital equivalent of a smile. Guess I should have put a smiley in my first post.
 
steamer said:
So you mean I made a fool of myself when I screamed "the only way you'll get my film is when you pry my cold dead fingers off this camera."
Guess I should have put a smiley in my first post.
Click to expand...
it's just a bit awkward because your post could be taken seriously..
but well, as you say, it's sometimes hard to interpret stuff like this on forums..

excellent joke nonetheless, it must work out greatly in real life :angel:
 
Careful, also, around assorted giant monsters (dia kaiju) that regularly attack Japan. Ultraman, Goldar, Godzilla, Ghidora, Rodan, Guilala, Mothra, Varan, etc. While they make great subjects for pictures, it is very dangerous.

Here's a quick pic of Gamera smashing a light tower, last time I was there.
 

Attachments

  • gamera5.jpg
    gamera5.jpg
    27.6 KB · Views: 0
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom