Photography Locations In Tokyo

[waynelorentz]

I'm looking for some advice on where to go in Tokyo for some great pictures. As this will be my first trip to the city, I'll need pretty specific details in terms of streets and train stations and such. I know I'd like to get pictures of the following:

-Tokyo Skyline - Maybe from across the river? Would that be best?
-The Statue of Liberty
-The Rainbow Bridge
-That beer company building with the golden poo on top
-Tokyo Tower from below
-The sterotypical Tokyo street scene with lots of neon. I believe I want to head north from Shinjuku Station, is that correct?
-A peaceful temple

Also, does anyone know of any rules in Japan that restrict photography? Like ordinances against using tripods on public property or some such? I assume the Japanese won't mind me taking pictures in their midst, but I'll take whatever social pointers you can give me.

 

[Keiichi]

I'm not a great photographer (nor good..), but in terms of what I think are good pictures is what captures Tokyo as the type of place it is, which is mostly the city and the people. Though Tokyo is a very popular city and you'd probably seen a lot of pictures there, but I guess people still like to take their own for self-satisfaction.

I can't give specifics, but if you go around, I'm sure you'd be able to find some nice angles and views. Taking shots of the Statue of Liberty and Rainbow Bridge can be done from Odaiba, which is about as close as you'll get to getting a full view of these while still being close. Asahi can be viewed from near Sumida river. If you want lights, now is probably a good time since the extra decorations from Christmas and New Year season maybe still be around. But pretty much every major district with shopping streets lights up at night. Maybe try Ginza and Roppongi.

I'm not sure about temples in Tokyo. There aren't much of them. There are nice gardens here and there that you might want to check out to get some nice pictures. Apparently, there aren't much greens in Tokyo. Mostly buildings and people.
Some temples (though I don't know about Tokyo.. haven't been in any) have photography restrictions inside. And I think some places like inside stores or certain display areas may prohibit photography, and some people may not like to have their pictures taken without permission (not sure if there are any laws for that) but everything outside should be pretty much free to snap, I think.

Keiichi

 

[ArmandV]

Here's a link to a slideshow from one of the members of our tour to Japan we took last summer: http://www.devstonewell.com/gtour/

This'll give you some ideas on what to shoot and how to compose your photos. Have fun!

 

[ArmandV]

I'm looking for some advice on where to go in Tokyo for some great pictures. As this will be my first trip to the city, I'll need pretty specific details in terms of streets and train stations and such. I know I'd like to get pictures of the following:

-Tokyo Skyline - Maybe from across the river? Would that be best?
-The Statue of Liberty
-The Rainbow Bridge
-That beer company building with the golden poo on top
-Tokyo Tower from below
-The sterotypical Tokyo street scene with lots of neon. I believe I want to head north from Shinjuku Station, is that correct?
-A peaceful temple

Also, does anyone know of any rules in Japan that restrict photography? Like ordinances against using tripods on public property or some such? I assume the Japanese won't mind me taking pictures in their midst, but I'll take whatever social pointers you can give me.

There are no rules that I am aware of. Shinjuku at night is a good choice (see Lost In Translation for nighttime shots of Shinkuku). The Imperial Palace and Nijubashi Bridge there are good subjects as well as the Asakusa shrine. We took shots of Tokyo Tower from below and got some great shots from the observation deck. Ginza would also be a great place for nighttime shots.

 

[GaijinPunch]

Shinjuku Gyoen is great. A beutiful park, and you can get the cityscape in a few pictures. There's always people taking picturse out there. It closes at 17:00 though, so no night shots.

There's also people taking pictures in Yoyogi Koen quite a bit, but usually of some B-rated wanna be model chick, and not the scenery.

Rainbow Bridge -- er... Odaiba?
Tokyo Tower -- easy enough... just follow the big orange tower (pretty close to Shiba Koen)
Tokyo street scene: Either Shinjuku or Ginza. I would suggest Shimokitazawa for a much more "homey" feel.
Peaceful Temple -- Meiji Jingu, or any of the numerous temples in Kamakura (not Tokyo, but not too far). Just don't take pictures of Asakusa. That's the ugliest temple I've ever seen.