Best Photography Spots in Tokyo

Best Photography Spots in Tokyo. Tokyo is on the list of favorite travel and photography destinations for many people. It’s no wonder with its vibrant culture, traditional architecture, and diverse areas that people all over the world are wanting to make the trip over to Japan.

This metropolitan not only has some amazing skyscrapers and views, but it also highlights and respects ancient culture and traditions based down through the ages. Check out this list for some of the best photography spots to visit while you’re in Tokyo.  Check out these places to stay at a discounted rate!

The Gear

The gear we recommend to photography the best photography spots in the Oregon coast is a good camera and the holy trinity.  A wide-angle lens.  14-24mm or something similar.  A 24-70mm or something similar and, of course, a 70-200mm or something similar.

If you do not have these particular lenses, do not worry; something similar will be just fine. It would be best if you also had a tripod.

Best Photography Spots in Tokyo

1. Sensō-Ji Temple

This famous temple consists of one large temple surrounded by many smaller ones and a pagoda. The red paint of the buildings really brightens up the area and the buildings of the temple are beautiful works of architecture in any setting. 

2. Shibuya Crossing

The scramble crossing is one of the busiest streets in the city and is commonly known for pictures of flooded pedestrian walkways amidst waiting cars. It’s been featured in many famous films and can be captured from multiple angles and perspectives. Head to the Starbucks near the road or the Magnet shopping center’s roof for some inspiration. 

3. Kabukicho, Shinjuku

This area is filled with lots of neon signs and billboards and could easily be one of the most vibrant areas in the city. The prevalence of lights makes it the perfect spot to practice some night shots and experimenting with exposure times to capture people moving about or light trails. 

4. Shinjuku Golden Gai

The Golden Gai has over 200 small bars located across six narrow alleyways. This area sweeps you back in time to old Japan with its neon lights and nostalgic signs. 

5. Akihabara

This area is known as the anime hub of the city of Tokyo and can give photographers an eccentric taste of the city. There’s plenty of colorful lights, buildings, and designs to see here. 

6. Tokyo Tower

This tower has been one of the city’s best-known landmarks. The Tokyo Tower is over half a century old and is still a favorite spot for many to visit. There are great vantage points all around the city and while pictures can certainly be captured in the day, night shots of the tower completely lit up against the city skyline is beautiful. 

7. Harajuku Takeshita

This street is located in an iconic part of Tokyo that is known for its vibrance and youth. This is an authentic Japanese street that is well-known for its shops and restaurants featuring famous gaming and anime-related products. It’s a great place to go to capture some color and find people embracing Tokyo’s modern pop culture in full-out anime costumes and fashion items. 

8. Meiji Shrine

This shrine was dedicated to one of the late emperors of Japan. It was constructed in a lush forest of green and it has become an important landmark in the city. This place allows you to escape from the city life of Tokyo and enjoy peace. 

9. Yoyogi Park

This park is frequently used for cosplays, festivities, and performances. Capture the liveliness of the events or find a peaceful day to focus on the forests and fountains to explore nearby. 

10. Akasusa

This area is known to represent what most imagine authentic Japanese landscapes to look like. With many temples and pagodas in this area that are extensively decorated with lanterns, you will find many images that represent classic Japanese culture reminiscent of the past. 

Best Photography Spots in Tokyo

11. Tsukiji Fish Market

Tsukiji represents the traditional fish markets of Japanese culture and is a genuine experience that visitors expect to find in the city. The market has fresh catches on a daily basis and the fish are usually prepared onsite. Capture images of colorful seafood and hardworking business owners.

12. Hama-rikyu Gardens

This large garden has tea houses, flower gardens, centuries-old trees, and the famous Japanese cherry blossoms. Capture beautiful shots of Japan in the springtime with cherry blossoms reflecting against the lake. 

13. Odaiba Island

Those who want to capture the mesmerizing Tokyo skyline shouldn’t stay in the city but instead, cross the bridge to Odaiba Island. It is connected to the city by Rainbow Bridge and offers panoramic views of the city next to the bay.

14. Tokyo Dome

The people of Japan have a deep love for baseball and there’s no better place to capture that than the Tokyo Dome. Focus specifically on the crowds for the games as there are many celebratory routines and as well marching bands and colorful costumes to photograph. 

15. Tokyo Skytree

The Tokyo Skytree is the tallest tower in the world and gives great panoramic overlooks of the city of Tokyo. Observation decks are located on floors 350 and 450 which means you can practice overhead shots from various angles. Stop by once the sun goes down to get the perfect night shot of the city.

 

16. Metropolitan Government Building

This building is where you can go to find free observatories that allow you to look and capture the city from a high vantage point. Observation decks are located on the 45th floor and give stunning views of the cities multiple skyscrapers. 

17. Tokyo Plaza

Tokyo Plaza is located in the famous Harajuku section of the city and has many trendy and photogenic spots for photographers of all kinds to capture. The fashion building, located right at the plaza’s entrance is made with a kaleidoscopic design that reflects and mirrors colors from surrounding scenes. 

18. Nakagin Capsule Tower

This iconic architectural residence is located in the Ginza area and is a well-known building featured in the movie, “Wolverine”. It’s interesting architecture is defined with cube-shaped dwellings with circle windows. 

19. Rainbow Bridge

This colorful and brightly lit bridge connects Tokyo to the Odaiba. The views of the bridge are best at night when it gives off a spectacular view of the water and the city behind it. Be ready to take pictures from the Odaiba side in the evening to get amazon pictures of Tokyo Bay.

Best Photography Spots in Tokyo

20. TeamLab Borderless

This one-of-a-kind art installation features optical illusions and digital art that runs from the floor to the ceiling. Each room is designed with a variety of stunning lights and imaginative and eclectic backdrops that look great on their own or with people highlighted. Make sure to visit early to avoid crowds.

21. Hie Shrine Torii Gates

Hie Shrine is notorious for its entrance lined with 90 red torii gates along a narrow staircase. It’s an extremely beautiful scene. Coupled with the nature and greenery of the local area, this location is one of the most picturesque spots in Tokyo. 

22. Nezu Shrine

This shrine is the oldest religious spot in Tokyo and is one of the city’s best-hidden locations. It is elegantly groomed and is completely entrenched in nature, making it one of the most beautiful places to relax and capture photos. There’s plenty of paths to walk as well as traditional torii gates to admire. 

23. Ameyoko Shopping Street

This street highlights an open-air market that is busy pretty much all year round. Ameyoko consists of two main streets that branch off into several alleyways. There’s plenty to do and see here and the environment gives great insight into the chaotic bazaar scene of Tokyo. 

24. Omoide Yokocho

While the translated name is not as appealing, this street holds a lot of design features that are reminiscent of old times and contrast sharply against the modern surroundings of Tokyo architecture. This alley is a narrow path that is lined with many restaurants. Bars, and shops. Also referred to as “Memory Lane”, this is a great place to taste some great food while capturing old-timey shots of Tokyo lit with lanterns.

25. Nakameguro River

For those interested in capturing some nature shots in the city, Nakameguro River is the place to go. This is because of the beautiful trees in the area that change with each season. The cherry blossoms that bloom perfectly line the river in the spring. In the colder months, there are also twinkling lights.

26. Takeshita Street

This is an authentic area located in Harajuku and has lots of unique shops that sell lots of youthful and trendy items. This is one of the many places to go if you’re looking to capture modern-day pop culture in Japan. A good photo spot is at the entrance of the street where the digital display and torii gate is located.

27. Hamarikyu Gardens

This garden in the large metropolitan area of Tokyo is 61 acres and is well landscaped to have unique plants. The gardens are specially designed so they have a different look each season. The lush green trees also make an interesting shot against the modern architecture of the city.

28. Meiji Shrine

This shrine was created as a dedication to the first Emperor of modern Japan. There are many beautiful details that the shrine offers. Many who visit this shrine are also excited to see the sake barrels lined up in rows along the walkway. These are donated by brewers from all over the country and have fun and colorful designs.

29. Subway Station

Subway stations in Tokyo are the ideal place to capture the busy energy of the city. There are a number of stations you can visit to practice your photography skills and take pictures of trains pulling in and out of the stations, as well as commuters, rushing to their destination. Shinjuku Station is one of the busiest in the world and is a good place to start.