Japan Photo Guide

Yoyogi Park is one of the largest parks (and my favorite) in Tokyo. In the spring it is a nice place to view cherry blossom trees and in the fall it is a great place to see some really beautiful ginkgo trees that turn golden. Assuming the weather is nice (and sometimes even when it isn’t) there are plenty of people enjoying outdoor activities, sports, picnics, sunbathing, dancing or just relaxing.

Another interesting thing about Yoyogi Park is that all types of people gather here. If you come on a weekend you will see people playing sports, juggling, playing instruments, dancing and anything else that can be done outside. One of the more unique groups of people is the interest group that is all about the 50s (or maybe 60s). I am not sure if these people dress (and style their hair) like this all the time and are stuck in a time warp or if it is just a weekend activity but you really should take a minute to watch this short video of them dancing.

Yoyogi Park is just minutes from Harajuku Station and is next to Meiji Shrine, so as a photographer you can easily make it a day at these very different (but close) areas. For more information please see the Japan-Guide.com.

Hiroshima City is the largest city in the Chugoku Region of Japan. After the war, it was rebuilt as a “peace memorial city.” Hiroshima is a nice city and fairly easy to navigate. Among other things, the Peace Park–which includes and the A-Bomb Dome (below), Peace Memorial Museum and more–is good place to take some photographs but also to learn about the history of Hiroshima and the after effects of the bomb.

Also Miyajima, one of Japan’s 3 most scenic views, is just a short ferry ride away. If you plan on visiting Miyajima, a lot of people stay in Hiroshima for the night and visit Miyajima the next day because Hiroshima has much more of a nightlife, restaurants, cheaper places to stay and more things to do; however if you are a photographer I recommend staying the night in Miyajima. While it is a little more expensive and there is no nightlife, you will find it really nice before and after all the tourists leave the island.

For more information, please see the Japan-Guide.com or here is the official Hiroshima City website.

Kamakura, in Kanagawa Prefecture, was once the capital of Japan and is a short day trip Tokyo. Kamakura offers a very nice change of pace if you feel like you need to escape the busy streets of Tokyo. Kamakura is perhaps most famous for the Big Buddha, 2nd largest in Japan, but also has other famous temples and shrines such as Engakuji and Hachimangu.

For more information on Kamakura, please see the Japan-Guide.com or the official site of Kamakura. The photo below of the Big Buddha was take by Myriam Ward.

Nara is in the Kansai Region of Japan and is about 30-40 minutes by train from Kyoto or Osaka. Nara, the old capital of Japan, is home to 8 of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 64 of the 200 and some odd buildings that are considered national treasures in Japan. Nara is also home to about 1200 or so deer that roam freely around Nara Koen (Nara Park). I have been to Kyoto more than 5 times but just recently went to Nara for the first time because I thought it would feel similar to Kyoto; however, it has a very different feel from it. Partly because there are deer running around everywhere and partly because it is less crowded (although the famous spots like Todaiji, do get very crowded at times), but there is something about Nara, that is somewhat hard to pinpoint, that makes it a magical place.

I highly recommend checking Nara out, especially in the fall. If you want, you could probably see most of Nara without staying overnight, but I recommend staying one night there just to make sure you can see everythign you want to see. Below are a few places that you will not want to miss:

• • Todaiji–Huge temple that holds Japan’s largest Buddha (top photo)
  • Nara Koen–Nara Park is where a lot of temples, shrines and 1200+ deer are
  • Horyuji–Oldest wooden building and structures in the world
  • Kokufuji
  • Kasuga Taisha–Fabulous Shinto Shrine and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Toshodaiji
  • Yakushiji

For more information see the official site of Nara or the Japan Guide.

Where to start…Well, let’s just say if you are a photographer in Japan and you do not go to Kyoto, you should really consider giving up photography. Seriously, Kyoto and the surrounding areas like Arashiyama and Nara are so spectacular that there is no excuse not to find a way to get to Kyoto. As of Spring of 2006 I have been to Kyoto 5 times, going atleast once ever season of the year. The two best times to go are, cherry blossom season and during the fall.

Kyoto is the old capital of Japan is said to have more than 1600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines. Also Kyoto’s district Gion, is the only place in Japan where you can regularly see real geisha or maiko (and no they are not prostitutes).

There are many famous places and most of which I will encourage you to go to, but sometimes it is a good idea to go off the beaten path and find your own little treasure in Kyoto.

Here are some of the famous places you should consider going:

• • Nanzenji (My personal favorite)
  • Kinkakuji (Golden Pavillion)
  • Ginkakuji (Silver Pavillion)
  • Ryoan-ji (Most famous rock garden of all of Japan)
  • Kiyomizudera (One of the most famous temples in Japan and a good view of Kyoto)
  • Tetsugaku no michi (Philosopher’s Path)
  • Kokedera (Moss Garden Temple–3000 yen and reservation required to enter!)
  • Ninnanji (A very diverse UNESCO World Heritage Site close to Ryoanji)
  • Fushimi Shrine (Shinto Shrine with thousands of tori gates)

Kyoto is about 2 hours by shinkansen from Tokyo and about 45 minutes by express train from Osaka. For more detailed access information please see Japan-Guide.com.

Here are some Links you may find useful about Kyoto:

• • Kyoto’s Visitor’s Guide–Online version of the monthly publication.
  • Kyoto Event Web Magazine–Provides information about festivals and events.
  • K’s Hostel–The best hostel in Kyoto.
  • Japan-Guide.com–A lot of really good information
  • Kyoto Prefecture Travel Guide–Official site of Kyoto Prefecture with travel information

Tokyo has pretty much everything you can imagine, including beautiful temples, shrines, museums, gardens, parks, sky scrappers, and much more. For a city as dense and urban as Tokyo there is a fair amount of nature and parks, such as Ueno Park and Yoyogi Park. There is so much to see and do and even if you live there for a year you will not be able to see and do it all.

Here is a short list of places you shouldn’t miss (in no order):

• Roppongi Hills–modern shopping and business district, the tower has a great 360 degree view and art musem at the top. I reccomend going just before sunset.
• Yoyogi and Ueno Park–Both really nice parks on opposite sides of Tokyo.
• Harajuku on a Sunday–This is when and where all the goth and cosplay people gather.
• Shinjuku and Shibuya–Two of the very urban areas of Tokyo. Great for neon lights, buildings, and people photographs.
• Ginza–This is the expensive shopping district
• Asakusa–This is where the famous big latern is you have seen in photographs.
• Akihabara–Electric Town but is kind of turning into Anime/Cosplay Town.
• Tsukiji–The largest fish markets in the world, go early and don’t dress up!

The Kansai (Japanese: 関西) region of Japan, also known as the Kinki region (近畿地方, Kinki-chihō), lies in the Southern-Central region of Japan’s main island, Honshu.

The word ki (畿) in Kinki is also read in Japanese as miyako meaning capital. It stems from the fact that up until the Edo era Japan’s capital was located in this region.

The Kansai region includes the prefectures of Nara, Wakayama, Mie, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga. The Kansai region is often compared (yet more often contrasted) with the Kantō region, which lies to the east and is comprised primarily of Tokyo and the surrounding area.

The Kansai region is the mainstay of the counterculture to the Kanto region (Tokyo/Yokohama), and can be said to define the character of Western Japan.

For more information, please see wikipedia or the Japan-Guide.com.

Information and photos of Mount Koya will be coming soon! Have information or photos of Mount Koya that you want to share? Let me know!