qualtalk

I'll be traveling to Japan in mid-December and will have three spare days and my camera gear with me in Tokyo.

I'm planning on shooting some of the iconic scenes (should be a crossing, Rainbow Bridge fireworks, Meiji Shrine , etc.) - any recommendations for other "shot worthy" locations I may not know about otherwise ?

Thanks in advance for your input!

fourg1b2006 Loc: Long Island New York

Wish i was going with you lol. I'm sure your photos will be beautiful.

cliburn

I often do a lot of street photography there.
In Shinjuku, both Piss Alley and the Golden Gai present good opportunities. Shibuya crossing can be shot (thru glass) upstairs at the Starbucks. The area around Sensoji Temple in Asakusa. Akihabara, Harajuku.... it depends what you after. But in all honesty, wandering around different neighborhoods and exploring is best. I just ride the Yamonote line and get off places that look interesting.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Just returned from 19 days in Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, and many other small (500 inhabitants) towns along the Sea of Japan.

Be prepared to deal with crowds! Just about anywhere will afford you a wealth of potential images but you should have an idea of what you want: cityscapes, shrines, details, new Japan, old Japan, etc. Travel light: one body, a couple of lenses (wide prime or wide zoom , and short telephoto (90-105mm) or medium zoom (24-70mm) or (70-200mm) should give you options galore.

kakima

If you can spare the time, take a day trip to Himeji and the best-preserved castle in Japan. It was used by Kurosawa and others: "Ran," "The Last Samurai," "You Only Live Twice" to name a few.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

After a day of shooting, head over to the Hobgoblin Akasaka British Pub on the second floor a few doors down from the Tokyo Stay Yotsuya hotel in Shinjuku Tokyo. Can’t think of a better way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and eat/drink from a menu that hasn’t changed since the late 1960s. You won’t regret it.

Randy S. Loc: Kingsland, TX

I would take the river boat tour. It gives some great prospectives to Tokyo. Plan for the cold.

erickter Loc: Dallas,TX

Check out the the Imperial Hotel near the Ginza area. I saw the original Frank Lloyd Wright designed version of the hotel one year before it was torn down and replaced with the current structure in the early '70s. Across the street is the fabulous Imperial park and shrine. The Imperial palace (where the emperor lives) is close by on the park grounds protected by a moat, trees, and security.
5 minutes on foot takes you to the Ginza. Check out the Kabuki Theater, the Tenshodo Train shop, and the many camera and watch stores on every block. Have Yakatori (bbq chicken on a stick) or udon at the many street level (and above street level) restaurants.
Take the Shinkonsin (bullet train) to the site where the 1964 Olympics was held and check out the incredible concrete stadium designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange. Japan will be hosting the Olympics again in 2020. Tange became world famous as an architect during the massive rebuilding effort in Tokyo after WWII. Japan is clean and generally safe in most big and small cities. My son will be living and working there next Spring for Disney. I am definitely going back there to visit him in 2019. That will mark my 40th anniversary since my last visit in 1979. Seven trips in all between '67 & '79 during my youth. Can't wait to go back.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Have a great time in Japan. I know one thing I’d do go to Canon and see it if possible anymore, than go take a ton of pictures around Japan!

jgunkler

If you do ride the shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagano, you must visit the 15th century (!) samurai training center there. They have preserved many of the old buildings which you may freely walk through and added a samurai museum.

Be on time for the train!! It runs so precisely on time that you will see Japanese businessmen reset their watches based on the time the shinkansen arrives.

markjay

If you have 3 days and want to take a day trip out of Tokyo for a completely different experience and sights, there are 2 great choices that can easily be done in a day with a departure around 8 or 9am and return by 7pm.

I wont list too many details - you can look the places up.

Nikko - Home of the Shogun, Incredible buildings in a forest of massively tall trees. When in Tokyo you can easily find organized tours that go there.

Kamakura - small town about a 1 hour train ride away. Home to hundreds of old temples - all gorgeous - especially the one in a small bamboo forrest. There is also a massive gold buddha sitting outside in a temple facility , that was once inside a huge temple building that no longer exists. the smaller buildings around what was the central temple are still there.

I have not been to the new fish market, but the old one was an extraordinary experience with great photo ops.

Enjoy.

Hoku1 Loc: hawaii

Just returned from another trip in Japan after two weeks in Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Lake Kawaguchi, and Tokyo. When I travel to Japan I would bring with me a 16-35mm (my favorite) and a 24-70mm lens, travel tripod, UV/Haze and CPL filters, two 64 gigs SD cards, and my GoPro. Travel light and have a wonderful trip.

LESTAHL Loc: Colorado

If your timing is right, you might get to go to the Imperial Palace grounds. Take the opportunity!