Golden Week 2012 in Japan

Just returned from a trip to Japan and finished processing a few so thought I'd share. Seeing as it was Golden Week there, it was of course very crowded most places, but we had a great time anyway. Photographically I didn't really get all of the shots I had hoped to, but that's just the way it goes when you're running and gunning on short trips.

We stayed in Osaka and Tokyo, and made several day trips to places like Nara and Kyoto, as I imagine most tourists do. Kyoto is usually a highlight for us but with the crowds and poor weather we just weren't feeling it so only spent half the day there.

I'm more comfortable shooting landscapes and nature, but for street photography and people Osaka and Tokyo are full of characters and interesting moments just waiting to be captured.

I used all my glass on this trip but the UWA and 30mm 1.4 were my favorites for the type of shooting I do. Would have liked to have used my 70-200 more, but it was dark most of the time we were there and shutter speeds just couldn't keep up. My 17-55 2.8 as always was reliable and could probably have been used for 90% of the time, but for a more dramatic perspective or for darker situations my other lenses were very nice to have.

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Very nice!!

I am planing a trip there myself now and this makes me just more exited

nice shots, really like 1,2,4,5 and 7.

i love 2&7, very nice

Nice shots - I only saw Shinsaibashi at night and it was equally pulsing with human traffic.
Glad to see that you made it to Inari Fushimi with good lighting and few people. I couldn't get there early enough and it was far too sunny when I was there.

Thanks!

Have a great time, Dalus! Japan is one of my favorite places, I'd go there every year if I could.

Philmar thank you, and yes we had favorable lighting that day. I was upset at first because I wanted to shoot it with a telephoto lens but it was overcast and dark and it just couldn't keep up for a clear shot. Not a problem, in the end I think I was happier with the wide angle shots anyway and none of the harsh shadows we would have had if it were sunnier.

Only problem with Tokyo its to damn big I probably get lost there after 10 min haha.

Nah you'll be fine. You can get to most places on the Yamanote line that makes one big loop around the city. From there you can connect to any other line you need to. When you get there they have excellent tourist maps that you won't find online - definitely ask the information desks in the station and they'll have that info for you.

Now actually finding a place that you're looking for is a completely different story and yes in all probability you will get lost, but that's part of the fun of traveling

dude sweet stuff. im planning my honeymoon there. how was the trains in and out of the city. im nervous for me and my girl. getting lost and what not.

We avoid traveling during golden week...prices go way up, crowds are huge and you have to book ahead. We sometimes take one day trips not too far from Sendai but don`t go to the big cities. If you do go to Tokyo you must see Tokyo station at rush hour...just stand behind one of the big beams and watch the tsunami of humanity as it rushes by you...good thing about Tokyo`s subway/trains is...they`re color coded...however, not always easy getting from on track to another inside stations so be prepared to miss a train bot not to worry...another will be along in a few minutes. And you`d better like crowds. Here in Sendai...we have 1...thats one...subway line, they`re building the second east/west line but it`s pretty easy in the city on the other hand...very few people wanna come to Sendai.

WolfAmongSheep wrote in post #14399515
dude sweet stuff. im planning my honeymoon there. how was the trains in and out of the city. im nervous for me and my girl. getting lost and what not.

It's fine just look at the Tokyo Metro Line Map

http://www.speedymole.​com …kyo/tokyo-subway-map.html

Great set. LOVE #7!

side effect from unclear is still here. heard from clients that doctor not suggested them to have baby after trip to Japan.

I dare not to visit there even though i love siteseeing and shopping in Japan

That because we don`t hear anything about Fukushima anymore on the news...just if and/or how much we`ve been exposed in Sendai is unclear.

Great pictures! I like #5 the most.