Going to Tokyo for 5 days. Advice & tips?

So I'm going to Tokyo for 5 days next month (March). Will only be there from Monday-Friday. Haven't been in about 5-6 years (wasn't into photography then) and there's a few shots (from my ever-growing list) I'd like to get this time around (some are a little cliche). For example:

- Long exposure wide angle shot of Shibuya crossing at night: Anyone have much experience going there? What is the most crowded time to go?
- Memory Lane (Yakitori Alley): I'm really digging the cramp dark alleys with the red lanterns.
- Interior of a packed Pachinko parlor: is photography even allowed?
- Sunset shot from top of Roppongi Hills
- Silhouette shot in front of giant digital clock in Roppongi
- Neon lights in Shinjuky/Shibuya
- Wide angle shot of fish auction at Tsukiji: I heard there is a 'fake' auction that goes on in front and the real auction goes on up back. Is that true?

This doesn't even include all the countless photos I will take of the people on the streets. Any other unique vantage points you guys think I should look into? Thanks!

Early or late March?...try to get the cherry blossoms if they're out. (Plum trees in my back yard in CA have started budding already, so maybe they might be early in Tokyo?)

Wilt wrote in post #9611149
Early or late March?...try to get the cherry blossoms if they're out. (Plum trees in my back yard in CA have started budding already, so maybe they might be early in Tokyo?)

Early March so no cherry blossoms. I'll be in Hokkaido from 2/19-3/1 then in Tokyo from 3/1-3/5. Most of my shots will probably be a little more urban in nature.

big_apple_ken wrote in post #9609606
- Long exposure wide angle shot of Shibuya crossing at night: Anyone have much experience going there? What is the most crowded time to go?

Try around 7pm. IIRC there was a McDonalds or Starbucks with 2 floors facing the crossing - 2nd floor might give a nice view but it will be packed and you'll be shooting though a window.

big_apple_ken wrote in post #9609606
- Interior of a packed Pachinko parlor: is photography even allowed?

No idea but I sneaked a couple of shots from one. The odds are that nobody will even notice you, people seem to be in some sort of an trance there and besides, nobody can hear the shutter sound over the noise.

big_apple_ken wrote in post #9609606
- Wide angle shot of fish auction at Tsukiji: I heard there is a 'fake' auction that goes on in front and the real auction goes on up back. Is that true?

Markets were a bit of a let down to me. There is the tuna auctions going on, with one "room" open to the public. They were way down the back of the markets, and most of the action was all over and done with by 7am, so you want to get there way early. On the day I went, it was packed, and honestly not that interesting.

One good thing that came out of the markets there was all the stalls out the front. Leave time to have a poke around there. I came back with an awesome knife set.

One other thing I wanted to try was some HDR of the emperors palace at dawn / dusk if the weather is fine. It was overcast the day I was there

My avatar <<<< is actually from a mirror in the Louis Vuiton shop in Tokyo too

Redr8 wrote in post #9611846
Markets were a bit of a let down to me. There is the tuna auctions going on, with one "room" open to the public. They were way down the back of the markets, and most of the action was all over and done with by 7am, so you want to get there way early. On the day I went, it was packed, and honestly not that interesting.

One good thing that came out of the markets there was all the stalls out the front. Leave time to have a poke around there. I came back with an awesome knife set.

One other thing I wanted to try was some HDR of the emperors palace at dawn / dusk if the weather is fine. It was overcast the day I was there

Well 2 things I think that makes my potential experience slightly different from yours Redr8:

1) I think only recently (Jan) did they lift the visitor ban. Supposedly you had to stand in the visitor area before but I believe this might not be the case now.

2) From my sources they tell me there are actually 2 auctions. A 'faux' auction up front of low grade tuna for the tourists and the actual auction is held up back. Not 100% sure if they will allow me to shoot there but I heard there are no walls (only people) to stop you from going back there.

I have a feeling it might be kind of an underwhelming experience as well but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. My current plan for Tsukiji is to get there latest by 6AM. Then after taking some shots to sample some delicious sushi with minimal lines (since it is still early).

Well that's good news on the restrictions being lifted. I went Sept 09 ans we were herded into a roped off section about 5m x 2m, so was a bit jaded I guess. I got better shots at the markets out on the floor where they have all the varied seafood in tanks / tubs / ice etc on display.

Redr8 wrote in post #9611888
Well that's good news on the restrictions being lifted. I went Sept 09 ans we were herded into a roped off section about 5m x 2m, so was a bit jaded I guess. I got better shots at the markets out on the floor where they have all the varied seafood in tanks / tubs / ice etc on display.

Yes, I believe technically speaking that practice should not exist anymore. Definitely interested to get some non-tuna shots of the market. I'm interested to get some of people at work and also some seafood shots like this:

Any more tips/advice?

big_apple_ken wrote in post #9618610
Any more tips/advice?

Get in with someone who can get you inside the fish market. It's what I did and was pretty cool. I was there for work, and my supplier got us in with someone. There seem to be a small handful of people who are allowed to bring people in.

Pardon the 3.2MP point and shoot pics.

JayJphoto wrote in post #9622628
Get in with someone who can get you inside the fish market. It's what I did and was pretty cool. I was there for work, and my supplier got us in with someone. There seem to be a small handful of people who are allowed to bring people in.

Pardon the 3.2MP point and shoot pics.

Wow! Surreal first shot! Looks like a frozen cementory!

too bad you won't be there on Sunday, Harajuku is worth seeing, with the young people all dressed in their anime garb....one of my favorite shots, not from a photography standpoint, but just for the craziness of it, was the subway at rush hour and with peoples' faces squashed up against the glass and the attendent pushing everyone on so the door could close.... Also, the old and the new is always a great part of the Tokyo experience. The view from the Imperial Palace with the modern buildings and temples in the same shot. Or the ladies in Kimona talking on cell phones. SO much to see and shoot there. have fun. post pics.

Ken one thing you must do when you go there.

Go up to random japanese folk and dance with them, twirl them around a bit.

They're so nice!

And film it. And their reactions. And put clips up on youtube, with that song by the vapors as a soundtrack.

(I didn't have the camera to film it when I went, or I totally would have made a youtube account for that)

I used to live around Shinjuku/Shibuya. My 2 cents:

- for the Shinjuku neon lights shoot, go to the intersection on Shinjuku-dori and Meiji-dori. On S-d, shoot towards the Studio Alta/Shinjuku Station direction. Tons of neon lights (courtesy of Yodobashi and Sakura-ya stores).
- tatexi is spot on about Shibuya. If you want to shoot from a high perspective, I think that would be a decent option. You COULD try setting up a tall tripod on the Hachiko statue (dog statue, VERY crowded), it's about 2-3 feet from the ground, plus tripod you can have a good height for an interesting perspective. Since you're gonna be there Mon-Fri, obviously Fri night would be the most crowded.
- since you'll be heading to Shinjuku at night anyway, give Kabuki-cho a visit. Very interesting culture-rich area, I'm sure there'll be lots of good photo ops there (direction of San-chome). West Shinjuku has some pretty impressive architecture if you're into that sort of thing.

PM me if you need more info.