Japan; every photographer should visit!
Discussion
This was my 5th trip to Japan - and I want to go back already! It's a fantastically inspirational place, if you ever lose your passion for photography, book a trip and bring plenty of memory cards! 
Japan5-80 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-163 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-12 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-199 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-15 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-32 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-57 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-36 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-58 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-72 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-172 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-96 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-100 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-145 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-166 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-141 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-181 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-177 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-183 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Many more here, feedback welcome.
Japan5-80 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-163 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-12 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-199 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-15 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-32 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-57 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-36 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-58 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-72 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-172 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-96 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-100 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-145 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-166 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-141 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-181 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-177 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Japan5-183 by motion_captured, on Flickr
Many more here, feedback welcome.
haha, no touge pics this time although I did go to a D1 event in Nikko last year....
And thanks Xaero, what are you doing in Japan, on holiday or living there? Saw your street photography pic on the other thread, I wanted to do more candids but I feel very uneasy pointing my lens at people....almost as uneasy as they look when they see me do it. You should have seen the look the bicycle girl gave me after this one - quite literally withering
So if anyone has some tips for looking less conspicuous on the street, I'd like to hear them!
And thanks Xaero, what are you doing in Japan, on holiday or living there? Saw your street photography pic on the other thread, I wanted to do more candids but I feel very uneasy pointing my lens at people....almost as uneasy as they look when they see me do it. You should have seen the look the bicycle girl gave me after this one - quite literally withering
So if anyone has some tips for looking less conspicuous on the street, I'd like to hear them!
Lovely shots, you timed it right for the sakura too! Agree entirely on your summary - we went three years ago (bloody hell, time flies...) and absolutely loved the place, as did my camera.
My best stuff here, if Tim's photos aren't inspiration enough!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48052912@N05/sets/721...
My best stuff here, if Tim's photos aren't inspiration enough!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48052912@N05/sets/721...
Currently out in Asia and one of the places we spoke about visiting was Japan, but no idea where to start! Was looking at something around April next year to catch the cherry blossom.
Just on a practical level, is it easy to get around, and outside of the cities does language become a bit of an issue?
Any pointers and suggestions would be most welcome
Thanks
Just on a practical level, is it easy to get around, and outside of the cities does language become a bit of an issue?
Any pointers and suggestions would be most welcome
Thanks
Glen will probably give the most detailed answer, but from our perspective (Apr-09 holiday)
- Sakura is pot-luck - typically early-mid April, but naturally is earlier in the south of the country and later in the north. Is also a very busy time as the Japanese take it very seriously - we went to Himeji Castle when the sakura was in full-flow and it was like Warwick Castle on a bank-holiday - people and families everywhere. Still organised, still worthwhile...just busy.
- Language - we didn't really go off the tourist path that much, but our first night meal was in a little back-street Izakaya in Hiroshima and it did devolve into "look in the phrase-book and hope" or "point at the menu and hope". I suspect if you're planning on 'going native' a little bit you'll find it an issue. Might be worth picking up a language CD and practising simple stuff for a couple of months before - I did, and was glad I did. That said, in Tokyo and Kyoto we had strangers offer assistance in very good english when we looked confused/lost.
- Getting around. A few threads on here, consensus is "don't bother driving unless you really have to". Trains are amazing - ALWAYS on time (we had one which was late and people were commenting on it!), modern, comfy, frequent. Get a "JR pass" before you go - all shinkansen travel except the super-fast Nozomi is included, as are most local trains. Buses take a little more planning but again very do-able. Metro was just like any other.
- People - unfalteringly polite, very helpful, often friendly. Culturally there were a few things we needed to get our head around - e.g. they don't like saying "no", even when they really mean "no", so if they sound like they're politely trying to dissuade you, there's probably a reason.
From a tourism perspective, the place was fabulous - from the neon megalopolis of central Tokyo to the big temples and parks to the quieter, 'local' places, the hills, the coast...just beautiful! Then there's the events - we didn't coincide with any sumo tournaments, but we did get to see a big Matsuri (classic festival) and we did get to Kamakura for their horseback archery display (in old samurai gear).
- Sakura is pot-luck - typically early-mid April, but naturally is earlier in the south of the country and later in the north. Is also a very busy time as the Japanese take it very seriously - we went to Himeji Castle when the sakura was in full-flow and it was like Warwick Castle on a bank-holiday - people and families everywhere. Still organised, still worthwhile...just busy.
- Language - we didn't really go off the tourist path that much, but our first night meal was in a little back-street Izakaya in Hiroshima and it did devolve into "look in the phrase-book and hope" or "point at the menu and hope". I suspect if you're planning on 'going native' a little bit you'll find it an issue. Might be worth picking up a language CD and practising simple stuff for a couple of months before - I did, and was glad I did. That said, in Tokyo and Kyoto we had strangers offer assistance in very good english when we looked confused/lost.
- Getting around. A few threads on here, consensus is "don't bother driving unless you really have to". Trains are amazing - ALWAYS on time (we had one which was late and people were commenting on it!), modern, comfy, frequent. Get a "JR pass" before you go - all shinkansen travel except the super-fast Nozomi is included, as are most local trains. Buses take a little more planning but again very do-able. Metro was just like any other.
- People - unfalteringly polite, very helpful, often friendly. Culturally there were a few things we needed to get our head around - e.g. they don't like saying "no", even when they really mean "no", so if they sound like they're politely trying to dissuade you, there's probably a reason.
From a tourism perspective, the place was fabulous - from the neon megalopolis of central Tokyo to the big temples and parks to the quieter, 'local' places, the hills, the coast...just beautiful! Then there's the events - we didn't coincide with any sumo tournaments, but we did get to see a big Matsuri (classic festival) and we did get to Kamakura for their horseback archery display (in old samurai gear).
great photos.
im off to japan in october for work and am considering tacking a short holiday onto the end of my trip (would be silly not to).
I'll be closeish to tokyo.. so... where is good to go that isn't tokyo? (would spend a day or two there but presumably better to go somewhere else?).
it's quite hard to come up with any ideas since I know literally nothing about japan.
can't wait though.
im off to japan in october for work and am considering tacking a short holiday onto the end of my trip (would be silly not to).
I'll be closeish to tokyo.. so... where is good to go that isn't tokyo? (would spend a day or two there but presumably better to go somewhere else?).
it's quite hard to come up with any ideas since I know literally nothing about japan.
can't wait though.
Use Psychology said:
great photos.
im off to japan in october for work and am considering tacking a short holiday onto the end of my trip (would be silly not to).
I'll be closeish to tokyo.. so... where is good to go that isn't tokyo? (would spend a day or two there but presumably better to go somewhere else?).
it's quite hard to come up with any ideas since I know literally nothing about japan.
can't wait though.
Havoc's words above are very true.im off to japan in october for work and am considering tacking a short holiday onto the end of my trip (would be silly not to).
I'll be closeish to tokyo.. so... where is good to go that isn't tokyo? (would spend a day or two there but presumably better to go somewhere else?).
it's quite hard to come up with any ideas since I know literally nothing about japan.
can't wait though.
Give me a clue about what you want to do: cities? mountains? temples? And how long you want to spend?
October is Autumn colours season and for me, possibly the best time of year to be in Japan, the other being Sakura (blossom season). It will be busy as it is the other holiday season so weekends will be mayhem.
The short list of things you should do:
Tokyo: Akihabara, Imperial palace gardens, shibuya, shinjuku, roppongi, odaiba
Close to Tokyo: Hakone, Nara, Nikko
Further afield: Hiroshima, Kyoto
JR pass is great if you are going to use it lots ie more than just Hiroshima and back. Otherwise http://www.japanican.com/index.aspx is your friend. Getting around by train is dead easy.
Although it wasn't on our radar before we went, I can honestly say that it is a place that needs to be experienced. A couple of other PHers have been out there during our stay too so a chat with Carreauchompeur and choptop as well as havoc could be useful.
If you want to spend some time reading about what it is like to live there and some phots of our travels then the link to my blog is in my profile.
Edited by GlenMH on Sunday 29th April 13:58
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