Japan is one of the hottest travel destinations right now, with visitor numbers exploding since borders reopened in late 2022 following the pandemic.
As a five-time visitor, I often get asked why I keep going back. The answer is simple: there's so much to see and do in Japan, and best of all, there's an extraordinary range of opportunities for photographers.
Once seen as an expensive place to visit, Japan has recently become very good value for money due to the lower value of the yen.
I hope this list gives you some inspiration if you're heading to Japan, or perhaps even inspires you to plan your first visit!
1. Landmarks
Photographing iconic Japanese landmarks is at the top of many visitor’s shot list. There’s no landmark more famous than Mt Fuji, but even if you make a trip to Hakone or Kawaguchiko for a closer look, weather conditions might not be favorable for the perfect shot.
Thankfully, there are plenty of other famous landmarks. From Fushimi Inari Shrine and the World Heritage-listed Buddhist temples of Kyoto, to Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Crossing, and the Great Buddha of Kamakura.
If you love photographing animals, Japan can provide a little more of a challenge. Typically, you’ll need to do your research before you arrive and head out of the big cities when you get there. Nara’s famous deer park is one of the most obvious places for many visitors.
You can also photograph Japan’s stunning birdlife if you bring a telephoto lens. My Olympus 40-150mm f/4 lens (full frame equivalent 80-300mm) was just long enough for some nice shots, but serious bird photographers would need more reach.
Some of my favorite images of Japan feature the wonderful Japanese people going about their daily lives. Photographing people can be a little tricky in Japan, especially if, like me, you can’t speak Japanese. Always remember to be respectful and polite.
I’ve found the pocket-sized Ricoh GR III ideal for these types of photos and understand now why it’s loved by so many street photographers.
Japan’s public transport system is the envy of the world, from the world’s busiest train stations to small branch lines in the countryside — and my personal favorite — the trams that crisscross many cities.
Trains and trams aside, there are also opportunities to photograph other forms of transport, including cars, taxis, ropeways, and boats.
Japan’s shrines and temples are rich in history and a natural drawcard for many overseas visitors. The contrast between ancient structures and stunning natural beauty provides you with so many opportunities for stunning photos.
Each temple or shrine is unique, but at Shinto shrines, I love the bright red colors, and at Buddhist temples, I usually photograph statues and gardens. There are also plenty of opportunities for detail shots, such as ema (wish plaques). Arrive early to avoid crowds, and always be respectful of directions for where you can and cannot take photos.
Japan’s diverse natural landscapes offer photographers breathtaking scenery year-round. From snow-capped mountains to lush bamboo groves, you’ll never run out of inspiration. Heading off the beaten track to places like Koyasan, you’ll find forests shrouded in mist evoking a mystical atmosphere, while coastal cliffs and beaches provide dramatic views.
Japan’s cherry blossoms, or sakura, are almost as iconic as Mt Fuji. A colorful and vibrant symbol of spring, they also have a deeper meaning. Their short lifespan is a reminder of the fleeting and transient nature of all living things.
Many tourists plan their trips in cherry blossom season, hoping to be at the right place at the right time. Thankfully, the cherry blossom forecast map available online gives you predictions on where and when to see them all over the country. Plan your visit well, and with a bit of luck, you may even capture them with dramatic backdrops like Himeji Castle. Also, look out for the equally vibrant plum blossoms.
If you can’t make it to Japan in spring, nature has another treat up its sleeve for you. Stretching from October through to December, the fall colors happen all over the country. Make sure you check out Japan’s official autumn foliage forecast online for a guide on what colors to expect, where, and when. For those of us who come from warmer climates and never get to experience this at home, this is a fantastic time to visit Japan.
When walking around big cities or small towns, there are often moments that stop me in my tracks. I’ll see something unique, interesting, or funny that I just have to take a photo of. These are my ‘only in Japan’ moments.
Japan is a gastronomic haven, perfect for capturing stunning food photography. Even if you barely know your ramen from your karage, you’ll still have a lot of fun eating and taking photos. Explore vibrant street food stalls, izakayas, character cafes, and high-end restaurants. Try to capture the artistry of sushi, sashimi, and kaiseki meals with their precise plating and vivid colors.
For me, every day starts with coffee. This might seem like an odd category to include in this list, but I was blown away by how good Japanese coffee is. From ultra-modern cafes serving up flat whites and cold brews, to traditional Showa-era places that have barely changed since the 1950s. Some of my favorite interactions with locals have taken place while getting my daily fix.
Japan’s markets are a dream for photographers. I’d skip the well-known places on the tourist trail and head for local markets in small towns or the suburbs. There are plenty of opportunities to photograph fresh produce, seasonal fruits, and local specialties. Try to capture interesting textures, shapes, and colors. Markets are also great for candid shots of daily life with buyers and sellers interacting. The wide 28mm equivalent lens of the GR III is perfect for this.
Matt Murray is a travel and portrait photographer from Brisbane, Australia.
Matt loves shooting with compact cameras: both film and digital. His YouTube features reviews of film cameras, film stocks, and travel photography with the Ricoh GR III, Fujifilm X100V, and Olympus OM-1.
See more of Matt's photography and writing on his Substack.
A word of warning for the more adventurous street shooters from someone who lived there through the 1990s: Be very wary of getting close to the ultranationalist political agitators who parade around in buses with huge loudspeakers haranguing the public around election time. They're right-wing extremists linked with the yakuza (organized crime syndicates), they can be quite unhinged, they thrive on intimidation and violence, and if they decide to get personal with you, nobody, not even the police, will help you. They are the Brown Shirts of Japan's conservative political parties.
John Williams, what are you disagreeing with? How long did you live in Japan? Are you fluent in Japanese? Have you ever read Karel Von Wolferen's landmark book about the nature of power relations in Japanese government, history and culture, "The Enigma of Japanese Power"?
I witnessed the efforts - unimpeded by local police who just watched - of wannabe yaks to intimidate locals, and I read news accounts of police failure to intervene in public murders by them. Watch Juzo Itami's movie "Minbo" AKA "The Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion" - it'll enlighten you about suppression of dissent and enforcement of control by organized crime, so convenient to conservative power and protected by it. That is why the thugs slashed Itami's face six days after the movie's debut - he was too close to the truth. I was not exaggerating when I referred to Mussolini's Brown Shirts.
Most Japanese are extremely polite. Aside from the intrinsic charms of civility, it's a survival mechanism in a culture where ordinary citizens have never been fully safe from the depredations of power sustained by violence.
Great list, Matt. Japan is a photographer’s dream, and you captured exactly why—there’s so much variety, from iconic landmarks to everyday street scenes. I like how you emphasize seasonality because timing is everything, especially for cherry blossoms and fall colors. Those moments can make or break a trip.
The section on people and markets stood out to me. Some of my favorite images come from just observing daily life, and Japan has a way of making the ordinary look cinematic. I also appreciate the callout to cafes. A good coffee spot isn’t just about the drink—it’s a great place to meet locals and catch interesting candid shots.
You’ve definitely given me more ideas for my next trip. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.
Thanks Paul! Yes! I've found so many good cafes in Japan, it's not something people talk about much but there's some fantastic places. The photo in this article is from Kurasu in Kyoto, it was the best flat white I've ever had. The next day I went back and ordered two - one to have in the cafe and one to take away. Local markets are such a great place to go as you see real locals going about their everyday lives, a world away from the touristy places.
Great video, but sort of sad for me. A few months ago, my best friend asked what my first choice would be if visited another country. I said Japan. However, I can't afford to travel.
I enjoyed all the videos and information I have seen from you. Looking forward to more.
Based on by 20+ trips to photograph Japan, these are my favorite places to photograph:
1. Kyoto's autumn leaves at the temples, shrines, and villas (you didn't mention the villas, but they are must see spots to photograph in Kyoto, reservation required).
2. Farm Tomita (late July).
3. Shikisai Hills (late July).
4. Shibazakura Festival (Fujikawaguchiko, late April early May).
5. The three top gardens (Kenroku-en, Koraku-en, Kairaku-en). But, you also have to add the Adachi Museum of Art.
6. Ashikaga Flower Park when the wisteria blooms (late April early May).
7. Hitachi Seaside Park when the "Baby Blue Eyes" bloom (late April early May).
8. The islands of Matsushima Bay.
9. Shirakawa-go (and nearby Takayama, ideally during the spring or fall festival).
10. A fire festival. My favorite - The Biei Fire Festival.
11. Aomori Nebuta Festival. Make sure to get a reservation for a good photo spot.
12. Daisetsuzan National Park (early October).
13. The rolling hills of Biei.
14. Geothermal spots: Mt. Aso and Sakurajima.
15. Matsumoto Castle.
16. The streets of Uchiko and Yokaichi.
To name just a few. Lots of photos to make.
Amazing list, visiting Japan is one of my biggest dreams, I really hope to see this amazing country with my own eyes one day and make a whole Smartshow 3d slideshow with pictures taken there
Left driving is normal to me having lived in Australia and the UK all my life ha ha! I hear positive things about hiring cars there, so I must do that sometime. For my trip this year I'm taking trains as I'm a bit of a railway nerd!
https://www.leodejongfotografie.nl/japan2024
A lot of photos (and to be honest a lost more well known spots than i normally prefer) but at about 40% starts my car rental time.
Driving in Kansai and Izu was so relaxed in contrast to the big cities. If there's a next time i'd skip all the famous spots especially for photography. But i'm glad i saw them as a first time visitor.
Be aware that on almost all roads that are not tolled expressways, the speed limit is no more than 50kph (30mph). Also, the cities are surrounded by byzantine access to intercity expressways that can be very tricky to navigate. Finally, roads in the mountains can be extremely narrow, often requiring one car to pull off the road for another to pass in the opposite direction, and those roads can be very twisty and steep.
Driving in Japan generally requires much more focused attention than driving in, say, Europe, especially if you are not used to it, unfamiliar with the routes, and unable to read many of the signs. I lived and drove motorcycles there for the entire decade of the 1990s. Being able to see areas far from metropolitan centers was hugely rewarding, but I had lots of time to adapt. Now, I live in New York City, and by comparison it's an easier city to get out of than Tokyo. That's really saying something.
The roads of Tokyo were designed to confuse and thwart invaders. The concept of a grid is nowhere to be found.
I wouldn't recommend driving in the big cities, but the coast areas of Kansai and Izu were extremely easy. And i never seen another country before where people drive this defensive.
Izu is a nice destination - especially the rotenburo (outdoor hot springs) - but on a summer weekend it can be a parking lot. What starts out as a day-trip becomes an overnight ordeal. Better to book a night at an inn with its own outdoor baths and take a train there and back.
It once took me several hours on a motorcycle, splitting lanes and driving on the shoulder, to creep back to Tokyo, just 100 miles away.
As for defensive driving, I was very nearly mowed down from behind on an expressway at night by some punks in a Nissan Bluebird (the domestic name of a fire-breathing rocket) who were doing well over 100mph. As they were very aggressive, I couldn't outrun them, and there was no way to get off the expressway, I had to stop on the shoulder and wait to see what they'd do rather than let them run me over on the road. There were four of them, and they were undoubtedly wannabe yaks.
John Williams thinks Izu is NOT a nice destination. Or maybe he hates hot springs. Or because he hasn't personally experienced the traffic jams, he thinks they don't happen. Or maybe he was one of the punks who nearly ran me over.
Definitely agree. Rent a car unless you plan to stay in a big city, such as Tokyo and/or Osaka, or are going to take very basic day trips from those types of big cities, in which case, you can take a train or bus. I've rented a car in Japan more than a dozen times. You can't realistically see Hokkaido, for example, by train or bus. The car rentals have excellent, modern in-dash displays the size of an iPad. You can turn on English, they even have audible directions in English. Plus, the big car rental companies have map systems with pre-programed directions to major tourist sites. For example, you could press Number 1 and the map will immediately bring up directions to Blue Lagoon or your favorite temple, shrine, etc. Its impossible to get lost. Again, don't rent a car for travel in a big city. Also, make sure you have your international driver's license, which in the US, you can get at your nearest AAA insurance dealer for $15.
A word of warning for the more adventurous street shooters from someone who lived there through the 1990s: Be very wary of getting close to the ultranationalist political agitators who parade around in buses with huge loudspeakers haranguing the public around election time. They're right-wing extremists linked with the yakuza (organized crime syndicates), they can be quite unhinged, they thrive on intimidation and violence, and if they decide to get personal with you, nobody, not even the police, will help you. They are the Brown Shirts of Japan's conservative political parties.
Gosh Jacques, thankfully I've never seen any of those people!
John Williams, what are you disagreeing with? How long did you live in Japan? Are you fluent in Japanese? Have you ever read Karel Von Wolferen's landmark book about the nature of power relations in Japanese government, history and culture, "The Enigma of Japanese Power"?
I witnessed the efforts - unimpeded by local police who just watched - of wannabe yaks to intimidate locals, and I read news accounts of police failure to intervene in public murders by them. Watch Juzo Itami's movie "Minbo" AKA "The Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion" - it'll enlighten you about suppression of dissent and enforcement of control by organized crime, so convenient to conservative power and protected by it. That is why the thugs slashed Itami's face six days after the movie's debut - he was too close to the truth. I was not exaggerating when I referred to Mussolini's Brown Shirts.
Most Japanese are extremely polite. Aside from the intrinsic charms of civility, it's a survival mechanism in a culture where ordinary citizens have never been fully safe from the depredations of power sustained by violence.
Great list, Matt. Japan is a photographer’s dream, and you captured exactly why—there’s so much variety, from iconic landmarks to everyday street scenes. I like how you emphasize seasonality because timing is everything, especially for cherry blossoms and fall colors. Those moments can make or break a trip.
The section on people and markets stood out to me. Some of my favorite images come from just observing daily life, and Japan has a way of making the ordinary look cinematic. I also appreciate the callout to cafes. A good coffee spot isn’t just about the drink—it’s a great place to meet locals and catch interesting candid shots.
You’ve definitely given me more ideas for my next trip. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.
Paul Tocatlian
Kisau Photography
www.kisau.com
Thanks Paul! Yes! I've found so many good cafes in Japan, it's not something people talk about much but there's some fantastic places. The photo in this article is from Kurasu in Kyoto, it was the best flat white I've ever had. The next day I went back and ordered two - one to have in the cafe and one to take away. Local markets are such a great place to go as you see real locals going about their everyday lives, a world away from the touristy places.
A flat white so good you had to get two—that says it all!
yes ha ha! so good :)
You can see more of my Japan photography in my Japan Pics Substack https://japanpics.substack.com/
Great video, but sort of sad for me. A few months ago, my best friend asked what my first choice would be if visited another country. I said Japan. However, I can't afford to travel.
I enjoyed all the videos and information I have seen from you. Looking forward to more.
I'm sorry to hear that Mike, I hope you get there sometime! Thank you for the kind words.
Based on by 20+ trips to photograph Japan, these are my favorite places to photograph:
1. Kyoto's autumn leaves at the temples, shrines, and villas (you didn't mention the villas, but they are must see spots to photograph in Kyoto, reservation required).
2. Farm Tomita (late July).
3. Shikisai Hills (late July).
4. Shibazakura Festival (Fujikawaguchiko, late April early May).
5. The three top gardens (Kenroku-en, Koraku-en, Kairaku-en). But, you also have to add the Adachi Museum of Art.
6. Ashikaga Flower Park when the wisteria blooms (late April early May).
7. Hitachi Seaside Park when the "Baby Blue Eyes" bloom (late April early May).
8. The islands of Matsushima Bay.
9. Shirakawa-go (and nearby Takayama, ideally during the spring or fall festival).
10. A fire festival. My favorite - The Biei Fire Festival.
11. Aomori Nebuta Festival. Make sure to get a reservation for a good photo spot.
12. Daisetsuzan National Park (early October).
13. The rolling hills of Biei.
14. Geothermal spots: Mt. Aso and Sakurajima.
15. Matsumoto Castle.
16. The streets of Uchiko and Yokaichi.
To name just a few. Lots of photos to make.
Wow 20+ trips is very impressive Chris! I have been to about a quarter of your list ha ha. Hoping to add some of your other picks to future trips!
Amazing list, visiting Japan is one of my biggest dreams, I really hope to see this amazing country with my own eyes one day and make a whole Smartshow 3d slideshow with pictures taken there
Thanks Catherine, I hope you get there sometime and get to put together your slideshow!
Don't be afraid to rent a car despite the left driving and strange signs.
The 10 days drive was maybe my best part of the experience.
Left driving is normal to me having lived in Australia and the UK all my life ha ha! I hear positive things about hiring cars there, so I must do that sometime. For my trip this year I'm taking trains as I'm a bit of a railway nerd!
https://www.leodejongfotografie.nl/japan2024
A lot of photos (and to be honest a lost more well known spots than i normally prefer) but at about 40% starts my car rental time.
Driving in Kansai and Izu was so relaxed in contrast to the big cities. If there's a next time i'd skip all the famous spots especially for photography. But i'm glad i saw them as a first time visitor.
great photos Leo!
Thanks. :)
Be aware that on almost all roads that are not tolled expressways, the speed limit is no more than 50kph (30mph). Also, the cities are surrounded by byzantine access to intercity expressways that can be very tricky to navigate. Finally, roads in the mountains can be extremely narrow, often requiring one car to pull off the road for another to pass in the opposite direction, and those roads can be very twisty and steep.
Driving in Japan generally requires much more focused attention than driving in, say, Europe, especially if you are not used to it, unfamiliar with the routes, and unable to read many of the signs. I lived and drove motorcycles there for the entire decade of the 1990s. Being able to see areas far from metropolitan centers was hugely rewarding, but I had lots of time to adapt. Now, I live in New York City, and by comparison it's an easier city to get out of than Tokyo. That's really saying something.
The roads of Tokyo were designed to confuse and thwart invaders. The concept of a grid is nowhere to be found.
I wouldn't recommend driving in the big cities, but the coast areas of Kansai and Izu were extremely easy. And i never seen another country before where people drive this defensive.
Izu is a nice destination - especially the rotenburo (outdoor hot springs) - but on a summer weekend it can be a parking lot. What starts out as a day-trip becomes an overnight ordeal. Better to book a night at an inn with its own outdoor baths and take a train there and back.
It once took me several hours on a motorcycle, splitting lanes and driving on the shoulder, to creep back to Tokyo, just 100 miles away.
As for defensive driving, I was very nearly mowed down from behind on an expressway at night by some punks in a Nissan Bluebird (the domestic name of a fire-breathing rocket) who were doing well over 100mph. As they were very aggressive, I couldn't outrun them, and there was no way to get off the expressway, I had to stop on the shoulder and wait to see what they'd do rather than let them run me over on the road. There were four of them, and they were undoubtedly wannabe yaks.
John Williams thinks Izu is NOT a nice destination. Or maybe he hates hot springs. Or because he hasn't personally experienced the traffic jams, he thinks they don't happen. Or maybe he was one of the punks who nearly ran me over.
John Williams has nothing to say.
Definitely agree. Rent a car unless you plan to stay in a big city, such as Tokyo and/or Osaka, or are going to take very basic day trips from those types of big cities, in which case, you can take a train or bus. I've rented a car in Japan more than a dozen times. You can't realistically see Hokkaido, for example, by train or bus. The car rentals have excellent, modern in-dash displays the size of an iPad. You can turn on English, they even have audible directions in English. Plus, the big car rental companies have map systems with pre-programed directions to major tourist sites. For example, you could press Number 1 and the map will immediately bring up directions to Blue Lagoon or your favorite temple, shrine, etc. Its impossible to get lost. Again, don't rent a car for travel in a big city. Also, make sure you have your international driver's license, which in the US, you can get at your nearest AAA insurance dealer for $15.