Welcome to Japan

Lanterns are one of the most popular photographic subjects in Japan. Had to get a few photos of my own in early to get it out of my system. 1/200s 50mm F1.8 ISO 160.

Living abroad had been a dream of mine since I was a child but as I was approaching thirty, I thought that the opportunity was long over, especially with time lost due to Covid. However, having met so many Japanese people on working holiday visas I thought I’d check to see if there was anything available to me, and low and behold there was a reciprocal scheme that I could apply for up until I turned thirty-one. It was about eighteen months ago that the plan was hatched, and it was a very long wait (or at least it seemed that way) until I applied for the visa and then finally arrived in Japan. I could have gone earlier but I wanted to spend more time in the UK saving up money and building my contact base first. A year volunteering with the Japan Society as their photographer was very helpful for the latter and has proved invaluable at this early stage.

My very first view of Mt.Fuji came before I even landed. It had been so warm that the snows have only just returned to the top of the mountain. 1/250s 70mm F8.0 ISO 64.

I also had an aerial view of the Tokyo and also Yokohama as you can see here. The city is endless. 1/250s 60mm F8.0 ISO 64.

But the wait is finally over. The fourteen-hour flight in economy was a real test of endurance and I struggled immensely in the first week with jetlag, but I have now been in Japan for six weeks and finding my feet. Tricky as this was not only my first time in Japan but my first time in Asia and the rhythm of how everything works is very different. But at least the initial the culture shock is long gone and thankfully so to the 35°C summer heatwave. That really was a shock to the system when I first arrived. Though Autumn is arriving much later here in Japan, and even at the beginning of November most trees are still very green, with only the first hints of autumn colours appearing now.

Tokyo is mostly made up of modern buildings but visiting the Imperial Palace is probably the best way to see more traditional architecture in the middle of the city. 1/125s 50mm F2.8 ISO 64.

Visiting Meiji Jingu, one of the most important shrines in Tokyo. 1/80s 44mm F4.0 ISO 80.

This high-rise building is much more representative of the architecture in Tokyo. 1/800s 50mm F2.8 ISO 64 Three-Photo Panoramic.

Given my change of location, you can also expect a change in content for the blog as for the foreseeable future it’ll be all about Japan. Up until now I’ve only been in and around Tokyo but next week I will travel for the first time to different parts of Japan and hopefully I’ll survive the experience on the night bus. It’s cheap if nothing else. I’ve not yet been to visit Mount Fuji, but I did manage to see it in its entirety as my plane was coming in to land. A good start to my adventures, but I hope to travel to the area at some point before Christmas.

Being Japan you can expect to see plenty of koi carp. 0.5s 70mm F9.0 ISO 64.

Inokashira is my local park and I am impressed by the bird species living there, including a family of night herons. 1/500s 200mm F2.8 ISO 320.

One thing that has surprised me is that I haven’t felt the urge to run around with my camera everyday like I have on other trips. This one is of course different given I’m actually living here for an extended period of time, however it has been good at times to take a break from creating images, to just wander around and enjoy being here and to have the time to acclimatise. My Japanese hasn’t improved as much as I would have liked so far but now I feel more settled I feel more able to learn and I am sure my progress will accelerate as the year goes on. I hope over the course of the next year you enjoy my travels through Japan and hopefully I might even see some of you out here.

Don Quijote - one of Japan’s most iconic stores, and this one in Shibuya draws in all the tourists. 1/200s 50mm F1.8 ISO 64.

The streets of Nakano at night. 1/250s 50mm F1.8 ISO 500 Three-Photo Panoramic.

If you enjoyed this blog then please consider leaving a top below.