Inside Story: Capture Memorable Moments in Tokyo!
May. 21, 2024Hello, this is the Holiday Travel editorial team. In our “Inside Story” series, we ask our travel staff, who are the product planners, to share the stories behind the products we sell at Holiday Travel! In this first issue, we would like to introduce our popular “Tokyo Snapshot Service”. The Tokyo Snapshot Service allows you to capture both casual and special moments with the beautiful scenery of Tokyo. This service is designed to photograph everything from everyday moments to perfect memories, all set against the backdrop of Tokyo's iconic landscapes. We will introduce some of the photos we have taken so far, along with comments from our travel staff photographer. They will share recommended photo spots and tips to keep in mind when taking photos!
Here are the travel products we are introducing!
- Shooting time: 1 hour
- Languages available: English, Chinese, Korean
- Shooting location：Available anywhere in Tokyo
- Photo delivery：We will provide more than 100 original data within one week.
Photos taken so far
This time, we are joined by Jason, the organizer and photographer of the Snapshot Service! Thank you very much for your time.
Hello, my name is Jason. I'm a photographer, and I'm always checking the latest trends on social networking services, so I can suggest the latest popular spots and ways to take good pictures! I've lived in Tokyo for many years, so I know a lot of great spots, so if you don't want to take the same pictures as everyone else, I'm here to help!
Let's take a look at the photos!
Overwhelming popularity! Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Shibuya Scramble Crossing is by far the most popular photo spot. It is a spot where you can take pictures with Tokyo's typical skyscrapers, colorful billboards, and many people passing by in the background.
This is the place to be when talking about Shibuya! The atmosphere of the photo will change depending on the angle from which it is taken, so I recommend trying out different patterns.
Both the signs around the area and the images on the monitors change frequently, so you will never be able to take the same picture twice; it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! You can enjoy a different view every time you come here, and the biggest attraction of this place is that you will never get bored no matter how many times you come!
Neon background
The neon district at night is also very Tokyo-like and a recommended photo spot. You can take pictures with large buildings in the background, or you can take great pictures in the alleys and side streets lined with small stores.
Near the tunnel under the railroad tracks. This is the spot where you can see the neon lights of Kabukicho. It is a little-known spot! (There are many pedestrians, so be careful not to disturb them when taking pictures.)
"Omoide Yokocho" is a drinking district with the atmosphere of Showa-era (1926-1989) Japan. Located right next to Shinjuku Kabukicho, it is also a convenient spot to photograph both “modern Japan” and “old Japan".
Daytime side streets are also recommended.
Yokocho, alley lined with izakaya (Japanese style pubs), has a nice atmosphere at night when the red lanterns are lit, but visiting during the daytime is also recommended. If you like a chaotic atmosphere, be sure to check it out.
Basically, all drinking areas near downtown are crowded at night. If you don't like crowds, daytime is the best time to visit! Although you won't see the neon lights, you can take your time to capture photos without being disturbed by the surroundings and enjoy the unique atmosphere of the daytime drinking district.
"Shinjuku Golden Gai" has been the location for many movies and TV dramas. The town itself looks like a film set. If you want to take pictures that look like a scene from a movie, aim for the daytime hours when there are few people around!
Pedestrian Bridge
The pedestrian bridge is one of the most popular spots for photography. From this angle, you can capture stunning photos directly above the road, featuring open spaces and skyscrapers in the background.
The charm of pedestrian bridges is that you can capture a different view just by changing your perspective a little.
You can enjoy your favorite background all to yourself, undisturbed by passersby around you ♪
In fact, there are many recommended pedestrian bridges in Tokyo, such as the Omotesando pedestrian bridge where you can see the beautiful green and neat cityscape in the background, and the Fudanotsuji-bashi pedestrian bridge where you can photograph Tokyo Tower beautifully! If you find a pedestrian bridge, climb it!
Looking down on Tokyo from a high place
One of the unique views of Tokyo is the view from the observatory. Particularly recommended is Shibuya Sky, located on the top floor of Shibuya Scramble Square! You can see the sky and the Tokyo cityscape beyond the glass wall.
The lack of a ceiling gives it a great sense of openness! Because of this, it is easily affected by the weather, but the view on a fine day is exceptional! You can enjoy the beautiful scenery all day long, but the most popular time is in the evening. Take the best picture with the setting sun in the background.
**Note: Admission fees to the specific facility are not included in our service. You will be responsible for covering these costs.*
Theme parks
We can accompany you on photo shoots even inside theme parks, which are popular tourist attractions. We will take commemorative photo snapshots.
The most popular recent location for the tour is the “Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo - Making of Harry Potter”. There are many photo shooting points in the facility, so you can take a variety of shots. The merchandise store also sells robes and accessories that immerse you in the world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, so you can take photos with your costume in place.
**Admission fees are not included.*
Shooting in uniquely Japanese locations
As well as the Shibuya Scramble Crossing and the Tokyo Tower, the Holiday Travel staff also recommends shooting in a typically Japanese setting. "Japanese Vibes" can be diverse, and we have taken many photos in the past. We would like to introduce them to you by scene.
Cherry Blossom
Cherry blossom season is a time of year when we receive many inquiries, especially for our snapshot service. While it is difficult to predict the exact timing of the full bloom, and challenging to time it perfectly, it is possible to capture incredibly beautiful photos.
I visited popular cherry blossom viewing spots and found them all crowded with people! I'm sure many of you have felt a bit disappointed by the crowds. In such cases, we recommend visiting lesser-known spots. We have many carefully selected locations, so please feel free to contact us!
I have experienced taking pictures of cherry blossoms when they were not at their best because they bloomed later than predicted. We have suggestions for both early and late blooming spots, so feel free to ask!
Wear a Kimono or Yukata and blend in with Tokyo!
Kimono and yukata rental is a popular activity in Tokyo. If you have the opportunity to wear a kimono or yukata, you should definitely take advantage of our snapshot shooting service. Wearing a kimono or yukata adds a special atmosphere to your photos, making them even more memorable.
Although you can take beautiful photos with just a kimono, we recommend renting items that go well with kimono (Japanese umbrella, Japanese fan, kimono bag, etc.) together to increase the variety of your photo shoot.
Kimono dressing takes time (depending on the item, it may take more than one hour). To avoid being in a rush on the day of the photo shoot, make a schedule that allows plenty of time for dressing.
Kimonos make it a little harder to walk, so if you get tired during the photo shoot, take a break. You can take good pictures even while taking a break too!
When it comes to kimonos in Tokyo, Asakusa is the place to be. Photographing at Sensoji Temple, along Nakamise Street, or in front of the stores is a surefire way to capture stunning pictures. The only drawback is the large crowds these days. Early in the morning and late at night are relatively empty, so I recommend aiming for those times. The pictures on the shutters that appear when the stores on Nakamise Street are closed are also wonderful, so be sure to take photos with them.
Scenery scattered throughout the city
Typical Japanese scenery is scattered throughout the city. Temples, food stalls, even in front of izakaya (Japanese-style pubs). Everywhere is a photo spot. Although not the most famous spots, such scenery is also very Japanese, isn't it?
A new discovery may be waiting just around the corner! Let's take a stroll through the city and find a wonderful encounter!
There are surprises in unexpected places! You may find a spot that no one knows about yet!
Even in an ordinary bar area, you can take many Japanese-style photos!
Riverside
Although the eye tends to be drawn to the high-rise buildings, the riverside is another typical Tokyo scenery. Each bridge across the river has its own unique character, so we recommend taking pictures with your favorite bridge in the background.
It is often said that Tokyo has a narrow sky. If you want to take pictures of the beautiful sky, a riverside location with good visibility is the perfect place. Some cherry trees are planted along the river, making it a popular spot during the cherry blossom season.
A casual place
Even street corners that seem to have no name can be photographed wonderfully. In front of a retro store, a bus stop, next to a vending machine, or a small park. Photographs that seem to blend in with everyday life in Japan are also memorable.
Old store signs add a nice touch to photos.
The bus stop has the name of the place written on it, so it's worth taking one as a reminder of your trip!
Japanese vending machines are really popular. At night, the lights are turned on, so you can take a different kind of picture.
General stores and stalls with lots of cute items can also make good photo opportunities! (Please make sure you are allowed to photograph them.)
Rather than popular cherry blossom spots, small parks like this one, which can be found anywhere, are often the best places to take beautiful pictures of cherry blossoms!
Family Photo
Finally, many people may think of snapshot services as being for individuals or couples, but we recommend using this service for families and groups! It's also a great way to save money when you use the service with a large group of people.
Although it is possible to take pictures of each other when traveling in a group, we still recommend taking a group photo with all the members together! Use our service to capture a commemorative photo of everyone. It will definitely be a memorable experience!
Our photographer will suggest many spots and poses for beautiful family photos, so don't worry!
In this issue, we have presented photos taken by our snapshot service. These are just a few examples of the photos we have taken. There are many more wonderful places to take pictures in Tokyo, so please feel free to consult with us about the best photo spots and take advantage of our Snapshot Plan.
Bonus
This is me during the photo shoot. I put my body on the line everyday to take great pictures!
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