Japan, an island nation in East Asia, is a captivating blend of ancient tradition and cutting-edge modernity. From the bustling cities of Tokyo and Osaka, filled with neon lights, skyscrapers, and technological marvels, to the serene temples, shrines, and gardens of Kyoto and Nara, Japan offers a diverse range of experiences. Its stunning natural landscapes include Mount Fuji, cherry blossom-lined rivers, and rugged coastlines, as well as hot spring resorts like Hakone and Beppu that invite relaxation. Japan is also renowned for its rich culture, from traditional tea ceremonies, sumo wrestling, and geisha performances to pop culture phenomena like anime and manga. With its efficient transportation system, delicious cuisine—ranging from sushi and ramen to regional specialties—and warm hospitality, Japan is a destination that seamlessly combines history, nature, and innovation, offering something unforgettable for every traveler. Here are some of the photos I captured during my visits. Enjoy your virtual tour!
Koto demonstration for the new year in Tokyo Midtown. The koto is a traditional Japanese string instrument with a long, elegant wooden body that looks slightly like a boat that decided to become musical. It usually has thirteen strings stretched over movable bridges, which players shift carefully before performing. This simple detail allows endless variations…
Right next to Tokyo Midtown, Hinokicho Park feels like someone accidentally left a slice of calm behind. Step away from the glass towers and you land among trees, stone paths and a small pond where koi drift about as if deadlines do not exist. Office workers eat lunch on benches, photographers linger longer than planned, and the city…
New Year visit at the Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Jinja, one of the oldest and most important Shinto shrines in the Kanto region, tucked inside a surprisingly vast forest in Omiya. A long gravel approach lined with towering trees slows you down nicely, even if your mind is racing ahead. The shrine itself feels calm and…
Spice Labs Tokyo sits quietly in Tokyo, the sort of place you could walk past a dozen times while hunting for a coffee and regret later. Inside, it feels calm and focused, like a small workshop where everyone knows exactly what they are doing. The cooking leans Indian but refuses to behave. Spices are layered…
Akasaka subway station slips into character with impressive commitment when Harry Potter takes over the neighbourhood. The usual metro signage is suddenly joined by house colours, glowing posters, wizarding graphics and just enough theatrical lighting to make you half-expect a spell to be announced instead of a subway line.
A typical Japanese neighbourhood in transition. The older houses are about fifty years old, two floors, a small garden out front or tucked round the back, enough space to breathe and enough light to remind you what season it is. These places feel lived in, not optimised. Sadly, they are being replaced, one plot at…
There is something quietly cinematic about underground passages in the Tokyo subway. Shot on a Leica with the 35mm APO Summicron, the scene looks just awesome. The APO rendering gives everything a clean, calm look without tipping into clinical. It is sharp, yes, but the kind of sharpness that does not wave its arms for…
A cluster of pink sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ growing at my house, with thick, fleshy green leaves and sturdy stems topped by broad flower heads. The blooms are made up of dozens of tiny star-shaped flowers, some still bright pink while others are starting to deepen in color as the season progresses. I love them—tough, low-maintenance, and quietly…
Tori-no-Ichi at Ohtori Shrine near Sugamo has a cosy, neighbourhood mood that feels different from the big Asakusa version. The lanterns glow softly along the narrow approach, and the air smells of grilled squid, sweet amazake and those smoky little charcoal stoves the food vendors love. You tend to follow the crowd without really knowing…
At a matsuri you end up drifting through crowds that feel as if the whole town has emptied itself into the lantern-lit streets. You get teenagers in yukata glued to their phones, elderly couples strolling at a pace that would confuse a stopwatch, kids darting around like they’ve just discovered sugar exists, and office workers…
