2 week holiday to Japan

[draw_de]

Hey all,

I have a few questions regarding traveling with film.
1. Are fuji film readily available?
2. are they cheap?
3. Should I bring as much as I can from home?
4. Buying from Japan vs bringing them from home lessens the exposure to xrays?
5. How many rolls do people bring on average 2 week vacation?
6. Places to buy film? ( staying in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto )

I will need a combination of 35mm and 120

Thanks
Edward

 

[mooseontheloose]

Hi Edward,

Film (especially Fuji film!) is readily available in Japan, in all formats, although you would have to go to specialist places to get sizes larger than 120. The best places to buy film are:

Yodobashi Camera (Tokyo, Osaka)
Bic Camera (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, everywhere)
Kitamura Camera (in smaller centres, smaller stock, mostly digital but still has some film stuff)

Yodobashi and Bic Camera are usually located near train stations in all major cities. Google maps will help you pinpoint the locations. The Shinjuku branch of Yodobashi is the Mecca of film photographers around the world (the photo stream I linked is one of many). Be warned though -- Yodobashi in Tokyo is not one store, but spread over multiple buildings. The film store is in one of the smaller buildings, and the film will be on the main floor of the building. Upper levels will have other kinds of (film) gear (tripods, lighting, etc).

You don't say where you are located, but film in Japan is a bit more expensive than the US, but about the same as Canada/Europe (give or take). I wouldn't worry about x-rays at all (I've flown in and out of airports with up to 10 scans in one trip with no problems). I guess buying film in Japan will depend on how paranoid you are about it. I live here now, but when I flew here for vacation I brought some film with me from home to get me started, and bought the rest in Japan. Film is kept in coolers and is open to the customer -- there's no asking for it because it's locked behind the counter somewhere. You just take what you want and bring it to the counter. Expensive items (sheet film and often 5-roll (or more) boxes of 120 film) tend to be empty -- you take the box (or the paper) to the counter and they'll give you the film when you pay for it.

As for the number of rolls, that'll depend on what you like to shoot. When I bring two formats, I usually bring enough for two rolls a day overall, with 2/3 going to 120 and 1/3 to 35mm, and about the same split in black and white and colour. But I also consider high profile places where I'll probably want to shoot multiple rolls a day, and days where I'll probably shooting very little. It usually increases my two-a-day estimate a bit. YMMV. Again, Japan is not a place where you need to worry about film -- it's readily available, it's cold-stored, and it's fresh. It may be a little more expensive, but you can get it -- so don't worry about running out.

By the way, welcome to APUG!

 

[darkosaric]

Hi,

1. I am so jealous - Japan ... I would like to go also one day.
2. In two weeks when I go on some new place where I have never been - I usually shoot about 15 films.

I wish you very nice time and lot of sun there

 

[Toffle]

Just to add to what Rachelle said above, (besides welcome, by the way) the difficult thing in places like Yobodashi in Japan is not finding what you need, but leaving with your wallet. You will find yourself wondering how much more you can squeeze into your luggage for the trip home.
One thing that I will add is to have your gear checked over before you go. You obviously wouldn't take a camera with issues, but a good repair person could possibly find problems before they manifest themselves in the field.

Welcome to Apug, and enjoy Japan.

 

[draw_de]

Thanks mooseontheloose. Great info there. Looks like I won't need to bring to much of my own.
darkosaric: I can't wait

 

[draw_de]

Toffle: I don't think I will go overboard with film hoarding as I already have alot at home in preparation for the trip. Based on mooseontheloose response, I'd probably leave most of it behind.

I have 3 bodies so hopefully they all survive the winter season.

Apug is such a friendly board

Thanks
Edward

 

[Jim Jones]

The last time I visited Nikko with little hope of ever being able to return, I shot about 10 rolls of Kodachrome in 6 hours. I did bracket many shots. The expense of film is a tiny fraction of the total cost of such an experience. Have film developed locally if practical. This gives you an ongoing check of equipment, and eliminates the worry of carrying unprocessed film through airports. Do much homework and set many of your priorities before leaving home. The internet is a great resource. Once there, be flexible.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I burned through I want to say 20+ rolls of 35mm (might have been closer to 30) in 10 days in Barcelona. I ran out and had to buy more while I was there. I would think Japan would offer similar visual delights, so don't be afraid of the film - but do bring a designated shopping buddy with you to Yodobashi to keep you from going nuts over all the goodies on display, preferably someone who has no interest in cameras and photography who will get bored quickly and haul you out of the store before you have to buy another suitcase to fit the stuff you want to get.

 

[epig]

If you luck out, you may find a local camera swap meet going on. Usually held on the top floor of a department store, it's where camera stores unload a lot of old gear. Don't forget to ask for no tax or tax refund since you are not a local!

Eric

 

[hpulley]

The photography possibilities in Japan are endless. Bring a small camera for when you are travelling very light as it is a pain to carry much of anything at times when you are on the subway and going to restaurants and shops if you are going to be more than just a tourist. For other times a MF or LF camera would be great for there are breathtaking landscapes and amazing buildings. Great street photography opportunities. Wonderful castles and museums. Beautiful gardens. Amazing people. Take pictures of your food, it looks as good as it tastes!

Oh yeah, you had questions... I found film was easy to get and get processed. Everything is more expensive there so you might want to bring some. I've never really had problems with xrays but it would probably be safer to get it processed there. You could even get double sets of prints made and send a set home just in case your luggage gets lost.

Buying more luggage in Japan to take my stuff home? Been there, done that, would have got the t-shirt but it wouldn't fit!

 

[McFortner]

I wish I could have gone overseas. I had orders to England in the Air Force while I was in Tech School, only to have them change when I got married. Both of our specialties were desperately needed at the base I had orders for, but they ended up shipping us to Omaha, Nebraska instead. Now I'll never be able to afford a trip anywhere so I missed my chance.

Take lots of photos for us to look at!!!!

Michael

 

[mooseontheloose]

I burned through I want to say 20+ rolls of 35mm (might have been closer to 30) in 10 days in Barcelona. I ran out and had to buy more while I was there. I would think Japan would offer similar visual delights, so don't be afraid of the film - but do bring a designated shopping buddy with you to Yodobashi to keep you from going nuts over all the goodies on display, preferably someone who has no interest in cameras and photography who will get bored quickly and haul you out of the store before you have to buy another suitcase to fit the stuff you want to get.

And I do believe there is a luggage store almost directly across from the film store (or at least within the near vicinity!). They know what they're doing.

In all seriousness, if you are looking for a camera bag that is good quality but not from one of the major camera bag manufacturers, there are a few smaller, little known Japanese companies that make them too. They don't scream "look at me! I'm full of expensive camera equipment!" -- well, some of them do, most of them don't. I've been travelling with Japanese camera bags for almost a decade now and most people who should recognize them for what they are, don't.

 

[hatziteo]

This Yodobashi film market in Japan is awesome, it takes me one or two weeks to order films from the internet. I live in Greece and most shops dont even sell film anymore, its really disappointing :-(

 

[draw_de]

And I do believe there is a luggage store almost directly across from the film store (or at least within the near vicinity!). They know what they're doing.

In all seriousness, if you are looking for a camera bag that is good quality but not from one of the major camera bag manufacturers, there are a few smaller, little known Japanese companies that make them too. They don't scream "look at me! I'm full of expensive camera equipment!" -- well, some of them do, most of them don't. I've been travelling with Japanese camera bags for almost a decade now and most people who should recognize them for what they are, don't.

I'm definitely looking for a "vintage" bag if they have any. I recall a Japanese website that sell great bags but I couldn't understand a thing on the website. I can see myself going crazy with camera accessories .

 

[draw_de]

Thanks for the help guys. Really appreciated.
On a side note, I'm back home and WOW... What an awesome experience. I went with a group of 6 High School mates and had such an awesome time. I actually found it difficult to shoot anything with this many friends attending. Maybe one day I'll go back on my own.

I virtually processed my film as soon as they were used.

Yodobashi is indeed everywhere. Ashamed I did not visit the one in Shinjuki but I did see over a dozen used camera stores around Kyoto/Osaka/Tokyo and a Antic Market in Ginza. I didn't buy much film related if at all. Picked up a few expired rolls in Kyoto for cheap and bought myself an instax mini.

There was so much more to do and so many places that I could have visited.

 

[Usagi]

caution about x-ray scan. DO NOT put any films in the luggage. Take all films with you to the passenger security check.

I used to pack my films in the luggage for years. I also bought lot of film every time and traveled back with fresh and cheap (the rate of yen was cheap until late 2008) films on the luggage.

However, things changes. On my latest trip at last summer, there was a new bomb scanner at Narita airport.
The result: most of my films were ruined. Only some rolls survived. Most of those survived films were with me on the cabinet.


Only few films that were at luggage had no fog patterns..

I learned my lesson.


As for photography. The small gear is good. There are places where photography is not permitted and use of tripod will usually draw a guard to tell you not to use it.

A bean bag is good. Unless using a view camera or mf camera like i usually do...

 

[Usagi]

Sorry about my bad english...
Here are some clarification.

Take all films always with you to cabin as the hand baggage.
Do not put any films in baggages that goes to the cargo hold.
They will most likely to be ruined with latest bomb scanners.


I spent 2 months in japan last summer. When I went to the japan, there was still old scanners. The new one came during my visit and I was totally unaware of the risk.
Ofcourse there has been always warnings about not putting any film in cargo hold baggases. But as it seems to be always safe, I got bad habit to pack loads of films in the cargo hold....

 

[draw_de]

Thanks for the advise. My film was in my Carry-on at all times. When I returned, I also bought an X-ray bag just to be safe.

Thanks
Ed