Tokyo is full of photographic opportunities which range from the ancient, to the modern, to the futuristic. I can think of few other locations in the world more friendly to photography.
For those who are visiting the city, you find plenty to capture your interest. If you prefer the mountains or landscape, you'll find them easily accessible by train or bus. The coastlines in Kanagawa are breathtaking, as are the mountains around Hakone (including Mt Fuji). There are quiet villages and farmland within an hour of the metro Tokyo area.
Many people come to Tokyo to shop, and for those who enjoy photography, Tokyo is a shopper's paradise. You'll find anything and everything related to photography here, both new and used.
The Shinjuku district of Tokyo is home to the giant Yodobashi camera store. Here you'll be able to find pretty much any product you could need or want. I was there this weekend and was surprised to see that they have a large assortment of Polaroid large format films in stock. The different floors of the store sell different items, from point-and-shoot digital cameras to 8x10 large format cameras and accessories.
As neat as Yodobashi camera is, it cannot compare to the numorous "chuko-kamera" shops which surround it. "Chuko" means "used", and some of these shops stock thousands of used cameras, lenses, tripods, bags, and obscure accessories. Some of them even specialize in old boxes and manuals for collectible cameras. What's even better is that the items in theses stores sell for less than what they sell for on Ebay in the states.
Some of these stores are somewhat difficult to find, as they are in alleyways on the second or third floor of whatever building they are located in. Just look for the symbol 中古カメラ which means "used camera". Map Camera has the best selection of good, used medium and large format cameras and lenses, and they often have incredible prices. Fuji instant backs sell there for about $29, and I bought a Polaroid 545 pro back from them (in the box, no less) for $50.
Be careful, you could spend days hunting through these shops and end up not having any time to take pictures...
For those who are visiting the city, you find plenty to capture your interest. If you prefer the mountains or landscape, you'll find them easily accessible by train or bus. The coastlines in Kanagawa are breathtaking, as are the mountains around Hakone (including Mt Fuji). There are quiet villages and farmland within an hour of the metro Tokyo area.
Many people come to Tokyo to shop, and for those who enjoy photography, Tokyo is a shopper's paradise. You'll find anything and everything related to photography here, both new and used.
The Shinjuku district of Tokyo is home to the giant Yodobashi camera store. Here you'll be able to find pretty much any product you could need or want. I was there this weekend and was surprised to see that they have a large assortment of Polaroid large format films in stock. The different floors of the store sell different items, from point-and-shoot digital cameras to 8x10 large format cameras and accessories.
As neat as Yodobashi camera is, it cannot compare to the numorous "chuko-kamera" shops which surround it. "Chuko" means "used", and some of these shops stock thousands of used cameras, lenses, tripods, bags, and obscure accessories. Some of them even specialize in old boxes and manuals for collectible cameras. What's even better is that the items in theses stores sell for less than what they sell for on Ebay in the states.
Some of these stores are somewhat difficult to find, as they are in alleyways on the second or third floor of whatever building they are located in. Just look for the symbol 中古カメラ which means "used camera". Map Camera has the best selection of good, used medium and large format cameras and lenses, and they often have incredible prices. Fuji instant backs sell there for about $29, and I bought a Polaroid 545 pro back from them (in the box, no less) for $50.
Be careful, you could spend days hunting through these shops and end up not having any time to take pictures...