3 Days in Tokyo: Exploring Akihabara, Shibuya, and More

From Hong Kong, I took a flight to Tokyo. My base - Akihabara - home of the Otaku (geek!).

Akihabara is an engaging place - part tech wonderland, part bar culture, part manga and anime shops - not all of those had my interest but, at night, it comes alive -and is ideal for street photography. There's some cultural differences here too (if you know, you know) that you have to accept to truly enjoy this area. It's not seedy, it's just a bit 'odd'.

I tried to get some sense of the chaos in my shots of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing - with mixed success, but there is more of this as the trip continued, to move myself from the 'crisp' landscape/event shots that I normally try to take. It gets better later !

For a truly unique audio/visual experience, I strongly recommend a trip to TeamLabs. This interactive art museum takes you on a journey through mesmerizing digital installations that blur the boundaries between art and technology. The photos can't do it justice - but if you book in advance (it's busy) you'll have an experience like no other. There's a full size robot in the middle of the city on the way there too , which was a surprise!

I got invited to the Ikebukuro Festival for an evening which was an experience that I enjoyed hugely. Not only did I get to photograph a local Festival (on the wane, apparently) but my hosts let me take part too!

From the Imperial Palace to Ueno, with some interesting choices for dinner (see menu!) , I think it's impossible to be bored here, either as a tourist , a photographer or just as someone who enjoys the culture that make this a must visit location.