5 FREE ROOFTOPS FOR CITYSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY IN TOKYO

There’s nothing quite like the energy, buzz and liveliness of a large city. In large cities you can capture such a diverse range of scenes and moods. Tokyo has a reputation of being a modern city, and it does not disappoint. Millions of lights shine after the sun goes down and give you the chance to capture stunning night cityscapes. The city has arguably one of the most beautiful cityscape and skyline in the world. One of the things we definitely recommend doing during their visit to Tokyo is to view the city from up above, especially at night. Standing a few hundred meters above ground you feel the scale of the city in essence. Unfortunately both the Skytree and Tokyo Tower, the two iconic landmarks for observations decks cost a hefty price. Here are some free rooftops or observations decks to take pictures at.

THE ONE IN SHINJUKU

This observation deck is located on the 45th floor in one of the busiest districts in Tokyo. Consisting of the South deck and the North deck. The South deck has a better view of the Mt.Fuji, so if you want that in your pictures visit the South deck. Both the observation decks are open till 11pm making it perfect for a quick stop after dinner. Tripods are not allowed but you can get away using a small table tripod or a GorillaPod.

Although the Tokyo Tower is slightly hidden, it can be seen from this observation deck. A very touristy spot and a place that is usually packed with tourists. The view from each observation deck (north and south decks) is different. But either one you go to, the view is spectacular.

THE ONE IN YEBISU

One factor that makes the Tokyo Tower stand out against the myriad of buildings is the color. This particular shade of orange is called ‘‘international orange’’ and was painted to abide by aviation laws. The tower glows bright orange amidst the dark buildings surrounding it. It is repainted every five years by 4200 workers and by hand!

This observation deck is perfect for taking a picture of the Tokyo Tower from a distance. The observation deck is located on the 38th and 39th floor along with some restaurants. The observation room itself is small but the good thing for photographers is that you can use a tripod here. You can see the Tokyo Tower at a distance for mounting your camera with a telephoto lens and a tripod would give you the perfect shot.

THE ONE IN KORAKUEN

This spot is famous for its view of Mt.Fuji. Especially during sunset you can juxtapose Tokyo’s skyline with Mt.Fuji in the background. But make sure the weather is clear on the day you go shoot. We cannot stress enough of the weather conditions if you are going there to shoot Mt.Fuji. Check the weather in Tokyo as well as Fujiyoshida where the mountain is located. If the forecast shows that there will be low lying grey blanket of clouds you might be better off re-planing your visit to another day. Instead, you can use that time to photograph something apt for the conditions. You can use a tripod here but make sure to eliminate as much reflection on the windows. Using a black towel to cover the window is recommended.

This observation deck covers a large part of the top floor. Hence depending on where you stand on the deck, you can see the Tokyo Skytree too. At one view you can see the roller coaster of the theme park below. You will need a 300-400mm lens to take pictures of the people on these rides.

THE ONE IN SANGENJAYA

Tokyo offers endless creative possibilities, and locations you can come back to any time of year. Look out for wet evenings, immediately after the rain has stopped, for beautiful reflections on puddles, or shoot on crystal clear nights where light pollution is at its lowest. Usually for cityscape a focal length of 12-35mm works the best, but is not a necessity. But using wide angle lens enables you to capture as much of the skyline as possible without having to go too far from the city.

This spot is located a little away from the city center. It is the tallest building in its suburban neighborhood hence creating an unobstructed view of the cityscape. Here too, you cannot use a tripod as the observation deck is located right next to a restaurant. But you could get away with using a small table tripod or a GorillaPod.

THE ONE IN SHIODOME

The 46th floor of this building has an observation deck, or better call it an observation room as it is small in size. The floor is mostly occupied with fashionable high end restaurants. The view is perfect for a shot of Tokyo Bay and the Rainbow Bridge. You can use a tripod as long as you are not blocking major paths. But because there is a sill below the window, a small tripod or GorillaPod works the best.Usually after golden hour, the sky starts turning blue while the city lights start illuminating. This immediate moment right after sunset or before sunrise is called the blue hour. It is when the sky turns blue before turning black. And arguably this is the best time to shoot cityscapes. Compare the above picture with the pictures below, all taken at the same spot. The above picture was taken at blue hour while the pictures below were taken before and after the blue hour respectively. When planning on going to this spot, or any other spot for that matter, remember to plan how you want your picture to be captured.

As the area got darker, the lights lit up into various different shades. Compared to other areas in Tokyo, the colors of the night life are different here.

This picture was taken on cloudy day, hence the sky is not as dramatic as the buildings. On a clear visible day the camera probably would capture more of the buildings at the back.