Flash[y] Panoramas

Tokyo Tower

The Eiffel Tower? In Tokyo?
Sure, they call it the Tokyo Tower, but seriously... Would expect some more original ideas for a tourist trap. But there's a great French restaurant in front.

Benten Hall Shrine

Ueno Park

It was the jet lag that drove me out shooting panoramas at 6 AM. That's when I discovered this little shrine on an island in the middle of a lake.

Shrine Interior

Ueno Park

As I'm sneaking around the shrine, suddenly a monk opens the doors. I use all my best Japanese lingo by pointing at my camera and asking "Photo??". To my big surprise he waves me in.

Small Shrine

Ueno Park

Right next to the big colorful shrine is another one. This shrine looks much more serious, like it's been holding a dark secret for centuries.
I didn't dare to enter.

Subway Lights

Shimbashi Station

Notice how clean the subway station is! Also notice that there's no trashcan anywhere! This is the biggest mystery of Japanese culture: How come all these people make no litter?

Japanese Entrance

Ogai Mori House

Turned out that our hotel was a historical landmark, formerly the residence of the Japanese poet Ogai Mori.

Tatmi Room A

Ogai Mori House

Linked withI wish this would have been our hotel room. But no, it's part of Ogai Mori's house. I suspect he was parttime Ninja, training right here.

Tatami Room B

Ogai Mori House

Linked withWe snuck into this room, through several closed doors. I guess it's used for wedding parties or billionaire business dinners. Or serious NInja training.

Salon

Ogai Mori House

Mister Mori called this nicely decorated salon with winter garden his own. I think every writer should live like this, especially when writing technical books on HDRI.

Teahouse

Hamarikyu Garden

Hamarikyo Garden is a secret gem in Tokyo, a place of scenic beauty. It used to be the villa of Shogun Tokugawa, and later a strictly imperial hangout spot. Now anyone can have a tea here.

Bridge A

Hamarikyu Garden

Linked withSeveral cedar bridges hop across the tiny artificial islands, crossing the Shioiri Pond. All that in the shadow of the Shiodome skyscrapers.

Bridge B

Hamarikyu Garden

Linked withArtificial? Yes.
Cheesy? Sure.
Testeless? Never!
That's the essential difference between Disneyland and the Hamarikyu Gardens.

Harbor Hill

Hamarikyu Garden

You can also get here by waterboat, on a trip from Asakusa along Tokyo's skyline. In the background you can see the Rainbow Bridge, which is awesome to cross by train.

Shiodome Stairs

And this is how that train comes into Shiodome. The entire complex is a giant subway-mall-maze, built three levels underground. Hotels and offices are mixed in these skyscrapers.

Courtyard

Shimbashi

Linked withThe maze connects with the neighboring district Shimbashi. It's impossible not to get lost here. We had so many "How come we're here again?" moments.

Subway Wall

Shimbashi Station

Linked withI'm fascinated by these light walls in the subway. It's the perfect studio lighting, especially when everything is so miraculously clean.

Shiodome Night

In the Shodome district these walkways connect the skyscrapers for miles, as do giant malls in tunnels.

Park Hotel Lobby

Our second hotel, with this lobby in the 25th floor. It's such a fancy hotel, at night I ran into a team of 5 guys in jumpsuits and hard hats dusting off the tree.

Future Town

Linked withThe new conference center is an obsurd construction of 4 giant pyramids on their tip. It's called Tokyo Big Sight, not without reason.

Tokyo Big Sight

Conference Center

Linked withInside, we happened to run into a pet con. People carried dogs, cats, and giant lizards around.