Tips on shooting temples in Japan?

[Soob]

Just wondering if anyone has some special tips on shooting Temples/Shrines (and castles) in Japan, both inside (where allowed) and outside. We will at a minimum be in Tokyo, Nikko, Niigata, Shirakawa, , Hikone, Kyoto, Nara, Miyajima, Koya-san.

I guess I am looking for those special tips where people have found particularly good times of day, or viewpoints, objects/subjects, avoiding ending up with too many people in the pictures, etc.

And on that, how receptive are Japanese people to being photographed, and any tips on the politest way to approach them?

Oh, and can I get by with just a ~28-200 zoom (18-135 APSC), or will I really want a wider zoom (~10-20 APSC) for the trip?


I would be very happy for anyone to link their top Japan shots too.

Domo arigatou gozaimasu

 

[Roger T.]

You'll need something wider than 28 mm, for starters. Most places will not allow tripods, and some places will have "No Photography" signs and sharp-eyed guards - they mean it!


Kyoto is the most target-rich environment in Japan for temples 'n' shrines ... get a guide book to point you to the most popular. I was back there in June - I spent one day just on Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), Ryoanji (Zen Rock Garden) and Katsura Imperial Villa (worth the trouble). There's one place I would specifically recommend - a town called Ohara, about an hour outside town by bus. There are several beautiful shrines there - have a look .


We were also there in 2008, and got up to Takayama and Shirakawa-go - here are some shots.


The appeal of Japan and Japanese temples 'n' Shrines is the classical beauty of the architecture, the combination of natural materials and human design. Take your time - stop and look, and think about what you see.

 

[Soob]

Thanks Roger, beautiful photos.

We were there 20 years ago and my recollection was due to the design of Japanese gardens and buildings trying to be compact but yet seeming to be spacious, that it was typically hard to get very far from what you wish to photograph.

 

[Palindrome2004]

Soob-san KonBanWa, こんばんは！


I am a Japanese and live in KUMAMOTO as a week end photographer.

I guess I am looking for those special tips where people have found particularly good times of day, or viewpoints, objects/subjects,

The best season for photograph may be mid April for full blossom of Cherry tree and also mid November for fall colors in the mid area of Japan Islands. Almost all of site having viewing points do NOT permit to use tripod, you have to use IS or VR lenses in order not to vibrate images.

avoiding ending up with too many people in the pictures, etc.

I think it may be impossible at the famous sites of viewing. In early morning just after opening their gates it may NOT be filled with too many people....

And on that, how receptive are Japanese people to being photographed,

It may be not easy but try it with just smile as saying SUI MA SE-N SYASHN TO RA SE TE KUDASA-I :-D

and any tips on the politest way to approach them?

Just with smile and Camera

Oh, and can I get by with just a ~28-200 zoom (18-135 APSC), or will I really want a wider zoom (~10-20 APSC) for the trip?

I recommend you to Panorama Stitch to get wider area with natural perspective.

Please refer
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/post/50367341
and previous thread
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/post/50371372
My gallery including Shinto Shrine and castle
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/1297026435


Regards
HAMADA

I would be very happy for anyone to link their top Japan shots too.

Domo arigatou gozaimasu

 

[Mark K W]

I used to live in Tokyo, and have been back for a few specific photo-trips.

As tips, maybe these (but perhaps many are obvious):

• Do have a wide-angle (I use 3 lenses, all on FF - 16-35, 24-70, 80-200), and I use all those lengths when walking around a temple.
• You did not say when you were going, but polariser is a useful filter to have with you. Best times in Japan in general are February (snow), end-March/beginning April (cherry blossom), October/November (fall colours). At cherry blossom and fall colour times, you will encounter the most amazingly huge crowds though.
• Use lengths like 80-200 and wide-aperture to pick out little detail things. That can be anything - hinges, hooks, statues (parts of), burning incense sticks, candles, bells, the detail of water-features, etc., etc.. Try to find things of all sizes/detail. You will find you need variety in your pictures when you are sharing them later, so be mindful of that as you shoot.
• I would recommend carrying a lightweight tripod or monopod for the trip in general, but for the famous temples they are pretty-much always not allowed (simply because of the congestion they can cause; temples can be very busy).
• If you don't want many people in the pictures, go early and avoid weekends.
• Be prepared to change ISO widely (obvious, but!). There are many great indoor shots to be had, but it's very dark inside temples and castles. Flash isn't really the solution as you just get bright highlights.
• Do as much research as you can of what to expect at each temple. Set yourself a time at each one and stick to it. Particularly in a place like Kyoto.
• If you can, check if there are any events/festivals at temples in any of the towns and make your way to those. You'll get lots of people, but also lots of photos.
• In Kyoto (again it's kind of obvious,) but check on a map where the temples really are and plan travel time from each one to the next carefully (e.g. it's 30mins to cross the city). Use the train/subway as much as you can. Load up with 100Yen and 50Yen coins for paying bus-fares, etc.. (although the driver can change notes in a machine for you). Kyoto has excellent tourist centre at the station. Go there, ask questions, check, pick-up maps, etc., etc..
• The temples are all very similar but different (!!). You may get bored and get all templed-out, so perhaps have some fall-back other locations (even like Shibuya/Shinjuku bright lights at night in Tokyo and trips up Mori tower or to Sky Tree).
• Kamakura was not on your list, but maybe worth a visit. Certainly a cliched place to go as day-trip from Tokyo.
• Himeji castle would normally be on a list like yours, but I presume you have excluded that because of the major ongoing restoration work (I think it is covered up at the moment).
• Hiroshima is a worthy place to visit for the A-Bomb Dome and Memorial Park. Castle there is a reconstruction though.
• I presume you are getting Japan Rail Pass for your travel. I have done quite a bit of my travelling and photography there even as day-trips from Tokyo on Shinkansen. Probably not the most optimium way to do it on a first visit, but it is possible to get from Tokyo to Kyoto and back in a day and have time to visit even half-a-dozen temples there (temples are everywhere in Kyoto).
• You have Shirakawa on your list, so that is excellent. I never went there (yet!!).
• Mt Fuji..... try to take that in as well. It's cliched, but awesome sight. Do the usual Odawara=>Hakone loop trip (cable-car, boat). Like I say very very tourist-cliched, but still some memorable photos to be had if you have the time to be part of the herd for a day.
• Japanese people are super-polite. Everyone has cameras and take pictures and so appreciates what you are doing. In the temples, I don't think people really mind you taking pictures of them, but do observe signs which will tell you where photography is not permitted. Most Japanese people are very unsure in English, but will try to be very helpful when you approach them.
• The essence of Japan is the dichotomy of the ancient-old and the ultra-modern new. As a photo-project, that's a good way to think. If you are just doing the old, of course that's fine.
• Put your camera-down every now and then and just eat. The food in Japan is fantastic.

Mark W.

 

[Palindrome2004]

Mark W.-san KonBanWa!

Your advice are very interesting and also useful for our Japanese.

OyasumiNasai
HAMADA

 

[Soob]

Thanks Mark, brilliant tips. Yes, we'll have JR pass and we are going in early April, hopefully there will be snow on mountain tops, I notice on the Shirakawa webcam that it is snowing fairly heavily there atm.

We may do Kamakura depending how our plans work out, tempted to do that day 1 and end up in a Ryokan in Ito, and if not we may stop on the way back to Tokyo. Himeji-jo, yes all covered up

Love Japanese food, make it at home all the time, I plan to have plenty of photos of that too

Good point on getting templed out, I should probably consider more of the other sights that are definitively Japanese.

 

[Mark K W]

Good point on getting templed out, I should probably consider more of the other sights that are definitively Japanese.

The Yudanaka snow monkeys in the onsen are also a good day's photography. Maybe not so much snow there in April though, and if it's warm already out, the monkeys don't hang around in the warm pool. They also have webcam, so you can be checking nearer the time through March. You don't need any special long lenses; you get real close to them (watch visitors on the webcam above to see how close). Also can be done there and back in a day's trip from Tokyo if you leave Tokyo early. One Shinkansen to Nagano, one local train, and one bus, and then a 3km walk.

Check the cherry blossom in the various locations nearer the time of your trip. Basically it starts in the south and low altitudes, then moves north and up over a few weeks. Peaks anywhere for only about 5 days, and Tokyo is normally around 1st April.

 

[Soob]

Hamada-san, domo arigatou gozaimashita


Having an A65 I certainly will be shooting panorama quite often.

That is a very cool Ginko tree.

I am not sure yet if we will go as far south as Kyushu, I would like to go to Yakushima but I'm not sure if that will be trying to squeeze in too much travel. We have 16 full days, and we will be as far south as Hiroshima for sure, and we do have a JR pass so anything is possible.

 

[Roger T.]

Soob wrote:
..... We have 16 full days, and we will be as far south as Hiroshima for sure, and we do have a JR pass so anything is possible.

If you get as far as Hiroshima, make a point of catching the ferry out Miyajima (less than an hour by local train):

Yep - the floating torii.

Miyajima in 2005


--
Roger

Roger's Pictures

 

[Palindrome2004]

I agree with RogerT-san and please preview it





Enjoy & Discover Japan!
HAMADA

 

[Soob]

Thanks guys, a stay overnight on Miyajima is high on the list and the main reason for being in Hiroshima, though I expect we will enjoy both.

 

[calson]

An off camera flash is a tremendous help in lighting shadowed areas. Very little is needed and with it held off camera it can be directed where you need it. The problem is not so much too little light as areas that are well lit and others that are not lit at all and while our eyes adjust the camera does not.

 

[Momotarou]

Kyoto is beautiful this time of year. When I went this past April we took a tour bus for the 1/2 day tour. We went to many of the popular temples in Kyoto which brought back a lot of memories for my wife (she is Japanese). In Tokyo, you really need to go to Asakusa, but the neat thing about all the cities but Tokyo in particular there are so many small shrines and temples that just pop up out of nowhere.




If you get the chance check out Osaka Castle as well, pretty area and a lot of history.

 

[Momotarou]

Mark K W wrote:

Good point on getting templed out, I should probably consider more of the other sights that are definitively Japanese.

The Yudanaka snow monkeys in the onsen are also a good day's photography. Maybe not so much snow there in April though, and if it's warm already out, the monkeys don't hang around in the warm pool. They also have webcam, so you can be checking nearer the time through March. You don't need any special long lenses; you get real close to them (watch visitors on the webcam above to see how close). Also can be done there and back in a day's trip from Tokyo if you leave Tokyo early. One Shinkansen to Nagano, one local train, and one bus, and then a 3km walk.

Check the cherry blossom in the various locations nearer the time of your trip. Basically it starts in the south and low altitudes, then moves north and up over a few weeks. Peaks anywhere for only about 5 days, and Tokyo is normally around 1st April.