Japan
In September 2025 I decided to go travel Japan on my own for a month. I visited Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Hakone, Yokohama and Tokyo.
Tokyo
I spent eight days in Tokyo, and it felt like nowhere near enough. The city constantly shifted; new lights and new colors. One of my favourite moments was completely spontaneous: watching Duplantis break the world record at the Athletics World Cup in the National Stadium. The energy in that place was unreal. Most days I just followed my camera through the city — from the views at Tokyo Skytree to the dreamlike feeling of teamLab Borderless and the endless flow at Shibuya Crossing. I experimented with some panning shots of people moving through the streets, and some of them turned into my favourite frames from Tokyo. For a photographer like me, the city is just pure inspiration.
Kyoto
I spent six days in Kyoto, and it instantly became one of my favorite places I’ve ever photographed. The city has this quiet, cinematic atmosphere that makes every moment feel intentional. Walking through the endless orange gates at Fushimi Inari and the soft, moving paths of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Kyoto reminded me why I love photography: capturing not just what I see, but how a place makes me feel.
Hiroshima
I spent two days in Hiroshima, and the city made a quiet but lasting impression on me. A highlight was visiting Miyajima Island. The floating torii gate, the peaceful forests, and the soft coastal light created a stillness that was incredibly inspiring to photograph. I shot a series of long exposures of the torii gate at sunset, which turned out to be some of my favourite images from the trip. Walking around the island, I also came across small statues dressed in little hats, simple cultural details that added a charm and warmth to the place.
Hakone
I spent four days in Hakone and chose a hotel close to Mount Fuji, hoping to catch a clear view at least once. One morning the clouds finally lifted, and seeing Fuji for the first time was honestly one of the most incredible moments of my trip. I spent most of my time walking around the lake and exploring large flower gardens nearby. Simple, quiet places — and great to photograph. Hakone was simply amazing.
Yokohama
I spent two days in Yokohama, Japan’s second-largest city, and it felt like a clean, modern contrast to the rest of my trip. The mix of architecture and neon gave the city a futuristic atmosphere that was great to photograph. Shooting the Cosmo World theme park gave me some of my favourite urban frames. I also spent time shooting timelapses and long exposures; the cable cars left these perfect light trails across the sky, which was fun and rewarding to work with. Yokohama felt modern without being too chaotic — a city that’s dynamic in a very balanced way.
Osaka
My trip started in Osaka, and spending three days there set the tone for the whole trip. I spent most evenings shooting street photography around Dotonbori; the neon reflecting in the river and on the wet pavement was incredible to work with. One night I even came across a guy dressed as Spider Man, he just stood there perfectly framed in the scene, and it became one of my favourite shots from Osaka. Osaka felt unpolished in the best way — authentic, colourful and full of character. A perfect introduction to Japan.
