Challenge Your Eye

I joined the Eyexplore Tokyo Cyberpunk Street workshop because, although I’m experienced in both Tokyo and photography, I wanted to improve my night photography while exploring new ways of seeing Tokyo. Eyexplore generally runs small groups, but since I was the only participant for that night, this was a private tour. It turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip.

Charles, my guide for the workshop, took me to several locations that I may not have found on my own. What really impressed me was how knowledgeable he was—not just about the city, but about photography. He was always happy to share practical tips and point out the small details that made a real difference to my photos, whether it was a slight change in composition, camera settings, or where to stand for the best light.

The workshop never felt rushed, and Charles was approachable, patient, and genuinely interested in helping me get the best possible shots. I came away with some great new images from Tokyo, along with new techniques and ideas that I’ll continue to use in my photography.

Having a local guide made this experience for me. I’d highly recommend this workshop to anyone interested in Tokyo street photography, whether you’re looking to learn or simply want to experience the city from a unique perspective.

I had a truly great experience with the Tokyo Bespoke Photo Adventure with Lukasz Palka.

This was not just a regular photography workshop. For me it was a real experience in the world of street photography in Tokyo. What I liked the most was that Lukasz really listened first. He asked what kind of photography I like, what I wanted to learn, and then adjusted the whole workshop to that.

I am very happy with the whole experience. Lukasz showed me places in Tokyo that I would probably never have found on my own, but he also helped me with the way of thinking, camera settings, technique, composition and how to react to situations on the street. I felt that I could ask him anything, and he always explained things in a clear and practical way.

The workshop felt personal, relaxed and very inspiring. We also had a very good conversation during the walk, which made the whole experience even better.

I do not regret spending money on this at all. I think this kind of workshop gives you much more than just a few nice photos from one evening. It gives you ideas, confidence and a better way to approach street photography in the future.

Highly recommended if you are interested in street photography in Tokyo.

I cannot recommend this tour and this company enough. I have taken four trips with Charles he is extremely friendly and a great teacher. I am a serious photographer and he taught me many things and I went with my brother only uses his phone and he enjoyed the tour very much. I can also highly recommend Lee and the old Tokyo tour, which is amazing. I also took a tour in Kyoto with a guide, who I unfortunately cannot remember his name, and we went to an absolutely amazing temple, and there was only one other visitor during the timewe explore the temple. If you know Kyoto, you know how amazing that is as you can tell I highly recommend this company and all ofthe guides I have gone with have been superb.

I had an awesome time with EYExplore. They have a great eye and will take you to places that you will get some great photos at. They are also super kind and just fun to hang out with. I did 5 walks when I was in Japan and would definitely take more when I come back!

An experience I wholeheartedly recommend, not only for photography beginners but also for professionals and those with advanced knowledge. Alberto will show you hidden gems of Osaka’s cyberpunk charm, and he’ll also teach you techniques for taking photos that go beyond simply “point and shoot.” The hours flew by, and I took home some beautiful snapshots.

I worked with the guys at EYExplore in Kyoto and Tokyo recently across four different outings. I learned a lot about street photography and where to go in those locations to get some great shots. I signed up for private and group outings and during each, they guided me how to make the most of our time together. I’m very pleased with my investment of time and money.

I did the Tokyo Bespoke Photo Adventure with Charles at the start of November. We started out around the corporate district at Shinbashi and then wandered over to the other side of the subway and explored the backstreets, restaurants and allyways. I’d walked the area earlier in the day but it was excellent to discover key spots I’d missed where Charles seemed to know exactly where I needed to be to get some great shots.

I’m a pro interior photographer with a love of street photography; however, I’ve not done that much late-night photography. Charles helped me discover a few new ways of seeing and I got some different kinds of material – reflections, neon lights, etc – that I’ve not managed to work with before here in Stockholm.

I’ve been to Tokyo numerous times what with family living there but I booked this walk (and three more days of time to photo the Tokyo streets on my own) to get a kick-start with a local. I thoroughly enjoyed it, was glad I’d booked a couple of extra hours, and definitely plan to book another photowalk next time I’m in Tokyo.

I can’t recommend Charles highly enough.

I did three amazing workshops with Eyexplore in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, always had a blast and learned a lot. The instructors were great, very knowledgeable and provided helpful feedback on how to enhance the composition or how to adjust the settings. Anyone interested in photography should take a workshop when you are in town, it will greatly enhance your trip!

I really enjoyed this experience with Lukasz. It was my first time trying to learn photography and he had really great advice to get me started – the session is fully tailored to what you wish to learn and to the equipment you have (I came with only my phone and could still have a great time) The places visited are also beautiful and vibrant, and when trying to capture great pictures you notice even more fascinating details about them. I totally recommend and would do it again without any hesitation, thanks again for everything!

A neonstravaganza!

This was an awesome experience from start to finish. Not only was Charles knowledgeable of the area, he was also really handy at helping with setups for different types of shoots and how to apply those settings for best effect.

His geographic knowledge of the areas around Tokyo are excellent, lending multiple different places to capture great shots of Tokyo and its neon.

If you have the chance I’d highly recommend this tour with your camera!

I booked a private 5-hour walking tour and an evening tour on the same day with EYExplore and would thoroughly recommend them. Both guides were very knowledgable and provided the perfect combination of technical instruction and opportunities to shoot in various locations, pointing out photo possibilities along the way while providing enough space and time to indulge my own interests. I’ll definitely be booking another tour with them on my new trip to Tokyo, 5 stars from me.

I just had the most fun and educational time out in the wilds of Tokyo with Charles, Laurence, and Lukasz. Each day I learned new dimensions to my camera and new skills of composition. My purpose for the latest trip was to improve my camera efficiency while at the same time going to areas of Tokyo that I would never ever ever find on my own. It was a complete pleasure to be working and conversing with such experts whose skills are so inspiring. A marvelous experience!

After a brief exchange of pleasantries upon meeting, Lukasz, the guide, insructed me to take out my camera and we immediately went to work. Five minutes into the tour, we approached an intersection. I eagerly awaited reaching our first destination. Little did I know that we’d already arrived. Lukasz stopped and asked me join him in surveying the scene before us at a corner restaurant. What’s happening through the front window? Do you see the cook preparing noodles? See the steam rising? Look at that side door. Wait for the cook to come out. See what happens. How about those people standing outside the restaurant under the street light? See the way the light catches their movement and expressions? Keep observing. Linger and watch the scene unfold. Anticipate. Only then will you have the chance to catch what Bresson called “the decisive moment” and what Lukasz sometimes refers to as simply “interactions.” More moments like this followed in different areas of the city. Scenes or moments I may have deemed unworthy of photographing were revealed to be, at least potentially, Bresson decisive moments or Saul Leiter abstract images.

Unlike many photographers with YouTube channels, Lukasz conducts himself with humility and is never condescending — even to someone like me, a photography enthusiast who nevertheless often looks ill at ease operating a camera. Lukasz is,obviously, an accomplished and talented photographer with a thriving business. More importantly for people who sign up for an EYExplore workshop, he’s a patient teacher who enjoys sharing his love and knowledge of Japan and his gifts of observation. You will walk away from one of these workshops with a new perspective on taking photos and keener observation skills.

I have been following and admiring Lukasz’s work for years now and so when my wife and I finally booked the Japan Trip we had been saving for years, she gifted me this tour with Lukasz.

It was A M A Z I N G !
The weather started out with heavy rain so getting into the groove was a bit difficult for me but Lukasz just eased me into it, always giving me hints what to try and how to improve. We also chatted about a lot of things, went to some cool place to eat where he even taught me a new slang word to express how tasty the food was. I saw so much of Tokyo that I would have missed otherwise, it felt like someone handed me a cheat code to see the city’s heart and soul.

I have only just begun reviewing the pictures I took that night and they are by far the best I have ever taken in my life and I already started to apply many of the lessons Lukasz taught me during the workshop.

What more is there to say? If you are passionate about photography, want to explore Tokyo like never before and learn a lot about both then just take one of the many tours.

For me it’s a night I will remember forever. Thank you so much Lukasz!

P.S.: Lukasz even signed my copy of his book

This was my third photo tour with EYExplore and as always, it was outstanding! This was my first private tour, and obviously a private tour is fantastic because individual requests can be accommodated — but my previous two group tours were also incredible (thus the repeat business).

Charles helped me to compose some really cool shots in fun locations around the city that I would otherwise not have known about — and even though this trip I brought only my iPhone (rather than my mirrorless camera which I had used on previous tours) I still got some GREAT shots and learned a lot! My husband came with us even though he really has no interest in photography, but he enjoyed the locations and had a great time as well. And Charles is just a wonderful resource for all things Japan!

I will continue to book tours with EYExplore each time I am fortunate enough to return to Japan, and I cannot recommend them more highly — regardless of your photography skills! I hope you enjoy my attached photos (all taken with an iPhone 15 ProMax and edited in Lightroom mobile).

Wow! This was a wonderful time spent learning new camera techniques and going to the best places for nighttime photos in Tokyo. I was in Japan on an organized tour that had built-in free time and booked this as a solo experience. Two others in my group decided to join me and the three of us had a great time with Charles who was attentive and clearly excited about what we were doing. It was a rainy night which produced great street reflections and lovely parades of umbrellas. Charles met us where he said he would and was on time and had our tripods ready. I would book with EYExplore again with no hesitations. Great experience.

I would occasionally watch EYExplore YouTube videos, and a few days before my trip to Japan I had a video playing in the background. My gf heard them mention workshops and said I should do one. I’d watched quite a few of their videos and never knew about the website or photography workshops they held. So I signed up for the Tokyo Cyberpunk workshop in late November 2023.

I brought an R6 Mkii and two lenses, 24-70 2.8 and a 35mm 1.8 prime, though I ended up only using the zoom lens. Prior to this I’d never been to Japan, and I didn’t know my way around. So this workshop was great to have someone that knows the area show you cool photo areas as well as coach you on anything from composition, camera settings, and how to see the world the way they do.

Charles was the guide/teacher for this workshop and he was very friendly and personable, he taught and showed a few techniques I’d never done before such as panning. We went through a lot of cool areas and got some nice shots. It seems like they know their route and spots for the workshop which moves it along well from taking photos to walking to the next spot and chatting along the way. It felt like a guided video game quest in a sense. Probably a lot of people that do these workshops get the same shots and subjects, but along the way there’s plenty of opportunities to find other shots that are interesting. By the end I think the workshop really helps give a sense of how to do street photography in Tokyo and what to look out for. Being able to branch out afterwards and do your own thing with the knowledge of the workshop in mind.

I would definitely do another workshop from EYExplore the next time I am in Japan.

I attended the Cyberpunk Streets tour on two nights with Lukasz as my guide. After stumbling across the YouTube channel during early days of lockdown in NY, I have been a fan and avid follower of both Lukasz’s work and the channel. It was a fantasy for years to be able to travel to Japan and to take one of the workshops, with the hope of taking even a single good photograph I could walk away and be happy with. The fantasy became reality, and my expectations were thoroughly exceeded.

Firstly, Lukasz is the exact same in person as he appears online – down to earth, easygoing, and with an incredible passion for photography and the city of Tokyo. Both tours of 3 hours absolutely flew by. He was so approachable and easy going, and it felt like going out shooting with a friend that happened to be much more familiar with the area. He guided me on some settings initially which was very helpful, and then we were off. I saw parts of the city I absolutely never would have found otherwise, and learned an immense amount about the city and culture as a whole, from someone who was from the west and has lived here for years.

Even though we spent in total 6 hours together, I could tell that we were barely scratching the surface of Lukasz’s knowledge of this city. He made some tweaks for our second tour based on what subjects I was more interested in during our first session, which was just incredible. There is nothing I would have wanted to be different on this tour and it was truly the experience of a lifetime. You will see the city in a way a tourist otherwise never would, along with the friendliest guide whose passion for the photography and the city is truly contagious. It was the highlight of my trip, and in addition to having an incredible time, I walked away with some of the best photos I have ever taken.

Street photography in Tokyo. I was picked up by Lee from my hotel in Ginza at 4pm. We had a good chat about street photography and made a rough plan of locations I wanted to visit. Lee is very accommodating and easy to get along with. We transited via train to various areas including Akihabara, Ueno, Ikebukuru and Shinjuku. Lee picked out some of his favourite locations and also was open to explore anything that caught my eye along the way. A great guide and very helpful with composition and camera tips. Time went quickly and we ended up after 10pm. I got the train back to Ginza with a lot of memories and a great experience. Highly recommended and I would book a course with Lee any time. Thanks for the being a great guide.

This was a fabulous day shared with Lukasz who took us to some amazing places whilst sharing his knowledge of street photography. It certainly provided the opportunity to capture some amazing images but more that that, It opened our eyes to the potential and possibilities of street photography. Lukasz was so generous with his time and helping us with navigating the railways! Thank you Lukasz, it was fabulous.

I just enjoyed my 7th photo tour with EYExplore. (it might’ve been my 8th). I’ve been using them since 2015. I love Japan and I especially love seeing the country through the creative eyes of EYExplore’s superb guides. I’ve worked with Axel, Lukasz, Charles and Paul (before he was a guide with EYExplore). They share their unique perspectives of one of my favorite countries in the world… Japan. Tokyo can be so overwhelming in one moment, then tranquil in the next and these guides will show you both, as well as, help you experience everything in between. From the towering architecture of Tokyo, to the neon lights of Shinjuku, the crossing in Shibuya, overcrowded train and subway stations, to the colorful characters that inhabit Tokyo streets, you can see it all with EYExplore. These guides will most definitely help you capture the most vibrant street photography you’ve ever done. I’ve hired photo guides all over the world – Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Belgium, Portugal – and I consider EYExplore among the best.

I’ve booked three workshops with EYExplore in April 2019, Tokyo Vertigo, Tokyo Metropolis and Urban Geometry with Laurence. With Laurence, me and my girlfriend had a private workshop for about four hours and it was a great experience I can recommend to you. You will capture great stuff, I recommend to use the b/w mode with high contrast. The results are amazing and Laurence is a very nice guy with a lot of experience and he takes the time to explain all the necessary stuff for composition and camera settings. So if you would like to improve your urban street photography skills, then go for it and book this workshop. Worth every yen! Greets from Germany.

Great experience. I started with Temples of Tokyo, then did Tokyo Vertigo and Tokyo at Night. I liked them enough to book Osaka Cyberpunk, Tokyo Metropolis and Tokyo Rush the following week.

Lukasz, Charlie, and Axel were great instructors. They were able to break me out of an “all horizontal lines must be horizontal” mindset that has added another dimension to my photography. That’s just the beginning. The techniques and philosophical approaches I learned will last me a lifetime.

The results were fantastic. The light trail shots I ended up with from Tokyo Rush were incredible. A lot of the Temple shots, particularly at Yushima Seido, I never would have noticed if Lukasz’s sharp eye hadn’t caught on to them. Some of the Tokyo at Night techniques led to fantastic shots of the people, vehicles, and lights of Shinjuku.

I could go on and on but you get the picture. These guys are awesome. You will have a good time, you will end up with some of the coolest photos you have ever shot, and you will learn a lot regardless of your skill level. A+++ would buy again.

This review is long overdue, but needed to be said! My teenage daughter and I did an evening tour with Axel that was one of the highlights of our Tokyo trip. We learned a ton about the city, its art and architecture, and its people wandering through the metro and various neighbourhoods in the city. We didn’t see the typical tourist attractions but instead how the city flows and how to capture its splendor on film. Axel’s photography instructions, little exercises, and corrections were terrific, fun, and made our 2 hours with him fly by.

My daughter’s photography skills are pretty good already, and Axel was able to give her higher-level instructions while helping me with the basics. We both left better photographers! I recommend this photography tour to everyone I know traveling to Tokyo without hesitation.

If you’re just getting started in the world of photography, this is a fantastic experience! You’ll get to spend time with someone who clearly knows what they are doing and will give you helpful tips on how to improve your photography with hands on examples as you go. Highly recommended!

I have traveled several times to Japan, usually taking photographs alone. My Husband found Eyexplore online and signed me up for a daytime tour and an evening tour on the same day. Lukasz was the photography guide. The tours were fun and Lukasz really is not only a knowledgeable photographer, but also as a teacher. Lukasz was able to give guidance and suggestions for all levels of photographers in the group. I am an advanced amateur and found all of Lukasz’s suggestions advancing my abilities and my vision.

One big draw is the Instructor guides have discovered hidden gems and are willing to share them. This is so you have a unique and challenging experience seeing Japan in a new and different way. On my last visit to Japan, I took a solo tour with Lukasz and I brought back fabulous photographs.

I highly recommend you take a tour with EYExplore no matter what level of a photographer you might be. You go to places you can only imagine. You will ride public transport and do quite a bit of walking. Wear comfy shoes, and limit your camera bag to make yourself more mobile. And if it says rain, do bring an umbrella. You will have a wonderful experience.

Three days in Tokyo. Where to start? A photo workshop seemed like a good idea. A quick search turned up Eye Explore offering photography adventures in Tokyo. Which to choose? Tokyo Metropolis or Streets of Tokyo? The former seemed closer to my kind of photography, the latter would push me a little more. The calendar made the decision for me: Streets of Tokyo.

The website set out the goals:
Expand your idea of what makes a great street photograph
Get confident at photographing people in public
Have fun while interacting with people on the streets
Practice making candid photos of urban denizens

We met by Harajuka station. There were four of us: Axel and Lukasz from Eye Explore, me and one other participant. One of the features of the Eye Explore approach that drew my attention initially was the small group size — a maximum of four people plus guide. This was better yet.

Harajuku, a train ride, Shibuya. Two and a half hours from 5pm to 7.30pm in beautiful weather. Two hundred photographs — a handful worth keeping. Axel and Lukasz were excellent guides taking us through very different nighbourhoods and great locations within those neighbourhoods. And excellent mentors — ready with advice, suggestions, tips, encouragement without ever being too intrusive or overly prescriptive.

The most entertaining part of the evening was spent at the famous Shibuya crossing. Here, guided by Axel and Lukasz we repeatedly walked part way into the road, knelt down in the crossing and photographed the oncoming pedestrians with the bright lights of Shibuya as a backdrop.

Even though the four of us were kneeling down in the middle of the crossing on one of the busiest junctions in the world, with a press of people coming from behind and in front of us, no one objected. No one trampled us, no one pushed us aside, no one shouted at us, no one even gave us a dirty look. Best of all, as we knelt in the middle of the crossing taking photographs, a police officer ambled by in front of us and gave us not a second glance. I dare you to try this in London, New York or Paris.

Recommended.

My husband, son and I experienced this Tokyo Metropolis Photo Adventure on Nov 3, 2017 with leader Stephane. Stephane and the adventure could not have been better. We had 3 levels of photography interest in our group and Stephane met all of our needs. I was basically happy with just walking and pulling out my cell phone for a shot every once in a while, my son had a much better camera with his cell phone and tried every experiment Stephane suggested using Reflection and/or Negative Space.

My husband had 2 cameras along and was changing back and forth. We all got some interesting shots. We were lucky enough to be in Tokyo on a Holiday so streets were filled with people and added more interest to shots. Stephane took us to buildings that we never would have thought of, if going alone. Of course we hit the Ginza area and loved it. Tour probably covered 3 miles in walking with some stairs but well worth the experience. Would definitely do a repeat.

We did 2 tours Tokyo by night and Kyoto photo tour as well. Both tours were private and Lukasz and Axel were really nice and very patient with us. Neither my husband or I know much about photography and we both feel as though we learned so much. The guides were really informative and very interesting people who have great photography skills. These were fun workshops and I think anyone from novice to expert would enjoy them. The amount of time is perfect and the spots are just fantastic. Please do not hesitate to book these tours trust me you will like it! I can’t wait to try out my new photography skills! Both tours were different and the pictures I took are great, not only that I feel like I could take better pictures anywhere now. Thanks guys you are true professionals and really fun and interesting to be around.

I did 3 consecutive photo tours with EYExplore with the goal of improving my street and night photography. Lucas was great with showing use of new camera settings, tips on composition and was really attentive – with good local knowledge. Thanks for helping me get some great shots guys!

If you’re not a professional photographer, the best way to get some really good photos of Tokyo is to spend time with Stéphane and Lucas, as I did. You’ll get the people and the places that will make your photos memorable and unique, and you’ll learn (or re-learn) a few tips to use after your workshops have ended. Whether your first time in Tokyo or even if you live here, you’ll get some great photos and enjoy the experience.