Neon Signs
Traffic Light Trails
Tripod Techniques
EYExplore photo trainer teaching night photography techniques during Tokyo By Night photo tour & workshopWhat’s the Story?
Enter a world of chaotic motion, neon lights, and smoky back alleys. With nightfall, the heart of the metropolis awakens and comes alive with flowing masses of people and traffic bathed in iridescent streams of color.
What We’ll Shoot
We will learn how to capture the light trails of traffic with the neon signs and of the vast metropolis in the background. We’ll cover the basics of tripod usage and manual camera techniques. You’ll also get coached on composition, framing, and timing. We’ll also do some night street photography during the workshop, covering how to shoot quickly and get sharp photos even in dark conditions.
Where We’ll Explore
We’ll delve into the heart of Shinjuku and Shibuya. We start off at Shinjuku Station, head towards Kabukicho, and end up in Omoideyokocho (Memory Lane). After that we’ll go by train to Shibuya and end our journey in the famous scramble crossing.
Photographers infiltrating Shibuya crossing during Tokyo By Night photo tour & workshop
nightndawn –
I had seen some many photographs of Tokyo’s neon lights and glitter but never seen managed to go visit these places whenever I was in Tokyo on a layover. Earlier this month, I booked one. Charles, met me outside the Odakyu Department Store at 7PM. For the next two and half hours or so, I learned a lot from him and had so much fun using the tripod (Which I never used in the past). We started at an overpass in Shinjuku, and stopped at six places. Ending our exploration in Shibuya Crossing. Definitely, this was the highlight of my layover in Tokyo this trip. I learnt a lot of small tips from Charles. I recommend one to anyone who visits Tokyo and has a manual mode camera.
Discover61818923606 –
Charles easily adapted to us having iPhones instead of (the recommended) stand alone cameras. Took us to some great sites perfect for unique shots of Tokyo at night, and taught us more about our iPhone cameras’ capabilities in the process. Had a great and memorable time…even in that Tokyo alley! Highly recommend it!!!!
Charles G –
Looking to do some night photography during one of my regular business trips to Tokyo. Didn’t want to wander around aimlessly so went looking for an organised tour to join at short notice. Came across EYExplore and gave them a shot. Booking online was easy. Instructions for meeting up were clear and found Charles and the rest of group without any problems. The tour itself was very enjoyable. Shooting locations were interesting and varied. Charles provided some useful hints and tips. Group size is kept reasonably low so no-one gets ignored/left out. Will definitely try a different EyExplore Tour when I’m next in Tokyo with an evening to kill.
777GregorS –
I really enjoyed the Night Photography tour. Guided by the expert we went to the most photogenic Night photography spots in Tokyo. Great Instructions how to setup the Camera, Hands on support, as a avid photographer a leveraged a lot from the walk. I definitely can recommend it!
angelabY8264MM –
Charles was very knowledgeable and kind tour guide. The night we spent shooting Tokyo by night was sooo fun! I highly recommend this tour!!
44step –
Merci tout d’abord à Charles qui m’a accompagné pendant cette visite nocturne. Charles est courtois prévenant et surtout un photographe professionnel qu’il se met au niveau de ses clients. Super soirée à tous niveaux m’a fait découvrir ce que je lui ai demandé. Expérience à faire pour tout photographe en espérant pour vous que vous croiserez Charles. Charles let’s follow togheter on Instagram. Cheers Stéphane
Meandering_Donut –
I’m a lapsed keen photographer but this has reminded me why I loved spending so much time on it. Charles was patient, helpful and very supportive. His local and photography knowledge made this an evening very enjoyable and well spent. I now see they do other tours and will certainly put a booking for at least one their way on my inevitable return. Thank you.
Angela B –
Charles was a superb guide/instructor. He was knowledgeable, kind and easy to hang with. Charles helped me capture some phenomenal images I would have never achieved on my own. I highly recommend Eyexplore Tokyo by Night your.
malabro37 –
I have just 3 months with my camera and Charles in few hours helped me to understand how to take really good pictures. Charles is really friendly and he have a deep knowledge about photography. He also knows really crazy spots. Totally recommended!
LAKXX –
Had a great time on this tour led by Charles. I was a bit apprehensive to book at first as I am quite shy and this felt well out of my comfort zone.
Needn’t have worried, Charles was so lovely and easy to get on with!
We went to a few spots in Shinjuku and then on to Shibuya for which you need to make sure you have either some yen or a travel card.
I learnt some really great techniques and Charles spent time to explain why certain settings worked in different environments. My camera is a Sony A6000 and for this I just brought my kit lens – the other attendees had much fancier kit than me!
I feel much more confident in moving away from my usual photography “style” and experimenting with some new ideas. Thank you Charles. If you love photography and are an amateur to hobbyist, book yourself on this tour!
Msralmjs –
Guide was really helpful and challenged me to really think through how to get the best out of the camera. Went to some of the typical sites, all of which were not too busy. Guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Only challenge was finding him at the beginning. Recommend What3words as a tool!!
W1684GXgeorgem –
This tour took us around the busy and well-lit areas of Shinjuku and Shibuya practising different types of night shot. We took some of light trails, ‘ghost’-people; learned how to pan, zoom-blur and various other night techniques. The only thing letting this down was my ability. I have taken a lot away to practice at other times and in other places. The only thing I probably would have liked more of was discussion/instruction around the settings being used, rather than simply being told to set it to a particular shutter speed or aperture, and then ‘point and shoot’.
Charles was a really nice person and very chatty. He made us feel at ease and his knowledge of Tokyo really helped us get to the right places for good nighttime shots. Joining instructions were very clear and so it was easy to meet up.
Would love to try other tours if we had more time!
Dimitry P –
Charles is Great! Thank you very much! Look forward to seeing you again next time I am in Japan. It was very informative and helpful workshop.
Connie F –
Charles was a Prince. Instantly put me at ease. Great tuition and demonstration. Giving me confidence to go for it. Traffic blur from bridges. Illuminated buildings, the massive amount of people at zebra crossings. Lively back street bars and street food. Finally a bit of panning. Would definitely recommend. Lots of fun and skills to take away with me. Will add photos later. Charles took me back to where I started so I didn’t get lost.
BrianLy –
When traveling I’ve discovered that photo tours are a great way for me to learn about a city and improve my photography. When I got to Tokyo I had heard of a few places to take night photos, but was totally overwhelmed with all of the sightseeing, and commutes to rugby world cup matches I had attended, to have the energy to plan something good. I hopped on here and found EYExplore which was very lucky.
The registration experience on TripAdvisor was good and it has a good display of available times with tour options. I brought my own tripod so I didn’t need to rent one, but having this option is great if you are traveling light. For night photography you’ll want a camera with manual settings (most digital SLRs), but they seem to have a day tour which will suit iPhone photographers just fine too.
For reference, I had these things: Canon 7d camera (2011), 24-105mm and 10-22mm lenses (the latter is very wide and great in Shinjuku), MeFoto travel tripod, and remote shutter release (helps avoid touching your camera and shaking it.) If you are traveling from the US there are lots of options for renting a wider lens, or you can buy something in Tokyo since it’s the best place in the world for second-hand gear. You don’t need expensive equipment since technique is much more important (and you’ll learn it on this tour.)
I met Charles at Shinjuku Station and we headed to a nearby spot to get started. They have a really good set route, but I’m sure you could mix things up, if you contacted them ahead of time for a more custom tour. Having a known route is great though because you don’t spend time experimenting with possible settings and instead Charles was able to give specifics on what will get a good shot in the conditions. We moved through various locations and techniques (including a little street photography in a hidden alley near the station) before hopping the train to Shibuya.
I learned a lot about night photography on this tour, including zoom burst shooting. Charles knew the technical and artistic sides which is a great combination. I got the feeling that even a really experienced photography could find value from the tour. I didn’t have time, but EYExplore have some other great tours on their website which are worth checking out. Thanks again Charles!
Eglantine L –
Très intéressant sur le plan technique. Découverte d’un champs nouveau d’exploration. De belles photos à la clé.
Troy –
Great photography adventure. I had one on one coaching with Charles in Tokyo. Couldn’t fault the tour, guide and coaching. One of the highlights of my japan trip that I’ll bring everywhere. Keep shooting!!
Sanjaya_Wijeyekoon –
A great way to see the night sights with a professional photographer. Lots of technical advice given and an opportunity to get great shots. Anyone with an interest in photography will find this valuable. Many thanks Lucasz.
Stuart –
Had a great experience with Charles on the Night tour of Tokyo. There were only three of us that night so plenty of time for Charles to give us all tips and advice. I always struggle with knowing the best settings so it was great to have these clearly relayed by Charles at each scene to get us set up for success. My favourite part was in the alley nicknamed by locals as ‘piss Alley’ as I don’t normally shoot people but ended up with some evocative and candid shots of diners in the dive bars that I’m really pleased with. No hesitation in recommending if you want to get some great pics of Tokyo to take home with you and learn a bit more about your camera. Charles was friendly and helpful and set a nice relaxed pace and was patient with my many questions. Thanks again!
Fluchthaven –
I was lucky to be the only one on the tour and got some marvellous tuition from Charles. I learned a great deal about night photography and got lots of good technical info. Charles was able to set up my Olympus camera with ease moving quickly through the multitude of menu settings, something I still struggle with. An excellent tour which I would recommend if you want to capture the iconic Tokyo night life!
doggo_design –
I am just a guy that happens to have a decent DSLR and although I might look like a pro, I have only taught myself so much and don’t really have a clue as to what I should be doing. I was lucky to get a one-on-one session with fellow Australian Charles as nobody else booked the particular evening I booked. It was such a valuable session that opened up my eyes to some totally new techniques and methods of shooting that was explained in a very concise and friendly way with no assumptions whatsoever. I wished I had been able to book this photo session much earlier as I learned so much in those few hours with Charles. I want to visit Tokyo again just to practice everything Charles taught me and I was so impressed with the course I did, I would definitely enroll in another EYExplore course when I do go back. In addition to the very professional techniques I learnt, I also get to keep learning with the EYExplore tips that are offered to session attendees. The value just keeps growing!
492svend –
I was very lucky as I was the only participant that night so I had Lukas all for myself and got more attention than what would have been possible in a group of 6 people.
We went to several different spots, initially all close by and started straight away with the first shots. Lukas made the first setup (position, tri-pod, camera-mode, …) all by himself and used the first shots as the basis for his explenations (why this position and angle and not differently, exposure time, aperture, …) and so it was very easy to understand and to follow his reasoning. Obviously, he knows all the different camera types and models and is very quick to change settings. I learned some areas of settings that I was absolutely not aware of before …, or was hesitant to touch.
At every spot we took a lot of different shots to understand the various options to compose a picture with a combination of technical understanding and ‘playing around´ and see the results.
Lukas also explained the basics of the aperture-numbering. I could not repeat it but it helps to understand the relationship of aperture and exposure time.
Later we went twitch the metro to Shibuya and took some shots at the famous crossing. I’m not sure if this would have been possible (due to timing) if the group would have been larger. That shooting from the street ground into the crowd moving fast towards myself was the great last part of the tour.
During the more than 2 1/2 hour tour I learned sooo much. If I’m able to remember 25-30% of it than I’m happy. Besides that, I have hundreds of great shot on my memory card, I can’t wait to see them on my TV screen back home.
Summary: a big thank you to Lukas for this tour, the experience and all the learnings. This tour is highly recommended!
michaelbN7534HB –
My son and I took the Tokyo By Night course with Lukasz. A very enjoyable experience and an excellent way to learn and use your camera to it’s potential.
Michael –
Lukasz was absolutely fantastic – really enjoyed his expert and friendly instruction and his knowledge of Tokyo. Great way to learn how to think about getting more than just a snapshot.
juanpierre13 –
Take you to nice little shooting spots and let you play with the cameras settings. Departure details can be better.
bondjoni89 –
Had an amazing night with Lukasz. Amazing and knowledgable guy who from the very get go was enthusiastic with what we had planned. He knew the locations and the best camera settings. Having knew quite a bit about my own camera and settings it wasn’t too daunting, Lukasz showed me a few extra tricks I would never have known about or tried. I was very fortunate that it was just me on the tour – the other guy failed to show up, his loss my gain. We did long exposures, street photography amongst other things I’ve got amazing images that I would never have got on my own. My thanks to Lukasz and EYExplore. They have worskhops/tours around major cities, if you like photography and like learning new skills then book with them, nobody comes close. Thanks guys.
penguinprof –
This was a great way to improve your skills with night photography in THE CITY for night photography! Got great ideas, help with all shots and learned a lot. Very fun, relaxed evening. I am an amateur photographer, shooting with a mirrorless camera (Canon M50). Recommend bringing a wide-angle and a telephoto lens. I also took the Eyexplore tour in Kyoto (reviewed separately) and that was even better – 5 star guide and 5 star location. If you can only do one tour and you’re going to Kyoto, I would recommend Fushimi Inari Taisha at Dusk tour over this one.
192vasilist –
With another friend (both Greek) we decided to book this night photography tour, while in Tokyo. We had Charles as our guide. He is Australian so no communication issues. We met in Shinjuku. Our guide is living in Japan for many years, so we was very familiar with the locations. He also gave us tips on how to better set up the camera for street photography. We had the opportunity to shoot light trails, street photography, even try a shot with panning a moving train. Overall we had great fun and enjoyed the evening. This activity is highly recommended.
Brendan M –
This tour was awesome, small group booked however I was the only one to go. Charles was very informative and helped me get some awesome shots. I even went out the next night to practice. Highly recommended if you have a little experience or none (like me) with night photography.
suebloo –
If you like photography, whatever your standard, this tour is a must. I learnt so much and took such amazing photos I will treasure for ever. Can’t believe I actually took such superb photos. I now have a much deeper understanding of how and when to use different settings on my camera as well as a much better eye when it comes to composition. I thoroughly recommend this tour.
lensgazer –
I thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Learned a lot about night photography and was taken to some very interesting locations I would not have found on my own. Photos taken were some of the most creative of my trip.
Mick M –
Booked through our travel agent this was a great way to spend an evening- Charles took me to various locations in Tokyo to get some great nighttime shots, guiding me on optimum settings and techniques and was patient with me as i struggled occasionally with concentration as I had severe Jet Lag. Highly recommended!
LinusIKD –
Booked a private tour with EYExplore focused on handheld night photography. Lukasz brought me to the most amazing places around Shinjuku and Shibuya, and I came home with loads of good photos. Learned a lot of camera techniques on the tour as well. Thanks a lot Lukasz. Will book a new tour on my next trip to Tokyo! 🙂
baci2003 –
I took the Tokyo at night tour last night with Charles. It was absolutely wonderful. Charles is a great guy and really knows his craft. He took us to great locations that would be hard to find on our own, helped each photographer with camera technical details, composition etc. He is patient, friendly and the entire experience was just perfect. I HIGHLY recommend them!!
Ariane –
Thank you for an amazing experience! Stephane was a great tour guide with very helpful tips and interesting facts about Shinjuku and Shibuya! We had a great time and took some cool photos!
Kerri_Monaghan –
Captured the essence of Tokyo at night. Charles was very helpful and took us to some great locations.
Scenario1 –
It’s been decades since I dealt with f-stops and shutter speed, but Lukasz helped bring it all back into focus for me on an unfamiliar new DSLR. His patience was off-the-charts and you know the old adage about “teaching a man to fish,” right? I really felt like I had picked the brain (and eye) of a genius. We captured some amazing photons around Shinjuku. And we did some fun time lapse shots, too! I can highly recommend his private workshop.
JayOz303 –
Did the Tokyo Night Tour with Charles last night. Had a great time. Charles was very knowledgeable and he gave me some great tips on long exposure photography, photo composition and tripod set up. Highly recommend this tour. Thank you Charles!
kthustler –
Met Charles outside the Dept store in Shinjuku and had a fabulous time!. He was friendly without being bossy, and easy to talk to. As he is Australian language is no problem for us English speakers. Did night trails on a bridge overlooking the road, Street Photography in Piss Alley, blurry ghost like people on the crossing, metro to Shibuya to photograph the hordes crossing the road and then as it began to rain did panning of vehicles. He knows his stuff and my camera! Do this, you won’t regret it!
Ricky –
This was my first trip to Tokyo and wanted to be sure to take home some memorable photos. But not just any simple snapshots.. I wanted to photos that I could show my friends and have a big wow factor! 🙂 I met up with my instructor Lukasz for the Tokyo night time tour. I am extremely satisfied with my experience. Lukasz was able to take me to some very locations in Shinjuku and Shibuya. He provided me very tips on using my tripod as well as setting up the shots… not just exposure, but the best usage of shuttle speed to capture the trailing lights of cars as well as people. I also really appreciated his explanations on composition options for the shots. This tour gave both a great learning experience for my photography as well as providing me with the nice photos to take home and share with friends and family! Thank you Lukasz!!!
AngelaPanW –
I did the night photography tour with Axel and I loved how knowledgeable and personable he was. He helped me with my camera but also showed me new composition ideas and pov’s that I’ve carried on with me way past the tour. I’d highly recommend it and would definietly book another tour next time I’m in Japan.
acs604 –
I’m a travel and landscape photographer from Vancouver and booked this tour because I had such limited time in Tokyo. I was absolutely blown away with the quality. Axel took us to all of the best spots and provided unexpected insight into the area and culture in addition to guidance in photography. Axel is not only a great photographer but also an exceptional teacher. He’s the perfect instructor and tour guide whether you’re new to photography or a professional looking for inside city knowledge. I got so much value out of the tour and enjoyed it so much that I immediately booked another tour with him for the following day (the Tokyo Metropolis Photo Tour – equally good!). Well worth it!
BernardC1474 –
Axel is a very knowledgeable photographer and teacher capable to help all the participants whatever their level, giving great photo tips. He knows the interesting spots for night photography and drives the group to them in a timely manner enabling us to take many different views and exposures of every scenery. I’m sure that even the beginners in the group were able to come back home with nice pix. Surely by myself I wouldn’t have been able to cover so much ground. It was a pleasant evening!
TrailBlazer99356 –
I got the Tokyo Night tour as a birthday present and I really enjoyed it. We were only two participants so our guide had a lot of time to focus on us, explain details on exposure, aperture and composition of images. Additionally we got to see some places in the Shinjuku area that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. The photos turned out great and made me buy a tripod some days later (I didn’t own one before and rented it for the tour). I also enjoyed the free hand shooting session in the food district a lot.
Rolando G –
I thoroughly enjoyed Axel’s help in getting nighttime pictures of Tokyo. He is a pleasure to learn from and an adept guide to ‘hidden Tokyo’ I’d hire him again in a heartbeat!
Liam A –
Went on a night course to learn how to do long exposures, also for added challenge I brought along some film. They were more than happy to advise and I got some great shots out of it! Also a great way to see Tokyo at night.
Rachel G –
I am a photographer who loves to shoot night scenes. This was my first trip to Tokyo and as I was travelling alone, thought it would be great to join a group tour. It was led by Lukasz who not only helped all the participants with lots of photo tips, but also made it a lot of fun with humour and interesting facts about the city. We covered a lot of ground and the whole group created some amazing images! Thanks EYExplore for a great evening!
Moos W –
Great great great! Absolutely recommend this as a way to discover all the ins and outs of your camera…..and of Tokyo of course!!!!!
202arthurc –
Got to join the tour previous and it is surely my 101 course for urban photography at night. Explore fews location at Shijuku and Shibuya. Learn a lot and highly recommended
Maree93 –
As soon as I met Stefan I apologise that I was much older than the average tourist he would have. He put me at ease straight away. He taught me things I didn’t know about my camera and I have done a number of classes . I learnt night shots of car lights, but the highlight was the street photography, taking close up shots of people. It was so much fun. Maree
Turbogirl25 –
If you do 2 things in Tokyo, do this and the EYExplore night photography tour. This Metropolis Tour was amazing. I learned so much with the talented Lucas (sorry for calling you Stefan when we met in the alley a few days later!). Lucas really took the trouble to find out what I knew about my camera and to teach me things I didn’t know, about the camera, composition and looking at the environment generally. The time just flew past. If there was a rating higher than 5 then I would have given it. Just book this tour – you won’t regret it.
Cathy W –
We really enjoyed our Tokyo by Night tour and got some great shots of the lights and action. Our guide was very knowledgeable and gave us some really useful tips. Well worth the price, we highly recommend it!
Stavros P –
This is definitely one of the better photography tours I have done. Stephane was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, patient, and really enjoys photography. He encourages you to try different types of shots than you normally would do. We did a number of sites in Shinjuku and Shibuya. There was only one little hiccup with the tour as I had booked with Expedia and there was some confusion about when the tour is actually held (Expedia has it down as 5:30, but it actually happens at 6:45… which EYExplore does mention in their initial email directly to you). Getting in contact with Lukasz via email and then phone was easy to do to sort out the confusion. Based on the staff, their communication, handling of the unexpected, and learning something new, I would definitely recommend this photo tour.
Meiko P –
The course was very well organized and the group of 3 was charming. The guide had much time for each student to explain settings, frame and give plenty Tipps.
Kimberly S –
When I originally schedule this tour, there was a massive snow in Tokyo. Due to the light from the snow, it was difficult to obtain light trails, but Lukasz was awesome and adapted to people photography. He got me out of my comfort zone to get close and take pictures of people in the snow and showed me more about my camera. They were gracious enough to let me come back a different night with no snow to learn more about light trails. The second tour was with Stefan who was also amazing! He was very personable and taught me some different techniques with my zoom for some beautiful, creative photos. I was lucky enough to see both gentleman’s different techniques and obtained some gorgeous photos both nights! I live near Tokyo, however for the out of towner, this would also be a great way to get a little away from the touristy areas of Tokyo but see highlights such as Shibuya crossing. Highly recommend this tour.
Katous123 –
Stefan was amazing. He was a patient and fun teacher, taking us to different vantage points to learn and practice new skills. I like how he eased us into the busy streets and guided us on local norms. It was freezing and we’d forgotten our gloves so he kindly gave us little heat packs to warm our fingers.
Nate M –
I found this randomly, and I love photography. I meet up with Lukasz, and the adventure began. We had a group of 4 and it was perfect. He was extremely helpful, and taught me knew things and how to get some awesome photos. I would have signed up for more tours, but ran out of time. This is a good experience to do if you’re into photography and what some hidden gems to see.
cvodb –
We were – very efficiently – taught a handful of techniques to shoot light trails and make them more interesting using angles and white balance options. I think I learnt quite a bit in a short period of time, but I didn’t feel like I was having fun. Maybe it was our group, most of which didn’t seem interested in socialising. Maybe this type of very technical shooting doesn’t appeal to me, or maybe I just didn’t click with the trainer. I’d still recommend it to others, but I probably wouldn’t book again myself.
Ricardo R –
If you are into photography and want to learn how to take great pictures by night than this is an absolute must. Guide Stephane showed us all the great spots in Shinjuku and Shibuya to take awesome pictures! All in very understandable language.
jackmogee –
As a hobbyist photographer, I signed up for this tour mainly to use as a guide to find cool spots to shoot from as this was my first time in Tokyo. My guide was Stefan and he certainly delivered. But he also gave some tips from a learning perspective as well, such as: how to improve composition and perspective, changing white balance for different effects and gave me insight on street photography as well (i was never really into street photography). Overall, i thought it was fun experience. Also lets you meet other photographers as well. Overall, I would use them again when shooting in a new city… plus it’s always fun shooting with other photographers. Great job!
Jim R –
A group of six of us came together for a tour on my recent trip to Tokyo, all with different levels of experience. The tour took us to five or six stops, capturing the bright neon lights, speeding traffic and finally the iconic Shibuya crossing. Our guide took the time with me to teach me the most effective settings and I really appreciated the extra help. I came away from the experience with some pictures which I’m really pleased with and knowledge that will help me to take better pictures elsewhere. This was a highlight of my trip and I’d really recommend it.
Bain S –
Excellent night tour! Stephan was a very good teacher and guide, providing excellent advice about camera settings, composition and long exposure techniques. Amazing light trails, some night street photography and of course Shibuya crossing at night!
izagreg –
I worked with Lukasz one-on-one for the tour. I am an amateur photographer but did not have much experience with nighttime cityscape photography. Not only that, having 2 nights in Tokyo did not leave much opportunity to scout out places. For anyone interested in getting instructions on improving your night photography, I highly recommend this tour. There were places we went that I probably would not have seen as “the spot” until I walked around with Lukasz. Very friendly and knowledgeable! If I stayed longer on Tokyo, I would not hesitate to take the other tours they offer.
EasternFlashpackers –
I took this the Tokyo night tour a few days ago and have no problem highly recommending it. Stefan is a very knowledgeable guide/tutor and is obviously passionate about his photography and Tokyo. The practical tips were spot on and despite (or because of) the rain, the Shibuya Crossing element and photos are unbelievable. Highly recommended!
Stuart –
Tokyo by night great photo walk no matter your skill level. Would definitely recommend to anyone who would like a go at night photography as the instructor was 5 star. Even though I have experience it was great to get some inside info on spots and a few Tokyo composition ideas.
MEDOM9000 –
Last night I did the Tokyo By Night photography tour with Eyexplore, led by Stephane. It was a great tour and I learned a lot. The group was a mix of beginners to advanced, and Stephane worked great with each one of us. He took the time to check in to see where we each were in skill level and experience, as well as what our goals for the tour were, and he managed to individualize the experience for each of us. In addition to Stephane being a great tour leader and teacher, the locations were great. I would not have known where to go for these photos on my own. This was my second experience with Eyexplore, and I look forward to my next adventure with this great team.
Femkedejong –
The tour was great and due to the explanations and support, I was able to make many amazing photos of Tokyo by night. Thanks a mil!!
Kulziya –
Had Tokyo by night workshop, enjoyed it 100% Received essential skills for night photoshooting and now feel myslef almost professional ))
Dylan M –
I’m quite the beginner to photography, but with the guidance given on this tour on camera settings and how to frame shots, I learned a ton. The guide was able to create a friendly atmosphere and I was able to make the best photos that night of my 3 weeks in Japan.
emeriknicholas –
Have just come back from an organised tour of Japan. Started with a few days free to get my bearings. Signed up for this in the hope of getting inside knowledge as to where to get the best shots. I did the night photography workshop with Stephan. Was impressed that they (EYExplore) were able to arrange a workshop on a day they usually are not scheduled to do so. I thought I knew my camera well, but within 10 minutes Stephan had shown me all these neat tricks and features which changed the way I take pictures (for the better) . He did know the good spots, and despite the rainy night, I managed to capture incredible shots, colours and lights (with friendly non pushy advice from Stephan). The skills I had learned in the three hour workshop were put to good use on the subsequent organised tour. We did get to see the great spots for the ‘ideal shots’. I cannot thank Stephan enough for his patience and kindness. If you bring a camera to Japan, you MUST do one of these workshops. EmerIk
Brian –
Really enjoyed the tour with Lukasz – we explored several areas of Tokyo, learned a lot about how to use a tripod for night photography and got some great shots of the city! Highly recommend to anyone looking to get some hands-on photography time in Tokyo!!
Danielle –
It was such an awesome experience learning photography techniques with Lukasz! Its suitable for a wide range of people no matter if you’re a complete beginner photographer or a bit more experienced, and you will get some really interesting photos even if you have visited Tokyo plenty of times before 🙂 Lukasz is such a nice guy and really easy to talk to, and his passion really shines through. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in improving their photography skills or learning more about their camera settings.
Narciso A –
We went through the Shinjuku and Shibuya areas looking for lines, colorful lights, and other interesting bits to use in our images. The guide, Stephane, was very friendly and accommodating. He shared some ideas on composition and how to make your images stand out. It is a professionally managed tour. The guide will make sure you enjoy yourself and keep you safe during the walk. Good for all skill levels, suggested to bring camera with some measure to control shutter speed or the overall exposure and a tripod.
Larry V –
Seriously cool tour with a guy who changed the way I thought about street and might photography. Well worth the money! I would do it again!
Peter A –
This was a fantastic experience and Lukasz is a fantastic guide! He took us there was one other person with me on the tour around the city and showed us a few really cool and hidden spots. Lukasz made sure that we would stay together at all times, even while walking through huge crowds of people. He was very hands-on showing and explaining composition, taught me a bunch of tricks about my camera I had no idea about and was generally a lot of fun to hang out with. He deeply cares about his participants, making sure we have a good time and bring home some amazing night time photos. This is by no means a tour that requires expert knowledge, so anyone with an interest in photography should feel comfortable joining. No matter your skill level, you’ll learn a trick or two along the way. I wish Lukasz would offer this tour all over the world, it was a fantastic way to get to know the city without the hassle of really planning where and when to go.
Trond W –
EYExplore Tokyo will take you to a few locations around Shinjuku and Shibayu for night city shooting and street photography. The guide (Lukasz) was friendly and knowledgeable of both Tokyo and photography instruction. I’ve got a fair bit of experience shooting and picked up a number of useful tips on the expedition. There were also a few first-time shooters who were able to get great shots of iconic Tokyo locations as well.
Frank J –
Absolutely amazing tour. I was expecting a cheesy touristy experience. Instead within the first 5 minutes I realized I had an incredible instructor expanding my knowledge of photography in areas I didn’t even know needed improvement. The instructor was patient and detailed on both the technical side and artistic. I can’t recommend enough that this is not a cheap tour but a whole photography lesson. Thank you so much guys!
ginam650 –
I had a great time doing this photography workshop! Lukasz was super friendly and took me to some great spots for night photography. I’m very comfortable with my camera and shoot in manual mode so this was a great chance to work on composition, and people photography. We walked all around the Shinjuku area, did some people photography along the way and ended at the Shibuya Crossing. Overall, this was a great experience and would recommend it for anyone interested in photography.
Joslyn66 –
Really enjoyed the Tokyo night photograpy tour – Stephan led us though two areas and had us set up tripods on bridges to get the night trafficshots as well as though alleyways to practice our street photography. He was always happy to give advice on camera settings and angles to beginners like me and I found the whole experience to be great fun. The small group of 6 meant we had enough individual attention. Quick side note – take a wind proof jacket – you are up on bridges and it gets cold – a couple of participants were just in t-shirts and froze! Would definately recommend the course
PritCanada –
I am so glad I did this tour. Lucas is highly knowledgable and a patient facilitator. I own a DSLR and learnt a lot of new tips and tricks. Amazing pics. Great way to see Tokyo in the night. Highly recommended. Did the Tokyo by night tour.
Ron Y –
Lucas was a very personable and helpful guide for this tour. He had plenty of great ideas and a very good eyes for different scenes and situations. Great technical insight as well. It was a terrific evening, filled with locations that you might not think of shooting from and producing cool results. Learned some great technical advice for night photography. Really enjoyed this and would highly recommended it to others!
haty10 –
Axel took us to some fantastic locations around Tokyo to shoot long exposure photos. Their tips and advice greatly improved my photos and knowledge. I highly recommend the tour to anyone with camera that has a manual mode.
Isaiah B –
Had a lovely time during this Tokyo by night class. I recommend this class for every skill level. My instructor showed me awesome spots in Shinjuku/Shibuya for long exposure shots that I would have never picked or framed myself without his help. My instructor also did a beautiful job explaining how to frame and capture long exposure photos of large crowds (which you get a lot of in Tokyo). Overall I took a lot of tips out of this class that I will continue to use for the rest of my life! FYI most people do this class with digital camera’s, but I used film and it worked just as well!
jlai88 –
This photo tour was so much fun! Our guide Lucas was fantastic, friendly and creative. He showed us creative angles to capture light trails. Our street session at Shibuya crossing was so amazing. We did a few group squat-downs at the middle of the crossing amid the intense pedestrians at the busy Shibuya crossing. Too much fun!
ktseon –
My husband and I went on the Tokyo By Night tour. Our tour guide Lukas took us to some great spots to photograph city lights. There was good variation in the types of locations and the techniques we used. Neither of us know much about photography, so even if you just like taking photos for fun, this was a really good tour.
Dianna V –
Are you sure we can not give this 6 Stars? By far our two photography tours with Lukasz Palka was exceptional. Take any camera you have with manual settings and he will help you shoot some of the most fantastic pictures in Tokyo that you will ever own. Don’t be intimated with others who have huge lens and professional cameras. Just take yours and go! With the small group setting you will get extraordinary pictures of the bright lights, light trails, crowds, alleys. Lukasz was extremely wonderful to work with very patient with everyone that included people who had only used auto settings to being able to improve techniques of the amateur/professional level of hobby level photographers. Fantastic way to have a walking tour and more.
Ailish S –
This tour is brilliant. Our guide was Lukas who knew everything there is to know about photography. He took us to various vantage points in Shinjuku and Shibuya and made us try different settings on our cameras until we got perfect pics. We got some really unusual snaps. Lukas knew the area quite well. He was extremely patient. All you really need is your camera as the tripod can be rented. I would advise, as with any photography outing, to wear comfortable shoes. There’s not a lot of walking but it is quite crowded. At the end Lukas ensured we were able to get home safely which in my case meant coming with me to buy the subway ticket! I’d strongly recommend this activity; my only complaint was the meeting point which was very difficult to find.
JStranack –
Had a great couple of hours photographing the city lights and ally ways of Shinjuku and Shibuya of Tokyo. As an experienced photographer I learn t from Lukasz and would had to spend many hours finding the shots that he took me to. Great time and well worth including in your itinerary.
FamilleTavani –
a small group of 4 was perfect and Lukas is just the best! he is a real pro. He will always give you the best advices on how to shoot some great pics and will explain how and why. He knows the best spots for night pics and long exposures. I simply enjoyed it! Thanks Lukas!
Rebecca201436 –
This was an amazing experience for myself and my 16 year old nephew. Lucas is a fantastic teacher and guide. We learnt techniques to take unique photos- nor just your standard Shibuya crossing and neon lights shots. Lucas also took us to locations we could never find on our own. I highly recommend EYExplore – I have been to Japan twice and both times done a tour with them.
Jennifer G –
This is a tour to learn more about taking quality photographs at night, rather than seeing Tokyo. The evening was well planned with several stops. The guide was knowledgeable about different cameras and was able to help each person set up and take a variety of shots.
Canaan T –
Amazing! Lucasz was the guide for this night and he was very informative, patient and educational when it comes to composing shots. I’ve learnt a few things from him after this trip and loved every moment in capturing and setting up each shot for the tour. Just a word of advice: for those with professional photography backgrounds: let the tour guide guide you with a few steps. Having assumed knowledge of photography is good, but may impede the tour. I entered this tour thinking I know a shot here and there, but after the 2nd time when the guide lucasz taught me something new, I figured out that I should just sit back and let him continue to guide me throughout the night – even asking for his opinion on composing shots and asking for his ideas that can add to a shot. Awesome night, great guide and would definitely do the other tours offered in this section next time I go back to Japan 🙂
Sophie –
I joined Lukas on the Tokyo By Night tour and had the best time. He shared his creative knowledge, pushed me out of my comfort zone and I ended up with some pictures I’ll treasure forever. #protip book in winter and you might even get him all to yourself!
Catherine G –
Lukas seamlessly guided us around the best spots in Shinjuku and Shibuya. I liked how much he help with settings and composition and encouraged creativity. We visited a variety of locations from big buildings, to cars and little side streets. Perfect amount of time and walking.
Pedros22 –
If you wish to awaken the creative side of your photography, this lesson is for you. Not only will you visit prime shots for night photography, you will be amazed at the endless variety of shots you did not think were possible to take. I wish I had spent a week with Stephane, who shared his passion and experience. To learn so much in such a short time was priceless
Jsyd –
Had a great time on the tour with our tour guide Axel, a very experienced photographer. This company does very small group tours, so there was a lot of personal attention and welcome advice about the best settings to use without being overbearing. I had a wonderful times in areas that I wouldn’t have felt comfortable setting up a tripod on my own, but in a small group it was very easy. The tripod hiring option is also great, no lugging of a heavy tripod in your luggage, for a small cost you can hire one for the tour.
Edgardo R –
Great tour. Highly recommended. Lucas was a great tour guide. Very knowledgeable in photography and helps with your settings if you need.
紀子 髙 –
It’s an educational photography tour for everybody. Lucas the guide lead us to the artistic Tokyo night.
Max G –
I will do it again and again… Great personality of the photographer. Showed us hidden spot, good of finding locations. Even if i´v done nightphotography before. He twisted my photography a bit more. +++++
travelwithcarlo –
I just came back from shooting the Tokyo lights at night. The tour is fantastic and the guys are really professional and have structured the course very well. You will be trained on how to make the best compositions and get the best out of your nighttime photography. This is a must do while in Tokyo.
279Mack –
I was super excited for this tour and I thought it went well. Learned couple cool points and took few nice pictures. As a tour guide myself, I thought Lukasz was simples and short. When we were walking around I would ask few questions about Tokyo and he was clear not excited to talk. Always very short and abrasive. I would enjoy more if we could have some cool conversation and learn a little bit more about Tokyo or Japan ( I know he is not a Japan culture guide!). Besides that the tour was fine.
Simone B –
I loved this tour. I had Lucas as a guide and he was great, as we were a small group the attention to detail was perfect with lots of support and time to take wow shots, you never felt rushed. The locations good with not to much walking which made time for more photos. I learnt quite a few new trick and tips on how to get the best out of my camera for some amazing photos and the tripod hire was ideal I am now looking to buy a similar tripod. The rain on the night added a whole different level and made for some wow photos.
Vaila M –
It was a great way to spend a few hours in Tokyo. I was lucky enough to pick a cold January evening for my tour which resulted in me being alone. This meant I got a lot of opportunity to get some really great tips from Lukasz. He was very professional and it’s so clear he knows what he’s doing with a camera. It was also very clear he had teaching experience because he asked the right questions to check I had understood everything. He has picked out some excellent spots for Tokyo night scenes resulting in some beautiful souvenir shots. Thanks Lukasz for coming out on that chilly evening. It was one of the highlights of my time in Tokyo!
Penny P –
Lukas does a great job of taking you to some awesome vantage points during his night photography tour. As a professional photographer myself, I enjoyed getting tips and ideas from another pro. Thanks Lukas for helping me get some great photos!
SWFC1963 –
Lukasz did a great job with our group of 4 with varied equipment, skills, and interest. He gave us great locations to work from and gave us insightful assistance on composing various shots and understanding the mechanics of making a good shot better.
WaynesWorld54 –
This was a great tour. Lucasz provided excellent advice and guidance. His input on composing each scene took what would be fairly average photos into ones I am proud of. I learnt a lot and would recommend this tour for other photographers.
David O –
Lukasz is a helpful guide who led us through various vantage points in Shinjuku and Shiboya to work on composing long-exposure shots that reflect the energy and movement in Tokyo. The tour is well organised and thought out, and I learnt some interesting ideas about composition and different exposure lengths. Bring a spare battery!
1CANADIANTRAVELLER –
I had an amazing time on my first photography tour capturing the night life of Tokyo. Lukasz did an amazing job explaining everything to me and never got frustrated with my random questions =). Overall, he is extremely patient, friendly and knowledgeable. What more could one ask for in a tour guide? All my friends and family keep complimenting me on the shots we took together. I would highly recommend this tour and would love to do it again some time in the future.
shamurai –
I’ve shot photography for years and years. I had never shot long exposure night before. You know those futuristic shots with the light streaks from cars. Armed with a new tripod, a 16-35mm lens, and a trip to Tokyo I found Eyexplore was offering a “Tokyo by Night” course to teach you how to take the exact shots I wanted. I emailed them to make sure my lens was right for the course, they emailed me right back saying it’s perfect. Then I booked online from their website. The plan is to go from Shinjuku to Shibuya for a few hours. After meeting up with the instructor, Lukasz, and the one other person in the class we took off. Lukasz’s instruction is exact and casual…which was refreshing. I liked how we started more-or-less on time but he didn’t rush the class. We started about 5-7 minutes late but he just extended that time at the end to make sure we got the full course. The other guy in the class was a high school exchange student who was brand new to photography, Lukasz did a great job of giving him the attention he needed while answering my more experienced questions. He really explained how to understand the scene, meter the shots, and compose the photo…which is way different from the street photography I’m more accustom to. I kinda wish I booked like 2 more classes with them…totally know I’ll do it on my next trip to Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka (where they offer photo courses).
Chandra K –
Lukasz was our guide and he made sure that the tour was fun and at the same time helped to compose and shoot nice pictures. Highly recommend to any one interested in night photography.
Donna P –
Was very impressed with the whole tour. The photographer, Lukas, was able to teach us a lot about our various camera settings, and by the end of the tour, we were able to set most of them up without prompting. The locations were great, and the whole tour was a lot of fun. I’d definitely recommend it!
Emthinks –
I did the Tokyo by night tour with Stephane and I’m so glad I did. I haven’t done night photography before and have been struggling to get the results I want in low lighting. I told Stephane this and he really challenged my skill set and perspective. He’s respectful, passionate, knowledgeable and works hard to make sure you get what you want from the session with people of all skills sets. Would book again.
nja1231 –
Lukasz an excellent guide, friendly ,professional, efficient in making sure we got good shots,gave every one personal attention and even helped me get down low to the ground for the shots of the Shibuya crossing A true gentleman! Highly recommended
Jonathan L –
Terrific outing. Lukas was a great host and pro. Took the time to help set-up shots as needed. No worries if you’re an amateur either. Highly recommended!
sanneshine –
I am a hobby photographer and this tour was my first time doing city night photography. Lukas had great places to shoot and views/compositions I would never have thought of. He would help set up my camera initially and by the end we would be able to think of how to adjust our settings manually on our own. We went around the Shinjuku neighborhood, even through Memory Lane for some awesome street photo opportunities and ended in the Shibuya neighborhood. I learned so much and Lukas was so patient with me, thanks for a great tour!
vinwak –
An great way to spend an evening with awesome photographs to remember it by. The guide Lukas was exceptionally helpful, making sure we had the support and time to take those great shots. I didn’t feel rushed and no question was too stupid. Having done quite a few photo tours before it was refreshing to find a professional photographer who also showed great professionalism as a guide. The locations he chose to take us were awesome and gave creative shots. His tripod supplied option was ideal for me as well. This was a quality manfrotto device which Lukas showed how to best use.
Russell U –
I signed up for the Tokyo By Night photography tour from Eyexplore. The group limit is 6 and we had 3 in our group this night. Lukas, our guide, took us to a couple of spots in Shinjuku and Shibuya for a couple of different types of night shots. We got light trails from cars on overpasses and street corners, we took candid-style pictures of people eating in different small bars, and we ended the night at the Shibuya crossing getting shots of the crowd. The tour was friendly for beginners and intermediates. Lukas was very helpful in getting your camera settings right and with framing/composition of your images. He walked you through what to look for and what would make for an interesting photo. As Tokyo is a city that really comes to life at night, I think the idea of a night photography tour is great. I’d recommend it for any level of photographer who wants to get a slightly different perspective on the city.
5504Marilyn –
Stephane took us through the rudiments of long exposure shots in night time Shinjuku. Down side streets and busy streets, the metro,and parks ending up at Shibuya. Great tour, in your face photo shots of the people and fashions. Great way to spend an alternative evening in Tokyo appreciating different angles, lighting and areas of the city you wouldn’t otherwise notice. Highly recommend this tour if you’re interested in photography and people.
tiyddingsk –
Thanks to Lukas for a great night of photography in the streets and bridges of shinjuku and shibuya. from tips and advice on camera settings everything was perfect for great photo shots. Lukas to took us to photogenetic places up and under the bridges of shinjuku and from there the car light streams were amazing. highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in photograpghy thanks Lukas
cubdoc –
I was met by Lukasz at the agreed place in Shinjuku.The instructions sent via email were easy to follow and precise! Fortunately, there was only one other photographer with me which made for a more hands-on experience and more expertise advice and tips by Lukasz. The advice on camera settings were on-point as Lukasz was able to reconfigure my standard or factory settings to allow for better quality of photographs capture. The highlights for me were the light streams from traffic above Shinjuku; I usually set on bulb and guess on the f-stop send iso settings whereas Lukasz provided key guidance on all settings from f-stop, aperture and iso; this helped me a great deal. The other highlight was taking photos at the infamous Shibuya crossing; this seemed unnatural but a lot of fun and intrigue had by pedestrians surrounding us. Thanks for a memorable experience!
Felfoldi –
Booked the night tour with Lukasz. Learned a great deal and came away with some great shots. If you are into photography, can not recommend enough.
allenfotowild –
The Shinjuku area can be quite intimidating to find your way around with all the traffic and people, but it is a great place to photograph the night lights, traffic streams and activities. With only one night in Tokyo, I wanted to use my time efficiently and EYExplore, with their local knowledge, made it easy. Lukasz quickly took me to a variety of places for some great shots and some good tips about capturing the activity. EYExplore quickly and competently answered all questions that I had beforehand about where to meet, etc. Turned out I was the only one on the tour that night and had a great time with Lukasz.
Valeria M –
I made a night tour with Lukasz and I was positively surprised that the group size was only 3 people. That gave Lukasz enough time to really guide each of us. He is very experienced and can show you tips and tricks on every type of Camera, no matter which brand. He has shown us some very good spots and the results are amazing! Thanks for the great tour! V
Damage2508 –
Took the photography tour led by Luke thru shinjuku and shibuya. I broke some of my core rules but learnt some more about composition and tricks to frame in a way to remove distractions. Luke was well versed in the operation of the cameras in the group and gave insightful advice into the best viewpoint , how to approach candid street photography and what angles offer a composition.
Rebecca Jane W –
This tour was the highlight of my entire 12 days in Japan. It was so much more than I expected. I anticipated photographing the neon signs, but Lucas taught us so much more about long exposure, streaming car lights and setting up tripods in unusual spots, like under a bridge, leaning over the railway. I plan to come back to Tokyo next year and will do another tour with this company. I had a fantastic time and have some amazing photos as a result. I highly recommend this tour to those with an interest in photography at any level – absolute beginner to some experience. Lucas is a great teacher, knowledgeable about cameras, the Tokyo areas and worked so well with us all. He was very helpful.