My Tokyo Blues

Lost in Translation. Tokyo at twilight viewed from Tokyo World Trade Center (circa 2017).

This is one example of those late melancholic posts. I finally had the chance to see Tokyo a second time last Winter. The first time was way back in the Autumn of 2013 when I was invited by a major Japanese furniture manufacturer to attend a 3-day convention. Since then, I always remember Tokyo as a cold city (my first encounter with the outside world); the city I fell in love with and the one that inspired me to explore, to travel, and to discover more of the world around me. I don’t know how I will do it; but after this recent trip, I promised myself (and my family) to return to this place at least once a year. 🙂

That photo of Tokyo Tower above is one of my favorites from this recent trip. I have always wanted to capture Tokyo at twilight from that vantage point (at the top of the Tokyo World Trade Center). It was not really the composition I had in mind though. A new building was being built infront of the World Trade Center; blocking the iconic and signature view of the cityscape below as well as the silhouette of Mt. Fuji beyond and forcing me to shift the camera to place the tower on the left side of the frame. This is another example of the importance of acquiring updated research before reaching your destination. Still not bad really, as I ended with a different take of this beautiful city (at least for me). 🙂

Morning Calm. Early morning at the Tokyo Imperial Palace Grounds (circa 2017).

Anyway, I should stop stalling. I know I just needed to write (or blog) regularly. I just simply miss Tokyo. A protracted throwback is not really my thing and very seldom do I visit the same place twice. But I honestly still have the blues for this city and still can’t get over those late night photography sessions out in the cold. 🙂 As always, I had my shot list on hand (which took me months to diligently prepare). The thing is that long holidays are always short and chances are you will not be able to do all the things in your shot list (unless you’re traveling alone). Besides, we took a couple of ad hoc day trips to nearby Kyoto and Osaka which required me to take a bit of time off from my rigid and regimented Tokyo photography schedule; to spend quality time with my family and in-laws. Kyoto and Osaka however are different and wonderful cities (and the essence of a Japan trip for most travelers) which arguably deserve a separate visit as well as a proper write-up of their own. Meanwhile, the unfinished tasks in my Tokyo shot list gives me a valid reason to come back next year. 🙂

It’s a good thing we will have our summer company trip next month; and that will give me enough time to let this melancholia of cold places to subside. 🙂 So I’ll just share them here: my incomplete and random postcards from this recent Tokyo trip and a few from my earlier 2013 trip as well. I have to apologize for all that drama up there and for not being the supposedly informative Tokyo travel guide in this blog post. The internet anyway is a far more reliable and accurate source of information and I do not want to bore you with my profuse writing. I did label the photos though so you could look them up yourself. 🙂 I honestly enjoyed taking them and these I gladly share to those who enjoy travel photography and to travelers who plan to visit this beautiful and unforgettable city.

Enjoy the images as much as I do and always remain excited and inspired.

See you in my next post. Cheers!!! 🙂

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