Tokyo station has remained a majestic landmark of Tokyo since the 1910s. Designed by the architect Kingo Tatsuno who was known as the pioneer of Japanese modern architecture. The station was burnt down by air raids during the World War II and was then reconstructed into a two story building in the late 1940s. This nostalgic red brick building is a must on every tourist’s itinerary. The old architecture, surrounded by modern tall skyscrapers, lights up beautifully at night by flood lights illuminating a gem in the heart of Tokyo. This article will cover some spots near the vicinity of Tokyo Station, here are some instagram worthy spots to take pictures around and of Tokyo Station.

GREY CUBES

This spot is well known for the locals living in Tokyo, especially for the younger generation who love posting photogenic images on Instagram. It is located inside a building, the building has a huge courtyard from which you can view the other side. Standing in the middle of one side and aligning your camera with the verticals can result in a balanced image like above. The above picture was taken with a wide angle lens but you can also experiment with zoom lens and positioning your partner inside one of the cubes. On the top floors you can look down towards the courtyard and experiment taking pictures with the reflection like the image below.

Overall this building and especially the courtyard here is always fun to shoot. There are tons of ways to utilize your creativity here, according to your photography style, and create something worth sharing. While here, you should also check the rooftop garden on the top floor where the view is amazing.

THE HEART OF TOKYO

You cannot use a tripod so you will have to hand hold the camera. But if you are lucky you can get away with using a GorillaPod as there is a railing you can attach it to. There will be a glass barrier in front of the camera which will make it hard to shoot even with a GorillaPod. You should clean the glass fence before taking a picture through the glass.

One of the most beautiful panoramas you can capture in Tokyo. The height of the spot is not too high nor too low. Hence it aptly captures the scene and shows the area in its entirety. The stacked up buildings surrounding the open area in the middle makes this spot a must.

TOKYO CENTER'S SPIRAL

These two spots shown in the top and below pictures are located inside the Tokyo Station. Both are images require a wide angle lens to capture the space. And both entail the unique architecture that Tokyo Station has to offer. The above spiral stairs is located inside a museum so you will need a ticket for the exhibition to enter this space. There are two highlights of the gallery in Tokyo Station, one is the spiral stairs shown in the above picture, and the other is the 100 years old bricks used in the second floor exhibition space. Here you can enjoy the architectural attractions the building has to offer with exhibitions of various themes.

Like many buildings in Tokyo the station was severely destroyed during World War II. The original ceiling was damaged but reconstructed later with using the same design. As seen in the above picture, there are 8 eagles at the top and below that in circular green backgrounds are the animal reliefs at 8 locations. The keystone at the top of the arches are inspired by 15th century military commander’s helmet. All these design elements and ornaments combined make this ceiling a great look up.

One of the older and famous buildings in Tokyo. The Tokyo station is a three-storied magnificent early modern Japanese architecture with 3 large (like the above) domes in the north, south and center.

ENCLOSURE ONE

This is a good spot to try out night photography of the Tokyo Station. Unlike the spot mentioned above, you can view the front facade of the building in its entirety from here. The location is on a terrace on one of the shopping malls located in front of the station. The good point about this location is that you can use a tripod here.

The terrace is a romantic spot where a lot of couples come here to gaze at the building in front. Below is the picture of the terrace and a picture taken at this photogenic spot with a telephoto lens.

The scenic view from these terraces are beautiful especially at night when the area comes to light.

We recommend this place not only for taking pictures and filming, but also as a romantic spot for a date or just to wind down after a day of walking around Tokyo.

ENCLOSURE TWO

Another angle you can take a picture of the station is about 2 buildings down the spot mentioned previously in this list. Although the visibility of the station is better at this spot, you are not allowed to use your tripod. This too is a romantic spot as shown in the below pictures. You can sit in the terrace with your partner or friend take pictures here and even order some drinks from a number of different restaurants located on the same floor. A great spot to re-energize after a long day of taking pictures.

The use of tripods is not allowed in this terrace so remember to take with you a camera that has good low-light capabilities. Another great spot not only for photography but also to chill. The open terrace is accessible to public. So you can rest here before heading off to your next spot!