Neon lit portraits are a big trend on Instagram. In fact, they’ve become so trendy these days that it’s difficult to scroll through Instagram without swiping down across an acid-colored post or two. And who can blame people for liking them? There is simply nothing a like a moody neon lit picture. Although the neon signs have been disappearing in front of shops and on displays in Japan here are the few neon signs you can find in the city.

Even though neon lights have been around for many years, there is still something instantly futuristic to them, and for some of us even some sort of nostalgia, as they remind us of our childhood at the arcade and the vibes of the 80s.

---

THE NEON RABBIT

Harajuku is a place for youngsters and a place for fashion. Much like Soho in New York. There are a number of local apparels brands in this area with cute store fronts. Away from the main road, walking in the twisting alleys of Harajuku you will find many intriguing shops around you. One of those shops is this one.

It is unique and stands out because of its pink neon light. Unlike other big cities of the world, Japan does not have a lot of this type of neon signs displayed in front of its shops. Making it difficult to take a picture like the one above. Remember to take your sunglasses with you for this shot!

Having the neon lights reflect in the sunglasses is the point in these types of pictures, So you have to remember to focus on that.

---

BABY MARY'S NEON

A boutique shop carrying various selected items with the "kawaii" theme. The artwork on the facade and the neon lights make a great night picture here.

A useful tip when shooting neon lights, or night photography in general, is to always underexpose. This is because, for one you want to keep the detail in those highlights, as those are one of the important subjects, and also underexposing saves you that extra little bit of exposure time that might help you capture the scene handheld and get rid of the need for a tripod.

When taking portraits with neon lights in the background make sure you use the neon lights as edge lights. Lights emitted from neon lights are very soft in nature, so they act as a great consistent edge light that highlights the edges of the model and separates them from the background.