Japan

Japan · 2025

Travel photography

These days it feels like everyone is in Japan. It's turned into a cliché. I went to Japan too in November 2025 - lucky enough to go with my good friend Oscar, who is half Japanese and knows all the spots. It was an epic adventure spanning three weeks, which Oscar fastidiously planned, including hedonistic Tokyo nights, calm and quiet Kyushu onsens, incredible food and more highballs than a little league tournament.

Oscar stands on a grassy ridge overlooking the caldera, Mount Aso — Oscar stands on a grassy ridge overlooking the caldera Aso, Japan, 2025

The tiered wooden roof of a temple hall at dusk — The tiered wooden roof of a temple hall at dusk Kyoto, Japan, 2025

A stone torii gate over a paved path to a small shrine — A stone torii gate over a paved path to a small shrine Kyoto, Japan, November 2025

The chefs at Yamashita behind the counter — The chefs at Yamashita behind the counter Kyoto, Japan, November 2025

A van parked under a low-clearance sign in a dim alley — A van parked under a low-clearance sign in a dim alley Kyoto, Japan, 2025

A ginger cat asleep in a basket in a clothing shop window — A ginger cat asleep in a basket in a clothing shop window Kyoto, Japan, 2025

View west from Kitte garden in Marunouchi — View west from Kitte garden in Marunouchi Tokyo, Japan, November 2025

A person in a tiger mask and costume walks past Harajuku station — A person in a tiger mask and costume walks past Harajuku station Tokyo, Japan, 2025

A stone lantern beside red maple leaves on a temple bridge — A stone lantern beside red maple leaves on a temple bridge Kyoto, Japan, November 2025

An old tarp-covered restaurant on a quiet street corner — An old tarp-covered restaurant on a quiet street corner Kyoto, Japan, 2025

A worker relaxes at the end of a narrow residential alley with flowering shrubs — A worker relaxes at the end of a narrow residential alley with flowering shrubs Kyoto, Japan, November 2025

Rocky outcrops and a shallow cove under an overcast sky — Rocky outcrops and a shallow cove under an overcast sky Iriomote, Okinawa, November 2025

A view of the sun setting behind a sea stack in Tsukigahama beach — A view of the sun setting behind a sea stack in Tsukigahama beach Iriomote, Okinawa, November 2025

A man crosses the street beneath the dense neon signage of Photography Quarter in Shinjuku — A man crosses the street beneath the dense neon signage of Photography Quarter in Shinjuku Tokyo, November 2025

A worker in a cap behind a cluttered counter — A worker in a cap behind a cluttered counter Tokyo, November 2025

A man walks past a tiled station wall hung with cables — A man walks past a tiled station wall hung with cables Tokyo, November 14, 2025

Commuters wait on the railway platform of Ikekuburo station — Commuters wait on the railway platform of Ikekuburo station Tokyo, Japan, November 14, 2025

Diners at a Tonkasu restaurant in the site of a repurposed onsen — Diners at a Tonkasu restaurant in the site of a repurposed onsen Omotesando, Tokyo, November 14, 2025

Traffic and pedestrians on a tree-lined avenue at golden hour — Traffic and pedestrians on a tree-lined avenue at golden hour Omotesando, Tokyo, November 14, 2025

An empty backstreet lit blue by lamps and signs at night — An empty backstreet lit blue by lamps and signs at night Tokyo, November 15, 2025

Youths posing for a photo taken from a late-night ramen bar, Shinjuku ni-chome — Youths posing for a photo taken from a late-night ramen bar, Shinjuku ni-chome Tokyo, Japan, November 15, 2025

A bridge over a river with hills behind a small town as seen from the Shinkansen — A bridge over a river with hills behind a small town as seen from the Shinkansen Kyushu, Japan, November 15, 2025

Pampas grass on a ridge above layered mountain ranges — Pampas grass on a ridge above layered mountain ranges Mount Aso, Japan, November 16, 2025

A road sign pointing to the volcanic crater — A road sign pointing to the volcanic crater Mount Aso, Japan, November 16, 2025

Visitors look down into the sulfur-smelling steaming volcanic crater — Visitors look down into the sulfur-smelling steaming volcanic crater Mount Aso, Japan, November 16, 2025

A red vending machine against a corrugated metal warehouse — A red vending machine against a corrugated metal warehouse Kyushu, Japan, November 16, 2025

Stone lanterns lining a cedar-forest path to Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine — Stone lanterns lining a cedar-forest path to Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine Aso, Japan, November 16, 2025

An elderly couple photograph a waterfall in autumn woodland — An elderly couple photograph a waterfall in autumn woodland Kyushu, Japan, November 17, 2025

A man looks at the size of Godzilla as recorded on the height-comparison plaque of Kokonoe "Yume" Otsurihashi — A man looks at the size of Godzilla as recorded on the height-comparison plaque of Kokonoe "Yume" Otsurihashi Kyushu, Japan, November 17, 2025

Oscar reaches for a can of Yona ale from a supermarket fridge — Oscar reaches for a can of Yona ale from a supermarket fridge Yufuin, Japan, November 17, 2025

A variety of packaged fresh fish in a supermarket chiller — A variety of packaged fresh fish in a supermarket chiller Yufuin, Japan, November 17, 2025

Red and orange maples over a small footbridge — Red and orange maples over a small footbridge Yufuin, Japan, November 17, 2025

A torii gate standing in a lake below the hills — A torii gate standing in a lake below the hills Yufuin, Japan, November 18, 2025

An old wooden waterwheel of a pottery mill beside a stream — An old wooden waterwheel of a pottery mill beside a stream Kyushu, Japan, November 18, 2025

An man carries a row of ceramic bowls to a kiln — An man carries a row of ceramic bowls to a kiln Onta, Kyushu, Japan, November 18, 2025

Two workers cycle back home — Two workers cycle back home Kyushu, Japan, November 18, 2025

A graffiti-covered building wall above a parking lot at night — A graffiti-covered building wall above a parking lot at night Fukuoka, Japan, November 18, 2025

A ground crew member signals goodbye on the apron at the airport — A ground crew member signals goodbye on the apron at the airport Fukuoka, Japan, November 19, 2025

Fuel tanks marked Fukuoka beside the airport apron — Fuel tanks marked Fukuoka beside the airport apron Fukuoka, Japan, November 19, 2025

A kei truck parked outside a small island grocery store — A kei truck parked outside a small island grocery store Iriomote, Okinawa, November 20, 2025

Dario walks along a sandbar toward offshore islets — Dario walks along a sandbar toward offshore islets Iriomote, Okinawa, November 20, 2025

Two fishermen converse beside their truck in Shirahama harbour quay — Two fishermen converse beside their truck in Shirahama harbour quay Iriomote, Okinawa, November 21, 2025

View of the hills from the mouth of Nakara River — View of the hills from the mouth of Nakara River Iriomote, Okinawa, November 21, 2025

Trekking towards Nara falls — Trekking towards Nara falls Iriomote, Okinawa, November 21, 2025

Kayakers from a hotel tour return to Shirahama port — Kayakers from a hotel tour return to Shirahama port Iriomote, Okinawa, November 21, 2025

View of Uehara port from the roof of a curry restaurant — View of Uehara port from the roof of a curry restaurant Iriomote, Okinawa, November 22, 2025

Uehara port terminal — Uehara port terminal Iriomote, Okinawa, November 22, 2025

View of Tsukigahama beach sea stacks at dusk — View of Tsukigahama beach sea stacks at dusk Iriomote, Okinawa, November 22, 2025

Stars and the Milky Way over a dark sky — Stars and the Milky Way over a dark sky Iriomote, Okinawa, November 22, 2025

A child baseball team waits for the ferry to Ishigaki at sunrise — A child baseball team waits for the ferry to Ishigaki at sunrise Iriomote, Okinawa, November 24, 2025

The Osaka Ekimae Building directory board — The Osaka Ekimae Building directory board Osaka, Japan, November 24, 2025

A deer standing among pines — A deer standing among pines Nara, Japan, November 25, 2025

A red Ferris wheel rising above shopfronts against a blue sky — A red Ferris wheel rising above shopfronts against a blue sky Osaka, Japan, November 26, 2025

Illuminated billboards and a Ferris wheel along a canal — Illuminated billboards and a Ferris wheel along a canal Dotonbori, Osaka, November 26, 2025

A couple walks along the river embankment at dusk in Kamogawa — A couple walks along the river embankment at dusk in Kamogawa Kyoto, Japan, November 26, 2025

Red autumn maple leaves framing a riverside — Red autumn maple leaves framing a riverside Kyoto, Japan, November 26, 2025

Chef Yamashita and his team — Chef Yamashita and his team Kyoto, Japan, November 26, 2025

Fugu fish swim and Yamashita's youngest cook — Fugu fish swim and Yamashita's youngest cook Kyoto, Japan, November 26, 2025

A Yasaka Taxi Group driver updates paperwork while waiting for his next ride — A Yasaka Taxi Group driver updates paperwork while waiting for his next ride Kyoto, Japan, November 26, 2025

A young couple stands on a bridge for their wedding photoshoot at Inokashira park — A young couple stands on a bridge for their wedding photoshoot at Inokashira park Tokyo, Japan, November 28, 2025

Firefighting gear laid out beside red fire engines — Firefighting gear laid out beside red fire engines Tokyo, Japan, November 28, 2025

A fire extinguisher cleverly placed in a circle of boulders by a flea market — A fire extinguisher cleverly placed in a circle of boulders by a flea market Tokyo, Japan, November 29, 2025

A cyclist passes beneath golden ginkgo trees — A cyclist passes beneath golden ginkgo trees Tokyo, Japan, November 30, 2025

Smokers check their phones while a west highland terrier is driven past Harajuku station — Smokers check their phones while a west highland terrier is driven past Harajuku station Tokyo, Japan, November 30, 2025

A crowd waits at a red pedestrian signal at dusk — A crowd waits at a red pedestrian signal at dusk Tokyo, November 30, 2025

The fuselage of an aircraft lettered JAPAN at the gate, Haneda airport — The fuselage of an aircraft lettered JAPAN at the gate, Haneda airport Tokyo, December 01, 2025