Tokyo's Off The Beaten Path: Kawaguchi
Davis Jefferson Austin
Guided Photo Tour: Kawaguchi
Tokyo is known for its vibrant boroughs, which are exciting and frenetic. The off-the-beaten-path locations are just as entertaining as Shibuya or Shinjuku, and they show another side of this beautiful city beyond the busy streets we all know and love.
Kawaguchi is a large city located just north of Tokyo. One would scarcely know they have left Tokyo. Kawaguchi offers every amenity found in the big city except one: crowds. It is not a tourist destination, but it does boast a wonderful charm and a long, proud history.
This location is ideal for a day of street photography, a guided tour of the sights, sounds and local delicacies, or even a photo workshop. There are temples and shrines, back streets to photograph, and restaurants and shops to explore.
Kawaguchi is one of my first stops for street photography in Japan. There are many locations to shoot and great light due to the well-dispersed highrise buildings and a labyrinth of backstreets.
What I love most about Kawaguchi isn't the lack of tourists, good lighting, restaurants, and shopping but its character. This area is old. You can't help but feel it walking through the streets. Having a chance to witness that, even better, an opportunity to photograph it is a tremendous experience.
Cities with a lot of personality often are full of characters. Kawaguchi is no different. I took some of my best street photographs of people here because there is so much character to photograph.
Take a chance on Kawaguchi. You won't regret it. It is easy to navigate independently, but I am happy to be your private tour guide or even create a photo workshop for you. Kawaguchi is rustic and endearing, filled with personality and photographic opportunity.
