Shibuya Crossing (where to take photos from)
Hi Travelers, this is Kumi. I'm now planning to publish a Kindle book on Tokyo photo locations. In this book, a cat traveler/photographer asks questions to a guide/photographer, Kumi.
C: Cat - traveler/photographer
K: Kumi - guide/photographer
C: Kumi, do you know a good place to shoot Shibuya Crossing?
K: You mean a photo like this?
C: Oh, wow! Where did you take this from?
K: There is an overpass where you can look down the intersection. It's between JR Shibuya station and SHIBUYA MARK CITY.
https://www.suncalc.org/#/35.6588,139.7003,18/2020.03.20/12:00/1/3
C: How's the shooting condition?
K: You can't open the windows and the windows have black lines, so you need to make them out of focus.
C: Can I use a tripod?
K: It seems okay, but if security guards come, they might say something. However, my friends and I have been using tripods without any issues.
K: I took a video here with a tripod.
https://youtu.be/IJttk5H1VTU
C: Wow! I really want to do this. Is there any good time for shooting?
K: Evenings, especially on weekends, are the best as there are so many people. The intersection is quite empty in the morning.
C: Oh yes, this is very different.
K: Rainy days are nice because people can be seen using colorful umbrellas.
C: Oh, I like this. Is there any cafe where you can enjoy the view?
K: There is a Starbucks on the other side but you may need to wait long until you get your drink and you may not be able to get good seats.
K: Also, the roof of the subway exit disrupts the view. So I don't recommend this place for shooting.
C: Is there any place to shoot from a higher angle?
K: You mean like this?
C: Oh, wow!
K: This one is from MAGNET by SHIBUYA109.
https://magnetbyshibuya109.jp/en/
https://www.suncalc.org/#/35.6597,139.7009,18/2020.03.20/12:00/1/3
K: It used to be free to go up there, but they started charging 300 yen in April 2019 and it became 600 yen since November 2019. So you need to check out the latest information before you go.
C: How's the shooting condition?
K: The observation area is surrounded by glasses that are a bit tilted. You see the rooftop area?
C: Yup.
K: The tilt helps a bit when you shoot the intersection but if you have a lens hood, that'll help.
C: Can I use a tripod?
K: No, but you could use a mini pod secretly. I do see a lot of long exposure shots posted online.
C: Are there any other buildings to go up?
K: If you have a good zoom lens, Shibuya Hikarie can be a good option.
http://www.hikarie.jp/
https://www.suncalc.org/#/35.6591,139.7031,18/2020.03.20/12:00/1/3
C: Nice. I like the combination of the train and the intersection.
K: It's nice for video, too.
https://youtu.be/hmCCeROz_MU
C: Is it free to go up there?
K: Yes. You can simply take the elevator to the 11th floor and you can come to this area.
C: Can I use a tripod?
K: Well... it's not allowed but it's possible.
C: What?? What do you mean?
K: Usually, there are no security guards in this area. However, when I asked a security guard on this floor, he said: "You can't use a tripod. In fact, taking photos in this building is prohibited though we don't really warn people if they take a few photos there."
C: Prohibited? Really!?
K: Yes, but I do see a lot of people taking photos from here and found a lot of photos and videos taken from here including long exposure shots, so unless you stay there for hours, it should be okay.
C: Did you try long exposure?
K: I did, but I realized stopping people with faster shutter speed is more interesting than capturing the lines of lights because, without people, it's just a regular intersection.
C: Oh, I see what you mean.
K: There is another observation deck called SHIBUYA SKY at Shibuya Scramble Square. It's 1,800 yen to go up if you buy a ticket online.
https://www.suncalc.org/#/35.6584,139.7019,18/2020.03.20/12:00/1/3
C: Is it worth going up?
K: Well, I'd like to talk about this observation deck in detail later, but the 46th floor is relatively good whereas the rooftop isn't good for shooting the intersection.
C: Why not?
K: The view is partially blocked.
C: I see some people downstairs. Is it the 46th floor?
K: Yes, but you cannot use a tripod in the outside area. However, the staff said it is okay to use it here in the indoor area.
C: Did you take photos at the intersection? I mean, ground level?
K: Yes, it was interesting to do 1/2 sec exposure to make people blurry.
C: Did you try longer exposure?
K: Haha. I did. It came out like a scene from a horror movie. LOL
C: Hilarious!
(to be continued...)
C: Cat - traveler/photographer
K: Kumi - guide/photographer
* * * * * * * * *
K: You mean a photo like this?
C: Oh, wow! Where did you take this from?
K: There is an overpass where you can look down the intersection. It's between JR Shibuya station and SHIBUYA MARK CITY.
https://www.suncalc.org/#/35.6588,139.7003,18/2020.03.20/12:00/1/3
C: How's the shooting condition?
K: You can't open the windows and the windows have black lines, so you need to make them out of focus.
C: Can I use a tripod?
K: It seems okay, but if security guards come, they might say something. However, my friends and I have been using tripods without any issues.
K: I took a video here with a tripod.
https://youtu.be/IJttk5H1VTU
C: Wow! I really want to do this. Is there any good time for shooting?
K: Evenings, especially on weekends, are the best as there are so many people. The intersection is quite empty in the morning.
C: Oh yes, this is very different.
K: Rainy days are nice because people can be seen using colorful umbrellas.
C: Oh, I like this. Is there any cafe where you can enjoy the view?
K: There is a Starbucks on the other side but you may need to wait long until you get your drink and you may not be able to get good seats.
K: Also, the roof of the subway exit disrupts the view. So I don't recommend this place for shooting.
C: Is there any place to shoot from a higher angle?
K: You mean like this?
C: Oh, wow!
K: This one is from MAGNET by SHIBUYA109.
https://magnetbyshibuya109.jp/en/
https://www.suncalc.org/#/35.6597,139.7009,18/2020.03.20/12:00/1/3
C: How's the shooting condition?
K: The observation area is surrounded by glasses that are a bit tilted. You see the rooftop area?
C: Yup.
K: The tilt helps a bit when you shoot the intersection but if you have a lens hood, that'll help.
K: No, but you could use a mini pod secretly. I do see a lot of long exposure shots posted online.
C: Are there any other buildings to go up?
K: If you have a good zoom lens, Shibuya Hikarie can be a good option.
http://www.hikarie.jp/
https://www.suncalc.org/#/35.6591,139.7031,18/2020.03.20/12:00/1/3
C: Nice. I like the combination of the train and the intersection.
K: It's nice for video, too.
https://youtu.be/hmCCeROz_MU
C: Is it free to go up there?
K: Yes. You can simply take the elevator to the 11th floor and you can come to this area.
C: Can I use a tripod?
K: Well... it's not allowed but it's possible.
C: What?? What do you mean?
K: Usually, there are no security guards in this area. However, when I asked a security guard on this floor, he said: "You can't use a tripod. In fact, taking photos in this building is prohibited though we don't really warn people if they take a few photos there."
C: Prohibited? Really!?
K: Yes, but I do see a lot of people taking photos from here and found a lot of photos and videos taken from here including long exposure shots, so unless you stay there for hours, it should be okay.
C: Did you try long exposure?
K: I did, but I realized stopping people with faster shutter speed is more interesting than capturing the lines of lights because, without people, it's just a regular intersection.
C: Oh, I see what you mean.
K: There is another observation deck called SHIBUYA SKY at Shibuya Scramble Square. It's 1,800 yen to go up if you buy a ticket online.
https://www.suncalc.org/#/35.6584,139.7019,18/2020.03.20/12:00/1/3
C: Is it worth going up?
K: Well, I'd like to talk about this observation deck in detail later, but the 46th floor is relatively good whereas the rooftop isn't good for shooting the intersection.
C: Why not?
K: The view is partially blocked.
C: I see some people downstairs. Is it the 46th floor?
K: Yes, but you cannot use a tripod in the outside area. However, the staff said it is okay to use it here in the indoor area.
C: Did you take photos at the intersection? I mean, ground level?
K: Yes, it was interesting to do 1/2 sec exposure to make people blurry.
C: Did you try longer exposure?
K: Haha. I did. It came out like a scene from a horror movie. LOL
C: Hilarious!
(to be continued...)
