A Love Affair With The Charming and Enigmatic Kanda

Enigmatic Kanda

In a large city like Tokyo, often a street photographer finds a special place, not unlike a favourite cafe, park or borough.  The kinds of places you can return to again and again.  

In Tokyo, that place is Kanda.  Regarding tourism, aside from a handful of restaurants, it is unremarkable in every way.  Which precisely what makes it such a great spot for street photography.  Full of salarymen trudging along the labyrinth of alleys crisscrossing this location that time has forgotten, remembered at some point, then forgotten again.  

There are one or two spots I like to revisit when there, but for the most part, it is just so easy to go with the flow.  The rainy season is gratifying. It delivers a contrast difficult to replicate with software.  

Kanda has become such a favourite, that I added it the Hidden Tokyo collection of Tokyo Photo Tour.  This collection is not so much about the places you haunt heard of, but the special spots within those areas that remain hidden from the social media glare.  What could be better then a private, guided Tokyo tour or photo lesson in one the premiere neighborhoods showcasing its best spaces for street photography? 

When you visit Tokyo, I cannot recommend Kanda enough.  There are tons of restaurants, from one offs to popular chains, getting a bite to eat is incredibly easy.  After exploring Kanda station area head toward Jimbocho area to check out booktown.  Give yourself a a half or even full day taking your time strolling through this historic area.  

As always, I would love to hear your story in the comments below. If you feel so inclined, share a coffee with me. I am a flat white kind of guy. Happy shooting, everyone.

If you are in Tokyo or Know of someone travelling to Japan, consider a private photo tour or street photography workshop led by me, Jeff Austin.