Tokyo’s Best Street Photography Location: Ueno
Ueno Area:
Often considered a tourist destination, in large part due to the Zoo, an expansive park known for cherry blossoms and the market. These facts couldn’t be more accurate. It is a tourist haven, with new hotels and even some mild gentrification in some areas. It is also part of old Tokyo. Much of the East Side still retains its old charm, displaying a mix of pre-war and post-war architecture. More importantly, there are the locals who live in these homes and run these businesses. The people are what make any destination worth photographing.
Ueno Zoo in Tokyo’s Ueno Park, opened in 1882, is Japan's oldest zoo. It features a diverse collection, including pandas, elephants, and native Japanese animals. Beyond tourism, it focuses on conservation, education, and animal welfare, earning love from locals and visitors. Its history, greenery, and animal encounters make it a highlight in Tokyo.
Ueno Park is a well-known green space in Tokyo’s Taito ward, famous for its beautiful cherry blossoms, historic sites, and lively environment. It houses Japan’s oldest zoo, several museums, and peaceful ponds, providing a mix of natural scenery and cultural history. Both locals and visitors visit here for seasonal festivals and to enjoy genuine Tokyo experiences, making it a must-visit spot for photography and relaxation.
Ueno Market is a lively and busy spot in Tokyo’s Ueno district, known for its energetic vibe, a variety of street vendors, and shops offering everything from fresh seafood and produce to clothing and household items. Situated near Ueno Station, this vibrant marketplace draws both locals and visitors looking for authentic Tokyo experiences, tasty street food, and special deals. Its mix of traditional Tokyo charm and modern elements makes it an exciting place for photography, observing people, and experiencing the city’s daily life.
Why The Ueno Market?
The paragraph above already sounds like the makings of a great day out shooting. What the websites can’t tell you is about the people and the light that make this location such a standout for street photography.
The people are a mix of foreigners and locals, all plying their trades in a market that lies beneath the tracks leading to one of Tokyo’s busiest stations. There are equal amounts of entrepreneurial spirit for a brighter future and the sad acceptance of dreams not to be realized.
I am not one to take advantage of people with a camera, but I do feel others’ emotions as deeply as my own. It is a blessing and a curse. I use both sides of that to tell the story of the city I call home. Ueno Market is a treasure that is filled with so much raw emotion.
During the daytime, Ueno’s Ameya Yokocho market features a striking play of light and shadow. Elevated JR train tracks cast shadows over stalls beneath, creating pools of light and shadow. Exposed areas bask in bright, shifting sunlight that changes with the seasons—higher and more abundant in summer, lower in winter. This pattern offers visitors a dynamic contrast as they move between sunny open spaces and darker corridors beneath the tracks, shaping the market’s lively atmosphere.
I Conclude Ueno is a Street Photography Paradise!
The history, the people and the great light make Ueno an ideal candidate for Tokyo’s best street photography location. The only way to truly know is to visit and shoot the area for yourself. Arrive in the morning by 9:00 on a sunny day. Start from Okachmachi station and work your way backwards through the market. Work your way through as many alleys and streets as possible.
Honestly, it takes two or three attempts to see the whole thing. If I were coming to Tokyo for a week, I would stay in that area and use the market as my daily warm-up, before shooting in other areas of Tokyo.
In the gallery below are pictures taken while guiding a workshop through the Ueno Market. These images are taken over an hour and a half window of time.
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.
