The one simple trick that gets the best photos at any Tokyo festival.
Asakusa Samba Carnival 2025 started as I knew it would. It was hot. Actually, it was far more than that. The day was a scorcher. Temperatures were in the high 30s. Even so, 17 teams with 5000 dancers entertained a crowd of 480,000 people. I had my hat, my chair, and I headed to the Kaminarimon-dori (street) to photograph them in one of the most exciting events of the year.
Arriving in Asakusa felt like stepping into two worlds at once. On one side, the familiar calm of the Sensō-ji Temple district, with its scent of incense and the gentle pace of visitors. But just a block away on Kaminarimon-dori (street), the energy was electric. Thousands of people already lined the streets, even in the scorching August weather. I had my press pass and made my way to the designated area. I was prepared. That wasn’t true.
The first group of dancers came into view. Trying to describe the parade in full swing is like trying to describe a dream. It was a sensory flood, a non-stop river of motion and sound. Wave after wave of performers, each team in a different, impossibly vibrant color scheme, moved as one. It was a living kaleidoscope of emerald greens, fiery oranges, and shocking pinks, all set against a backdrop of shimmering gold and silver. Feathers, hundreds of thousands of them, seemed to float in the air, catching the afternoon sun like jewels. Tokyo Skytree towered over them in the background.
The sheer joy was infectious. The relentless rhythm of the drum corps is the engine of the entire event, and you have no choice but to be swept up in it. I saw stoic-looking men tapping their feet, elderly women clapping along, and children dancing on the curb with delight.
In the middle of the beautiful chaos, I lowered my camera for a moment. I wanted to just experience it, not just document it. My eyes locked on one of the lead dancers. She was wearing an enormous, intricate headdress that must have been incredibly heavy, and her costume was a masterpiece of beadwork. Sweat beaded on her forehead, but her smile was radiant, absolutely electric with energy and pride.
In that split second, she wasn’t just a subject in my photo; she was the embodiment of the entire festival. It wasn’t just a costume; it was artistry. It wasn’t just a dance; it was an expression of pure, unadulterated joy and incredible discipline. That was the moment I stopped just seeing the carnival and started to feel it.
This was my second Asakusa Samba Carnival, and I’ve been to many other big Tokyo events. The one thing they have made me realise is the value of a smile. If you can catch the eye of a performer when your camera is aimed at them and smile, they usually acknowledge that. Most of them will make a beeline for you and give you a few extra moments of their time.
A big smile is a photographer’s most potent weapon. Use it to help you get attention.
Not wanting to be stuck in the human exodus out of Asakusa Samba Carnival 2025 when it finished, I left a little early. Covered in sweat and smelling like it, I sat in my Ginza line train looking through my photos, looking for shots that could be deleted so as to save time when I uploaded them to my computer. But I still felt completely energized, overwhelmed in the best way possible, and with a profound appreciation for the passion and artistry I’d witnessed. My SD cards were full of photos, but I’ll remember the samba rhythm for a long time.
Have you ever been to an event that completely overwhelmed your senses? Share it in the comments below!
Rohan has photographed Tokyo since 2011. He shoots it with his Canon EOS R5. There are no plans to stop.
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