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Beautiful light trails in Shinjuku
Are you looking to capture the dazzling light trails in Shinjuku? A hidden gem in Nishi-Shinjuku offers an unbeatable view of Ome-Kaido to Kabukicho. You can blend the magic of neon-lit streets with car light trails from a pedestrian bridge. It’s an ephemeral beauty made timeless through your lens. Let’s get the cameras and head to this great Tokyo photo spot.
As the cars approach Kabukicho, their light combines with that coming from the neon signs. Even with the naked eye, the scene is quite incredible. But, its beauty is fleeting. The cars appear and disappear so quickly. Only a photograph can keep the beauty of the scene forever.
Tips for taking this light trails in Shinjuku photo
- Use a tripod on this bridge.
- At the bottom of the hill, before Kabukicho, is an intersection and railway bridge. If you time things, you should be able to capture trains.
- The area can be bright. Some might use a neutral density filter to regulate the light.
Problems to be aware of on the bridge
- Even though the bridge is wide, keep your gear close to you. It wouldn’t be a good idea for someone to trip over it.
- The bridge will sway due to large amounts of traffic passing under it. It will also do the same when many people walk past. Try to keep an eye out for them, as nothing is worse than unwanted blur in your picture.
- If you use filters, avoid fumbling anything, as the road and cars are below. That will cause a disaster.
- The Shinjuku Labi building near Kabukicho is closed. Now the area looks a little bare. Hopefully, something will be there soon.
- Under the bridge is some construction work, which has been going on for some years. If you use a wide-angle lens, a lot of that will probably enter your frame.
- It is quite popular with photographers, so be prepared to share the space with others.
- There aren’t major problems with the site. Just be careful with gear and attaching filters. If something went over the side, that could get you in trouble.
Where is this place?
The bridge is on Ome-Kaido (Ome Road), in Nishi-Shinjuku. It is about a ten-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station. If you are walking underground, Exit A18 is the closest.
Nishi-Shinjuku Station, on the Metro Marunouchi Line, is also close. Leave via Exits E8 or C13. From either, it will be about a five-minute walk.
Here it is on a Google map:
Bridge photos
Conclusion
I love this bridge. It is one of the best places in Tokyo for light trail photography. The lights of Kabukicho are incredible.
And the site is easy to find. Once you get to it, the scene is simple to photograph. You should get something memorable. The Shinjuku light show never stops. Hopefully, this photo guide will be helpful.
Actually, I took these photos in January 2021. When I look back at them from 2022, they look overprocessed. Do you agree or not?
For more light trail photography articles, look at:
If you have any comments or questions, leave them below. And for those with advice or experience about this place, tell me that too.