Daiba Park is perfect for photographing Rainbow Bridge
Daiba Park is on an island. It is perfect for photographing an iconic Tokyo landmark, Rainbow Bridge. Few photographers seem to use it. Maybe it’s not famous? That might be true. Well, I hope more people will see its potential with this photo guide!
You’ll also see another city legend from the park, Tokyo Tower. There’s more. Ships and boats pass under the bridge. Buildings are everywhere. Planes will be above. Odaiba and the Statue of Liberty will be behind you. It’s fantastic for photos.
Daytime is great to shoot it all. But, you might be better off waiting for the sun to go down. The night will be alive, and the scene will look better. Daiba Park is incredible.
A Brief History of Daiba Park
Daiba Park is a historic place. It is on one of a series of artificial islands the Shogunate built in the nineteenth century. They created them to house cannon batteries to defend Tokyo from a feared foreign attack. Today, you can see some of the mounts where the guns sat.
What landmarks can you photograph from Daiba Park?
- Shinagawa Wharf area
- Sunsets (during the warmer months when the sun will be near the bridge)
- Tokyo Tower
- Water traffic
When to photograph Rainbow Bridge from Daiba Park?
Disclaimer – all these are my personal opinions:
- Sunset and later is the best time for photographs.
- After sunset, the bridge lights come on.
- The sun sets to the left of the bridge in late winter. In mid-summer, it sets behind the bridge. Check its position before you go.
- Both HDR and long-exposure photos work well.
- The island is very close to the bridge. The 16-55 mm has been enough for me. I haven’t found much need for a wide-angle or long zoom.
Problems with this park
- In winter, it can get bitterly cold.
- Daiba Park is on the water, so the wind can be powerful.
- The location is far from Odaiba-Kaihinkoen station. It’ll take about fifteen minutes.
- Be careful if you put your gear on the ground because there are ant nests.
Where is Daiba Park?
Daiba Park is close to Rainbow Bridge. The closest station is the Yurikamome line’s Odaiba-Kaihinkoen Station. Here it is on Google Maps:
Location shot from Odaiba beach:
Conclusion
Daiba Park is one of my favorite places to photograph Tokyo’s Rainbow Bridge. It is near Odaiba, so visit other photo spots once you are finished. The beach, Gundam, and the Statue of Liberty are close.
Of course, the main thing is the view of the bay, especially Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower. Fans of them won’t be bored. Leave questions and comments below.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
Here are more long exposure articles:
To see a pro shoot this spot, check out Elia Locardi: