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Kachidoki Bridge

Sumida River light trails
Yakatabune light trails on the Sumida River near Kachidoki Bridge.

Kachidoki Bridge on the Sumida River is amazing. It is also the last or one of the last drawbridges in Tokyo. There is much history to it.  I love photographing it when it lights up at night. Long exposures make it so beautiful!

I need to get reacquainted with the bridge. My last photos of it were pre-pandemic. Yakatabune made their way up and down the river. They seem fewer in number now. I’ll stay longer next time to get more of them.

Why photograph Kachidoki Bridge?

  • The bridge is beautiful when it lights up at night
  • Yakatabune (dinner boats) are great for light trails
  • It’s possible to capture Tokyo Tower in the background.

Notes on camera positions

They are numbered 1, 2, and 3 on the map.

  1. This position is on a bank close to the bridge.  You can get the Yakatabune as they pass under the bridge
  2. From this spot, you can see Tokyo Tower in the background.
  3. This looks down the river, so you can capture the long light trails of the Yakatabune.
Kachidoki bridge on Sumida River and Tokyo Tower
Kaichidoki Bridge with Tokyo Tower in the background.

Use of multiple images

Yes, I took seven and merged them in Photoshop.

Notes on processing:

I made basic edits in Lightroom, then used Photoshop to stack the photos into one. After that, I transferred it back to make more minor changes.

Where is Kachidoki Bridge?

It is on the Sumida River, near Hama Rikyu Garden.  

The address for map applications is: Tsukiji 6 Chome, Chuo City, Tokyo (this will put you next to the bridge, not on it)

Here it is on Google maps:

The nearest subway stations are:  

  • Kachidoki – Oedo Line
  • Tsukiji – Hibiya Line
  • Tsukikishijo – Oedo Line
  • Tsukishima – Oedo and Yurakucho Lines

Notes on lenses

I used the Fujifilm 10-24 mm and the Fujifilm 16-55 mm. They performed well.  But, when photographing Tokyo Tower behind Kachidoki Bridge, I was wishing I had taken my 55-200 mm too!

Area notes

  • You shoot next to or over the Sumida River. Don’t drop anything unless you want to go swimming!
  • There is a fenced area on the west bank. I’m unsure when it’ll be gone. It’s difficult to place a camera near the bridge.
  • It no longer functions as a drawbridge. The spans haven’t been raised since the 1970s.
Kachidoki bridge Sumida River light trails

Conclusion

I need to go to Kachidoki Bridge again. Next time, I want to get my camera closer to the bridge instead of the construction pushing it away. There is another reason.

A composite photo would look stunning here. I will arrive around sunset to get properly exposed photos of the surrounding buildings. Then, take long exposures of the yakatabune later after dark. That is my plan for a future article. Leave questions and comments below.

Picture of Rohan Gillett
Rohan Gillett

Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.

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