The Kachidoki Bridge, stretching over the Sumida River, is a stunning piece of Tokyo’s history. It was once a functioning drawbridge (it hasn’t lifted since the 1970s). Today, it transforms at night when its lights turn on, making it a classic location for Tokyo night photography.
The magic happens as the Yakatabune (dinner boats) glide underneath the bridge. Their colorful light trails paint the water of the river. This guide will walk you through how to capture this beautiful scene.
To capture the shots in this article, you’ll need to use a technique called long-exposure photography. This is how you create those beautiful, flowing light trails from the boats. If you’re new to this technique and want a detailed walkthrough of the fundamentals, read my [How to Take Long-Exposure Photographs: A Beginner’s Guide] before diving into the settings below.
I’ve found three key positions on the Tsukiji side (west bank) of the river.
A Note on a Current Obstacle: There is a fenced-off construction area on the west bank that can make it difficult to get your tripod right next to the bridge. You may need to find a creative angle to shoot around it for now.
The main photo in this article is a composite of seven different images merged in Photoshop.
Why do this? Sometimes, there aren’t enough boats on the river at one time to create a truly busy, dynamic scene in a single 30-second photo. By taking several long-exposure shots, you can capture the light trails from different boats and then “stack” them into one final image in Photoshop. This allows you to create a much more dramatic and vibrant picture than you could in a single frame.
The bridge is located on the Sumida River, next to the famous Hama Rikyu Gardens.
Here it is on Google maps:
I’m eager to return to Kachidoki Bridge. My goal for the next trip is to create a “day-to-night” composite. I’ll arrive before sunset to capture a perfectly lit and detailed photo of the bridge and surrounding buildings. Then, I’ll stay in the exact same spot and shoot long exposures of the boat trails after dark, blending the two together later.
I hope this guide helps you on your Tokyo night photography adventure and gives you the confidence to capture this beautiful gem.
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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External Kachidoki Bridge photography articles