In September 2020, I went to Kanda Myojin for a night photo session. It’s a beautiful shrine during the day, but more so after the sun goes down. The grounds are dark at night, while some lights illuminate the main gate and parts of the worship hall. Surrounded by darkness, they gained an ethereal look. I was thrilled with the results of my time there.
While photographing, I realized something about shrines. After daily activity ceases, people are still there. Look in the shadows. You can see their shapes. It made me wonder why. A little thought solves this problem.
During the day, the busy Tokyo shrines such as Kanda Myojin are busy places. People go to them to pray and see other people. After all, one of their functions is to be a societal hub. At night, it’s different. Of course, many still come to pray, but many sit by themselves. I get the feeling they are looking for some solitude.
Finding personal space in Tokyo can feel like a quest. You feel it on the morning train, a sea of shoulders and quiet apologies. You hear it through the thin walls of your apartment, the sounds of your neighbor’s life a constant, gentle hum. In a city where you are never truly alone, where do you go to be with your thoughts?
Did you have a hard day at the office or school? Or perhaps have a personal problem? Where do you go to collect your thoughts? Or think things through? Shrines and temples provide the perfect place.
By their very nature, they are quiet. No one will approach you. Everyone in Japan has grown up with them; they feel comfortable. They have benches; you have a place to sit. You have your privacy in that most public of places. Many people appear just to sit and think. Some play games, others read, and a few smoke (some smoking areas still exist at some temples and shrines). Every so often, a couple finds a particularly dark corner to chat and hold hands.
Kanda Myojin gets a very high score from me for night photography. In the darkness, it looks very mysterious. It is also the perfect place for people to come and sit and recharge their batteries for a while. Can you spot any of them in these pictures? You’ll need to look hard, as these are all long exposures, so most people have disappeared.
Have you photographed Kanda Myojin? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments section below.
Rohan has photographed Tokyo since 2011. He shoots it with his Canon EOS R5. The project will take more than one lifetime to complete.
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