Keyakizaka lights up Tokyo Tower for Christmas
Keyakizaka is a great place for Tokyo Christmas pictures. Zelkova trees decked with blue lights line the street giving it a winter vibe. In the distance is Tokyo Tower. It doesn’t get better than that in December. This photograph is so easy to get. All you need to do is go to Roppongi Hills. This is my photo guide to it.
It is a seasonal photograph. The lights are on from mid-November to Christmas night. You can take it anytime, but there won’t be any lights for most of the year.
By the way, are you wondering what Keyakizaka means? Keyaki is Japanese for the Zelkova tree. Zaka means hill. Put them together, and it means Hill of the Japanese Zelkovas or any variation on that.
How to photograph Tokyo Tower from Keyakizaka
There are two places to photograph the tower. One is from a pedestrian overpass. The other is from the road. Stairs and an escalator connect them.
Are there any Tokyo landmarks in this picture?
Other than Tokyo Tower, the TV Asahi building is on the left. While famous in Tokyo, I doubt many people overseas know it.
Where is Keyakizaka?
I took these photos from a pedestrian bridge that is over Keyakizaka. All you need to do is walk to the south side of Roppongi Hills (with its great observatory). It is on the south side of the building. The closest (subway) station is Roppongi which is served by:
- Toei Oedo line
- Tokyo Metro Hibiya line
Here are the locations on a Google map:
Two spots for this Keyakizaki photo
- The pedestrian bridge above the road.
- Street level under the bridge. The perspective is different. Cars and people will be bigger in the frame. Zelkova trees and lights stretch above you.
Location pictures
This is the pedestrian overpass you’ll photograph from:
Problems with this location
- The pedestrian overpass bridge has a large window. It’s usually covered in fingerprints and smears. You must raise your camera up and over it to get clear photos.
- Many people take their pictures there during the Christmas period. Sometimes, most will quickly take theirs and move away. But if you are unlucky, the crowd will be huge and you might need to wait.
- The lights can change. I’ve seen the special Christmas patterns one night, and the usual orange on another.
- Keep an eye on your shutter speed, as traffic is below.
Conclusion
The view along Keyakizaka is an excellent Christmas-themed photo. It is easy to take. No special gear is required. By the way, this spot is one of my Top Ten spots to photograph Tokyo Tower. Leave comments and questions below.
Date photos taken: 20 December 2024
More Tokyo event articles:
External related websites:
- Roppongi Hills (official website)