Laser beams lead to Tokyo Skytree photo guide
Unfortunately, this photo spot no longer exists but the article stays.
Have you seen the laser beams of Tokyo Skytree? No? They are a real thing. There are pictures of it on the internet. Well, I know the place to photograph them, Azumabashi Pedestrian Overpass. Don’t worry, you won’t get zapped.
The pedestrian bridge is a brilliant place for Tokyo Skytree photos. It is the perfect spot for light trail photography. The beams look like laser bolts racing toward their target.
I’m sure you’ve seen Star Wars. X-Wings and Tie fighters flying low over the Death Star, shooting laser beams at each other. That is one of the coolest scenes from sci-fi history. And you can recreate it.
All you need is a tripod for some long-exposure photographs. It is so easy. The road seems to go straight to the tower. In reality, it doesn’t but it seems to.
Please note: A major road passes under you here, so be careful if you use filters. If you fumble and drop anything, it might fall onto any cars passing underneath. Also, the bridge is quite narrow, so be aware of anyone wanting to get past.
How to photograph these Tokyo Skytree laser beams
- Camera location: on Azumabashi Pedestrian Overpass
- Tripod used: Yes
- Camera used: Fujifilm X-T3
- Lens: Fujifilm XF 10-24mm (Version 1)
- Number of photos taken: Six
Are multiple photos needed?
Not necessarily. One photo can do. But to get light trails in both directions, you need longer exposures. Use an ND filter if you struggle with this.
My Camera Settings:
- Shutter speed: It ranged from 31 to 36 seconds.
- f/16
- ISO 200
Film Simulation:
- Eterna
Notes on processing:
- I made basic Lightroom edits, and then stacked the photos in Photoshop. After that, I transferred it back for more changes.
- Saturate the laser beams to bring out their colors more.
Where is Azumabashi Pedestrian Overpass?
It is about one kilometer west of Skytree. The address for map applications is:
Kiyosumi-Dori, 1 chōme-9 Azumabashi, Sumida City, Tokyo-to (in Japanese —> 東京都墨田区吾妻橋1-9).
Nearest train/subway stations:
- Asakusa Station (Ginza Line): Leave by exit 4. The walk is roughly 500 meters.
- Honjo-Azumabashi Station. Leave by exits A1 or A3. The walk is roughly 400 meters.
Location photos
Notes on lenses
First, I tried my 16-55mm. But even at 16mm, the field of view was too narrow. So I used the Fujifilm 10-24mm. The extra width gave a better result. That allowed me to include the buildings along the road. Overall, I’m satisfied with this photo.
Conclusion
Azumabashi Pedestrian Overpass is great. Laser beams (i.e. light trails) converge on Tokyo Skytree. From what I’ve seen on the internet, few photographers seem to go there. If I’m wrong, please correct me. 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.
More Tokyo Skytree articles:
2 thoughts on “Laser beams lead to Tokyo Skytree photo guide”
I looked at this pedestrian bridge on Google Maps and it no longer appears. It seems to have been removed and replaced by a traffic light.
Thanks for the information update Oriol. I just had a look myself on Google and it is gone which is sad. It looks like it happened fairly recently too as some construction work seems to be there. I’ll update the article soon. Cheers!