A Photographer’s Guide to the Sompo Japan Building

Standing sentinel over Nishi-Shinjuku, the Sompo Japan Building is more than just a skyscraper—it’s a fortress of the future. From a nearby bridge, you can watch mesmerizing light trails weave around its unique, sloping walls like rivers of light. It’s a dream shot for any long-exposure photographer.

For me, this view captures modern Tokyo: structured, powerful, and pulsing with energy. Let me share my guide to capturing this iconic scene, from finding the perfect spot to dialing in the magic settings.

Why the Sompo Japan Building is a top Tokyo photo spot

What makes the Sompo Japan Building such a rewarding subject for Tokyo night photography is its unconventional design. Instead of rising straight up, its walls gently slope inward from a wide base before shooting 193 meters to the sky. This unique curvature gives it an imposing, fortress-like presence that stands out even in a skyline as crowded as Shinjuku’s. Fun fact: it houses the headquarters of Sompo Japan, one of the country’s largest insurance firms.

The best photo spot: New City Pedestrian Bridge

The best spot to capture this shot is from the New City Pedestrian Bridge (新都心歩道橋). From here, you are perfectly positioned above Ome-Kaido Avenue. As traffic floods beneath you, the headlights and taillights create stunning trails that diverge around the base of the building, framing it perfectly.

Long exposure settings for Shinjuku light trails

Recommended photography gear

Capturing the flow of light requires a long exposure, which means you’ll need a tripod to keep your camera perfectly still. I also recommend an L-bracket to put your camera in a portrait orientation, which helps emphasize the skyscraper’s height. You could even use an ND filter to control the amount of light.

Camera settings: My light trail recipe

Here’s the recipe I used for my shot:

Aperture: f/11. This gives you a deep depth of field, ensuring both the foreground bridge and the distant building are sharp. It also helps create those beautiful, sharp “starbursts” from streetlights.
ISO: 200. I used the base ISO to keep digital noise to an absolute minimum, resulting in a cleaner, smoother image.
Shutter Speed: 20-30 seconds. This range is long enough to turn passing cars into smooth, flowing ribbons of light.
Photos Taken: 9. I took multiple long exposures back-to-back. Why? See my processing notes below.

How to stack photos for better light trails

Lightroom Basics: I lifted the shadows to reveal more detail in the building’s facade and slightly increased the vibrance to make the colors of the light trails pop.
Stacking in Photoshop: I exported all nine photos as layers into Photoshop. This allowed me to stack all the best light trails from my nine separate exposures into one spectacular, traffic-filled image.
Final Cleanup: A couple of distracting building edges crept into the left side of my frame. I used the clone stamp tool to carefully remove them, keeping the focus entirely on the Sompo Building and its light trails.

Planning your trip to Nishi-Shinjuku

How to get to the Sompo Building

The Sompo Japan Building and the pedestrian bridge are located in Nishi-Shinjuku, a short walk from one of Tokyo’s biggest transport hubs.

Address: 1 Chome-26-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo

Bridge Name: New City Pedestrian Bridge (新都心歩道橋)

Nearest Stations: Shinjuku Station (JR Yamanote, Chuo Lines, etc.) or Nishi-Shinjuku Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line).

Click the image below to see the location on Google Maps:

Safety and etiquette for photographers

A word of caution: This bridge is over a major road. Be extremely careful with your gear, especially if you’re changing filters or lenses. Don’t drop anything onto the traffic below. While the bridge is wide, it’s a busy commuter path, so keep your setup tidy to allow others to pass.

The best time for blue hour photography in Tokyo

The best time to shoot depends on the sky you want. For a rich, deep blue that contrasts beautifully with the orange city lights, aim for the ‘blue hour’—the 30-40 minute window right after sunset.

For a stark, black sky that makes the light trails pop dramatically, shoot later at night. In my experience, weekday evenings around 7-9 PM offer the heaviest traffic, creating the most impressive light trails.

Bonus shot

Once you’ve nailed this shot, don’t pack up just yet! Simply turn around on the same bridge, and you’ll be treated to an entirely different, but equally stunning, view looking toward the neon-lit streets of Kabukicho. Happy shooting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need a tripod for this shot?

Yes, you do. You can’t hold a camera steadily for several seconds or more. Take that tripod. Without one, you’ll be taking a snapshot. Take a cable release too so you won’t need to touch that shutter button.

Can I take this photo with a smartphone?

Yes, you can! Modern smartphones have excellent ‘Night Mode’ or ‘Long Exposure’ features. You will still need a small smartphone tripod to keep it steady. While a camera with manual controls gives higher quality and more flexibility, you can get fantastic shots with your phone.

Is the bridge crowded?

It’s a commuter path, so be mindful, but it is wide enough to set up. Keep your gear away from pedestrians.

Do you want to learn more about long exposure photography?

Check out our main beginner’s guide to long-exposure photography.

Final thoughts

The combination of the Sompo Japan Building’s powerful architecture and the graceful flow of light makes this one of my favorite scenes to capture in Tokyo. It feels like a moment straight out of a science-fiction film. Make sure you share your shots. Leave a note below telling me where to find them!