How I Found a Secret Tokyo Skytree View Without Leaving My Desk
Do you struggle to find new photo locations? You know, something that is unique or offers a new angle. I know I do because social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are packed with images. It’s said that 14 billion are shared daily (a link to statistics is at the bottom). But many of them are so similar. I want new places and angles. Little did I know the answer was at my fingertips.
Maybe you’ll find this story useful. It happened in 2020. These photos date from that time. I took them with a Fujifilm X-T2 and 16-55 mm lens.
I was in a photograph Tokyo Skytree phase that year. Several hundred images of it inhabit one of my hard drives. I haven’t published that many, though, on this blog yet. A few were special, but many were average, at best. You probably have seen other photographers’ versions on the net somewhere.
Well, I was going everywhere to shoot Skytree. But I was doing what everyone else had done. It was the same stuff over and over. There was no innovation. It was time to do something new.
But it was so hard. Why? It seemed every vantage point in the city had been used. Where was my new location? How could I find it? That was the problem. The solution was close at hand. Google had tools that proved to be my savior. Many photographers have found it to be a boon.
Using Google Street View as a location scouting tool
Google Maps’ Street View is the tool. It allows you to walk roads virtually anywhere in the world. How did it help me find a new angle to photograph Tokyo Skytree? It simplifies looking for new photo locations.
My process for finding locations with Google Maps
The first thing I did was enter a keyword into Google Search. That was, of course, “Tokyo Skytree.” Next, I clicked the Image tab and looked at the results. There were many thousands. I went through those until I found a rare composition. The question was, where was it?
The image had many poles with the tower rising behind them. Everything was reaching for the stars! It looked incredible. It was exactly what I wanted.
I had to find it. Unfortunately, the picture had no location or EXIF data. Other photos were the same. Where was it? I didn’t know. There was no information! What was the next idea?
The only thing I knew was that the poles were close to the tower, due to the angle of the shot. They looked almost under it. I also assumed the poles were in a park.
How could I find it? I looked at Google Maps for parks near Tokyo Skytree. There were a few green spots. I dropped a pin on the road near those spots and checked them out. It didn’t take long to find it.
The spot was Koume Children’s Park, almost right under the tower. Almost, but not quite! They were separated by one street crossing. It wasn’t hard to get to at all. Once I found it, all I needed to do was go there. Searching for new photo locations was over.
Photo tips for this location
- The shot can be done handheld or with a tripod.
- For this picture, you’ll be pointing your camera nearly straight up! Can your tripod head rotate that far?
- I’d suggest getting as close to the spires as possible to make gaps seem wider than they are. That will also allow more of the tower to be visible.
- The spires/poles might be quite close to your camera, depending on its position. That might make keeping everything in focus problematic. The stacking technique can help keep everything in focus. I went with f/16 and luckily didn’t encounter any problems.
- Be careful when composing your picture. If you don’t, you might find later there is a spire right in front of the tower, which you regret later.
- If you use a wide-angle lens, a building on the right might enter your frame.
Koume Children's Park visitor's guide
Location & Address
Address: 1-33-3 Mukojima, Sumida City, Tokyo
The park is over the road from Tokyo Skytree.
Here it is on a Google map:
Closest train stations
1. Oshiage Station – It’s about a ten-minute walk to the park. It is served by:
- Keisei Oshiage Line
- Tobu Skytree Line
- Toei Asakusa Line
- Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line
2. Tokyo Skytree Station might be best for some, as it is over the road from the park. The Tobu Skytree Line serves it.
Park amenities
Toilets and drink machines are available.
Heads up!
Kids play soccer and other games in the park, so be careful of errant flying balls.
Koume Children’s Park opening hours
It is open twenty-four hours a day.
Best times to photograph Tokyo Skytree from the park
I can’t say in this case. Morning, noon, and night are all good because they are so different. Any time of the day can yield great results. Why?
- Morning offers soft, golden light that illuminates the side of the tower, creating a gentle contrast with the dark spires.
- Midday creates harsh, dramatic shadows from the poles, ideal for a high-contrast, graphic black and white photo.
- Evening/Night allows you to capture Skytree’s official illumination, creating a stunning visual in which the lit tower punches through the silhouette of the spires. Or you could take a light source to bounce off the poles.
Conclusion
The internet is flooded with similar images, making the hunt for a unique perspective both a challenge and a reward. As this story shows, the tools to find your own hidden gems are often just a click away. This method works for any landmark in any city. Open a map, start exploring, and find an angle uniquely yours.
Rohan Gillet
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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