Tokyo

Tokyo offers a photographic duality that few cities can match: centuries-old Shinto shrines and Zen gardens exist blocks away from the world's densest neon streetscapes. The Shibuya Crossing (reportedly the busiest pedestrian intersection globally), the narrow alleyways of Golden Gai in Shinjuku, and the Akihabara electronics district each represent distinct visual worlds. Meiji Shrine, set within 70 hectares of forest in the heart of the city, provides a startling contrast to the surrounding urbanity. The Tsukiji outer market and Yanaka district offer quieter, more traditional street photography subjects. Tokyo's neon districts tend to look their best after sunset during blue hour rather than golden hour, as Japanese street photographer Masashi Wakui has demonstrated in his widely shared nightscape work.