There is something mysterious about Tokyo at night. Shibuya and Shinjuku in particular remind me of TRON the movie. If you do a long exposure, the cars streaking past you on the road become light cycles.

This is the Shibuya Tunnel…

Pull focus while running a long exposure, you get hyperspace! Well kind of…I still need some practice. I’m just glad to have a little time to myself to walk about.

The city looks completely different. Even ghostly!

As a tourist, we often rush from landmark to landmark. As a photographer, you are forced to slow down. You start noticing what evening life is like for the residents of Tokyo.

Culture and language may be different, but life is the same everywhere, taking life day by day with the people of your community. This is real-life, not something curated by some travel agent or Instagrammer listing from abroad.

So on your next trip. Take your time and soak it all in. Don’t eat at the hotel or some fancy restaurant. Eat where the locals eat. Jam into alley with everyone else. Grab some skewers and beer. Travel is about learning what life is like elsewhere.