Tokyo Calling (2025)

Born and raised in a small city in the western part of Japan, I had a huge longing for Tokyo, as it was the center of everything happening in Japan.

Back in my teenage years (late 1980s to early 1990s), there was no Internet, so places like Shibuya only existed on TV, in books, and in song lyrics. Whenever a place in Tokyo was mentioned (like Shimo-Kitazawa, a.k.a. Shimokita), I often wondered what it was like and felt thrilled imagining myself walking there one day.

My First Encounter With Tokyo

So, when I finally visited Tokyo at 20 years old, I was in complete awe! Just walking the streets of Shibuya made me feel cool (even though I was a typical uncool kid ). I always felt this same excitement whenever I revisited Tokyo in my 20s.

I even considered moving to Tokyo for university or work, but in the end, I never did. Maybe I felt a sense of intimidation or reverence toward one of the biggest metropolises in the world.

Then, by a twist of fate, I left Japan in early 2000 and have been living overseas for 20+ years now. During that time, I visited Tokyo only once, in 2008, but it was just for a few days to attend a friend’s wedding, so I didn’t get to see places like Shibuya.

Back in Tokyo With a New Purpose

Fast-forward another 17 years, and I finally made a solo trip to Tokyo earlier this year. My main purpose, of course, was to shoot Tokyo cityscapes with my Nikon Z 6II , as it was my first visit since picking up photography as a hobby. As a cityscape photography enthusiast, I was eager to capture Tokyo’s skyline at blue hour and share it on my website!

Tokyo Skyline from Yebisu Garden Place Tower at golden hour (top) and blue hour (bottom).

Since I only shot in the evenings, I had plenty of free time during the day, so I made my way to Shibuya, drawn by a vivid memory of one particular place—Shibuya Center-Gai.

Nostalgia and the Passage of Time

Walking through the streets of Shibuya after 30 or so years, I found myself riding a wave of nostalgia. Every corner brought back forgotten memories and made me reflect on the past three decades of my life.

So much has happened in the past 30 years—most of it rather unexpected. My 20-year-old self never could have imagined leaving Japan and living overseas for this long!

Shibuya Center-Gai at night. Photo by Jezael Melgoza on Unsplash

Tokyo Calling: A Story Still Waiting to Unfold

Like many Japanese people, I’ve always dreamed of living in Tokyo at least once in my life. And now, as a cityscape photography enthusiast, that desire has only grown stronger—Tokyo is truly a paradise for capturing stunning urban landscapes.

Once I retire, I’m going to fulfill my dream of living in Tokyo for at least a year, capturing all the cityscapes it has to offer. Until then, I’ll let the pulse of Tokyo echo in my heart, knowing that the city never stops calling.

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About the Author: LASTLIGHTS.NET is a passion project of Joey J, a Singapore-based Japanese photographer primarily shooting cityscape photography with long exposure at blue hour. Visit his Photo Gallery (40 most favourite photos taken) or download his free eBook, Getting Started with Long Exposure Photography .