My impressions photographing in Japan: A country of two stories

On my first day in Japan, as I wandered through the streets of Osaka, one thought kept circling in my head: “God, how do you even shoot here?”

Traveling the world, every new country confronts us with different rules and mindsets. We never know how people will react to being photographed — with curiosity, restraint, or irritation.

In Osaka, I immediately noticed that the moment I raised my camera, people would step aside, leaving emptiness in my viewfinder.

Later, I learned that this is part of the cultural code. Here, it's important not to disturb others or cause inconvenience. If I may put it this way — to be invisible.

This is the essence of Japanese politeness and restraint, something every photographer must consider if they want to be appropriate and unobtrusive.

Japan is a country that builds a bright, distracting storefront in front of you: neon signs, ancient temples, breathtaking nature. But behind that façade are people — with their problems, routines, and ways of life.

In my opinion, you can’t truly understand a country if you only pay attention to its outer shine.

To see what’s hidden, you need to solve several tasks at once:

— Understand where to look.
— Understand how to shoot.

Modern Japanese culture is built around work and discipline — work often comes before personal time. It’s no surprise that the morning streets of business districts fill with office workers well before the workday begins.

Waking up early, I mapped out a route through one such area.

For the first time in my life, I saw so many “white-collar” workers. People rushing to work in identical suits — regardless of whether they were men or women.

Cafés were packed, but at each table sat just one person. Some read the newspaper, others quietly stared at their phone screens. Don’t disturb others. Don’t stand out.

So how do you capture this rhythm without disrupting it?

The answer was my lens — the Sigma 150–600mm. Yes, it’s large, bulky, and — most importantly — noticeable, but it allowed me to stand at the beginning of a street, frame a shot, and still remain outside the rhythm of the people rushing to work. It gave me the ability to shoot — and still be appropriate.

In recent years, Japan has been overwhelmed with tourists, and the local population suffers from it, especially in cities like Kyoto, Nara, and other popular destinations.

If you find yourself in Kyoto’s Gion district, you’ll see signs on many buildings reading “Photography Prohibited.” But wait until 8AM, when the crowds start pouring in — and you’ll see how those warnings are ignored. This often leads to tension between locals and tourists.

How can we avoid this?

Japan loves early risers. This isn’t just a feature of one city — it applies to the entire country.

If you arrive in Kyoto around 5 or 6 in the morning, you’ll get to enjoy incredible architecture and historic buildings almost completely alone.

This way, you get to witness two sides of modern Japan:

— Silence, beauty, serenity.
— Overcrowding by tourists and, at times, a careless attitude.

Even in the endless flow of people, you’ll notice the remarkable politeness and culture of the locals.

In every temple, you’ll see Japanese people adhering to tradition — whether it’s the elderly or the youth.

They toss a coin into a special box and draw a fortune. If it’s good, they carry it with them; if it’s bad, they tie it in a knot and leave it on a designated wall.

Some leave messages for loved ones, others ask for strength and blessings.

These are just a few examples. The whole country is steeped in culture, and we — we are just observers.

One of the most memorable places for me was the city of Nara, known for its temples.

However, the main tourist “attraction” is, of course, the park filled with deer freely walking among people.

And again, the issue of tourist pressure arises — but it looks different here.

In Nara, contact with wildlife happens literally face-to-face — even if the deer appear friendly at first.

But behind their cute appearance lies unpredictability: they are not domesticated animals, but wild park residents.

Walking through the park, I saw several worrying scenes. Adults strolling with children often failed to watch them — and a child could easily get struck by a deer.

Many tourists buy treats for the animals, not realizing that once the food runs out, the deer might start chasing them. Some panic.

Nobody wants to be in a situation where a deer is running after you, trying to bite.

The whole park is filled with laughter and joy, periodically interrupted by cries and tears.

Walking through the streets of Japanese cities, you’ll likely notice a large number of elderly people working in security, transportation, police, or traffic control.

This highlights an important point: the older generation is given the opportunity to work and feel needed — something that’s deeply respectable in itself.

But, like any system, there’s another side to this.

Japan is one of the “oldest” countries in the world, and this creates a labor shortage, especially in routine, low-paid jobs.

Add to this the relatively modest pensions — especially for those who worked informally or with interruptions — and it becomes clear that for many, such work is not a choice, but a necessity, especially in large and expensive cities like Tokyo and Osaka.

As you may have noticed, there are always two ways to understand a country.

You can focus on its storefront, or you can try to see its soul.

Waking up early and heading somewhere new, you will always find pockets of incredible beauty.

I will forever remember the smell of the Pacific Ocean washing the shores of Kamakura.
Hundreds of surfers conquering the waves.
Locals hiding under umbrellas near the Great Buddha statue.
The giant Gundam model in Tokyo — a sight that would impress any young boy.
Ancient temples, treated with special reverence.
The tolerance, politeness, and restraint of the people.
The sheer scale of the cities — especially Tokyo and Osaka.
The employment and support programs for the elderly.

This is just a fraction of what you can discover in Japan — and what will stay with you forever.

Before going to Japan, I thought it would be like visiting another universe.

In reality, the country offers everything others do — but does it in a completely different way.

And that’s exactly what makes it truly unique.

About the author: You can see more of Artem Khazov's work on Instagram.