Day 1 - Neon Dreams in Ikebukuro

After months of anticipation, today was finally the day: the official start of our Japan adventures. The two of us—armed with cameras, enthusiasm, and a slightly unhealthy obsession with film simulations—boarded our flight from Zürich to Tokyo.

Thanks to the wonders of business class (and seats that recline far more gracefully than we do), the long haul felt surprisingly gentle. After a few hours of horizontal rest, a glass of something bubbly, and a breakfast we pretended was “light,” we were ready to hit Japan running—or at least walking at a jet-lag-friendly pace.

Ikebukuro: Our First Playground

Once landed, we made our way to Ikebukuro, our home base for the start of this trip. Ikebukuro is one of Tokyo’s major hubs—slightly chaotic, wonderfully overstimulating, and home to Sunshine City, a massive complex of shops, entertainment, and an observatory with some seriously underrated views.

We checked into the hotel, splashed some water onto our faces, pretended we weren’t tired, and set out with two clear missions for the evening:

1. Sunset & Night Views from Sunshine City Observatory

Sunshine 60 Observatory sits high above the city. From here, Tokyo stretches endlessly—towers, clusters of neon, trains weaving like glowing snakes.

Sunset painted the sky soft orange, and as blue hour rolled in, the whole city shimmered. We wandered from window to window, hunting reflections, patterns, and long-exposure opportunities. Michael and I both attempted that classic “hold the camera to the glass without smearing it” maneuver with varying success.

2. Shiinamachi Station – A Tiny Slice of Old Tokyo

Afterwards, we hopped over to Shiinamachi Station, a small neighbourhood stop just two minutes from Ikebukuro. Unlike its flashy neighbour, Shiinamachi is calm, nostalgic, and filled with Showa-era charm.

Narrow streets, retro shop signs, quiet alleyways—everything a photographer dreams of when looking for authentic, everyday Tokyo. The neon here is softer, the atmosphere slower, and the compositions more intimate. A lovely contrast after the futuristic height of Sunshine City.Read more