6 Minutes in Japan: Tokyo & Kyoto – 4k

videolinktvTue, May 2, 2017 6:26am

This video is an homage to the beautiful and eccentric experience that is Japan for the uninitiated. As first time visitors we spent 13 days exploring Tokyo and Kyoto. Our visit was in March of 2016. We’d love to go back and explore more of Japan one day.

DESTINATIONS (click on track times to skip ahead):

Tokyo:
☞ Shibuya Crossing [@0:06]
» Tokyo’s famous intersection, said to be the busiest in the world.
☞ Uobei Sushi [@0:17]
» An alternative style of conveyer belt sushi chain.
☞ Robot Restaurant [@0:40]
» A highly recommended neon cabaret show mixing robots and dancers for a pleasant assault to the senses.
☞ Golden Gai [@1:02]
» A culturally significant network of narrow streets and alleyways with 200 tiny shanty-style bars, some that only fit a few as five people at a time.
☞ Senso-ji Temple [@1:19]
» Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple along with Asakusa one of the most famous Shinto shrines.
☞ 6 Story Gundam at Diver City Tokyo [@1:30]
» An interesting shopping center for tourists that includes the world’s only full-size Gundam.
☞ Asimo at The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) [@1:37]
» The Famous Honda robot sings so song of his people (robots) at this renown technology museum.
☞ Tokyo Sky Tree [@2:04]
» Open in 2012, the tallest tower and second highest man-made structure in the world.
☞ Yoyogi Rockabilly Dancers [@2:25]
» On a lucky Sunday you’ll find leather clad gangs busting retro moves to 50s era rock for fun near the entrance to the park.
☞ Hanami Party – Yoyogi Park [@2:42]
» Late March / Early April is “Hanami” time. A popular cultural tradition during the “Peak Bloom” of Cherry Blossoms where folks take to the parks to celebrate.
☞ Harajuku & Takeshita Streets [@2:50]
» A famous shopping area of Tokyo known for youth fashion and culture
☞ Rowboat under Cherry Blossoms at Chidorigafuchi Ryokudo.
[@3:02]
» A lush walkway along the moat of the Imperial Palace, and one of the best spots in Tokyo for viewing cherry blossoms.
☞ 21_21 Design Sight [@3:24]
☞ Shinkansen Bullet Train from Tokyo to Kyoto [@3:32]
» With speeds of 200mp/h (320km/h) this train can make the 300mi journey from Kyoto to Tokyo in ~2 hours.

Kyoto:
☞ Arashiyama – Bamboo Grove [@3:43]
☞ Fushimi Inari [@4:04]
» Walking miles through the ~10,000 #Torii gates around Fushimi Inari. People and businesses far and wide donate a gate to give thanks for prosperity and hope for good fortune.
☞ Kyoto by Bike [@4:44]
☞ Monkey Park Iwatayama [@5:01]
» A snow monkey sanctuary on the outskirts of Kyoto. Unlike in zoos the monkeys are wild and roam freely, the humans must go inside a fenced enclosure to feed them.

Other cool experiences I didn’t have good footage of:
Shimokitazawa – our favorite neighborhood
Cat Cafes
Tsukiji Fish Market
Akihabara
Onsen
Don Quiote, Tokyo Hands, even good ol’ Family Mart 😉

SOUNDTRACK (click on track times to skip ahead):
☞ Safakash – Rainy Day
☞ Anamanaguchi – Pop It (ABSRDST remix) [@2:10]
☞ Generationals – You Got Me [@2:59]
☞ Incubus – Aqueous Transmission [@3:42]
☞ Cornelius – Mic Check [@4:43]
☞ Kashaka – Gateway Dubs [@5:42]

MY GEAR:
My smooth gimbal camera: http://amzn.to/2pE3Lwk
My drone camera: http://amzn.to/2oeAUhN
I shot this on a DJI Osmo with a few DJI Phantom 3 Pro quadcopter shots in there as well.
The Osmo is a little camera like a GoPro but it comes on a handle with a built in gimbal stabilizer and better image quality.

Shot in 4k @ 24fps. Editing and grading in Adobe After Effects CS6.

I put a Q&A sticky in the comments with answers to some common questions. Feel free to subscribe if you like my videos, it’ll encourage me to put some new stuff up!

—
06.12.16 – Cool to see a few of the places this video is ending up including:
https://www.facebook.com/visitjapan – Japan Tourism’s Official US Facebook page
http://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/country-vacations/kyoto-tokyo-japan-travel-video – Travel + Leisure
http://www.traveler.es/viajes/mundo-traveler/articulos/video-de-viaje-por-tokio-y-kioto/9009 – Condé Nast Traveler España
https://vimeo.com/channels/4k – Vimeo Curation 4K picks.