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I Rode Trains In Japan With My Camera In Hand To Capture Its Fascinating Train Culture (36 Pics)
It was a pleasant culture shock when I first visited Japan in 2006. I especially loved Tokyo. It's a city bustling with energy and rich in culture, a juxtaposition of old and ultra-modern. The lure of Japan was powerful and I ended up making several more trips there with my camera in hand.
One of the many fascinating things about Japan and Tokyo, in particular, is its vast railway system and the people who use it. I live in California where we have an automobile culture and most of us spend many hours in cars getting around. For the Japanese, trains are the major means of transportation. They’re in the trains and train stations almost daily to commute to work or school, and run errands. To make lives easier for those busy bodies, everyday necessities, such as grocery stores, restaurants, and other numerous retailers are found inside or near the stations. It’s quite convenient, even for tourists. I bought the tastiest pork dumplings inside the Shin-Osaka Train Station and ate them for lunch inside the Tokyo-bound Shinkansen (bullet train). My mouth is watering just thinking about those dumplings.
I look forward to riding the trains while in Japan. As a Street Photographer, it allows me to observe people in their daily lives and capture something that’s uniquely Japanese as well as get creative composing each frame to tell an interesting story. I hope by sharing these photographs, I'm able to show a little slice of the intriguing culture of Japan.
More info: Instagram | pakhan.com
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Final score:
30points
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#2
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Jack Chandra 6 years ago
Ticket machines?!? In America we have live raccoons which sell the tickets. Japan is so odd!
#4
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26points
Jack Chandra 6 years ago
Look at all the asian people on a Japanese train! So weird! So strange! The black and white photo really captures the total oddity!
#5
Final score:
26points
Kai Lee 6 years ago
That's because they are NOT adhering to Japanese train culture - which is silence in a carriage
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Poonam Karekar 6 years ago
For a change its good to see people talking and laughing on train rather than staring at a smartphone.
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Lesirg Castre-jón 6 years ago
This is kinda unseen, PDA is not very common in Japan. I applaud this couple.
Susann Campbell 6 years ago
"Okay drink this and you no run away again like that until you can take care of your medications without help."
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Enuya 6 years ago
Isn't it dangerous? I mean - if the train stops suddenly, she may pull out her eyelashes.
Lesirg Castre-jón 6 years ago
She's actually looking at the Ikemen next to her through her mirror...he-he
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Jack Chandra 6 years ago
@Aunt Messy. At least it stops the globs of phlegm from spraying everyone if they cough/sneeze.
RoseTheMad 6 years ago
They don't "Have" to wear them, unlike China, the Japanese people do not wear these masks due to heavy smog and pollution, they were them out of courtesy when ill, so that they do not spread germs to others whilst still being able to go to school or work, etc.
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What do you think ?
Enuya 6 years ago
I watched the entire gallery with great interest. You have great eye for details and can capture the moment. Amazing work!
Pak Han (Post author) 6 years ago
Thank you Enuya for the kind words! I appreciate you taking the time to see my work and sharing your thoughts.
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Diver Driver 6 years ago
Fantastic.. I so want to get back to Japan after 25 years. So much has changed.... but still a very clean place.
ADHORTATOR 6 years ago
I am a fan of black and white photos , I think they show better the essential....
Bluebell Rizzi 6 years ago
These are so powerful! I love the effect black and white can have, personally I love taking pictures in it ^ ^ <3
Pak Han (Post author) 6 years ago
Bluebell, thank you for viewing my photos and sharing your thoughts!
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Saki Matsuhashi 6 years ago
it doesn't look like you actually asked anyone if they wanted to be a part of your little project. as a Japanese person who rides crowded trains, I most certainly would not enjoy being photographed by someone I do not know, from a low angle without my knowledge.
Pak Han (Post author) 6 years ago (edited)
Matsuhashi-san, I understand your concern. My goal as a street & documentary photographer is to creatively document the everyday life in an urban environment. Many images of our past that are now in the pages of books and shown in other various mediums were taken by photojournalists and documentary photographers. A renown Japanese street photographer Daido Moriyama, who’s still alive today has taken many rare images depicting the contrast of traditional and modern post-war Japan that are celebrated today. I’m not trying to compare myself to this photographer. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the world would be a sad place if only tragic events such as wars or disasters are documented and the everyday life history is ignored.
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Jim Tobin 6 years ago
So well captured Pak...!! And your writing is so natural. You’ve found your voice in your writing. Many writers, even highly paid ones, never really find their voice. Keep it up ... Jim Tobin
Pak Han (Post author) 6 years ago
Jim, much gratitude for your kind words and support!
Load More Replies...
hispanic! at the disco 6 years ago
This was a really good shoot. Honestly, I really liked it, props to you!
Enuya 6 years ago
I watched the entire gallery with great interest. You have great eye for details and can capture the moment. Amazing work!
Pak Han (Post author) 6 years ago
Thank you Enuya for the kind words! I appreciate you taking the time to see my work and sharing your thoughts.
Load More Replies... Diver Driver 6 years ago
Fantastic.. I so want to get back to Japan after 25 years. So much has changed.... but still a very clean place.
ADHORTATOR 6 years ago
I am a fan of black and white photos , I think they show better the essential....
Bluebell Rizzi 6 years ago
These are so powerful! I love the effect black and white can have, personally I love taking pictures in it ^ ^ <3
Pak Han (Post author) 6 years ago
Bluebell, thank you for viewing my photos and sharing your thoughts!
Load More Replies... Saki Matsuhashi 6 years ago
it doesn't look like you actually asked anyone if they wanted to be a part of your little project. as a Japanese person who rides crowded trains, I most certainly would not enjoy being photographed by someone I do not know, from a low angle without my knowledge.
Pak Han (Post author) 6 years ago (edited)
Matsuhashi-san, I understand your concern. My goal as a street & documentary photographer is to creatively document the everyday life in an urban environment. Many images of our past that are now in the pages of books and shown in other various mediums were taken by photojournalists and documentary photographers. A renown Japanese street photographer Daido Moriyama, who’s still alive today has taken many rare images depicting the contrast of traditional and modern post-war Japan that are celebrated today. I’m not trying to compare myself to this photographer. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the world would be a sad place if only tragic events such as wars or disasters are documented and the everyday life history is ignored.
Load More Replies... Jim Tobin 6 years ago
So well captured Pak...!! And your writing is so natural. You’ve found your voice in your writing. Many writers, even highly paid ones, never really find their voice. Keep it up ... Jim Tobin
Pak Han (Post author) 6 years ago
Jim, much gratitude for your kind words and support!
Load More Replies... hispanic! at the disco 6 years ago
This was a really good shoot. Honestly, I really liked it, props to you!
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