Ancient Konbini
You know it. You've seen this shot a million times on your feed. This infamous, ultimate "for the gram" composition was the much-maligned subject of heated debate in early 2024. A twilight scene featuring a blend of ancient majesty and modern convenience as Mount Fuji appears to grow from the roof of a Lawson.
Konbini is simply the Japanese word for "convenience store" which is a vital staple of everyday life in the country and is significantly more useful than what we're used to in the States. If I could transfer ONE thing from Japanese culture to America (aside from their toilets and excellent public transit), it would be to replicate their 7-Elevens. Not only is the quality of food significantly better, healthier, more varied, and quite affordable, but you can do everything from holding deliveries to paying your taxes. It is a one-stop shop for life. The fried chicken wars alone are worth participating in, but my heart misses the teriyaki chicken and egg sandos that I ate almost every single day without getting sick of them.
This was one of the more "stressful" shots of my trip. As you can imagine, the view is quite popular, and since it is only steps away from the only train station in Lake Kawaguchi, it is accessible to literally EVERYONE. It's quite a depressing example of the worst parts of over-tourism as it's impossible to enjoy the sight without hundreds of other people fighting each other to get the same exact shot. Influencers all pointing and dancing, getting in each other's shots, women yelling at their boyfriends to get the perfect angle, and frustrated drivers honking at the idiots posing on the street. I saw one guy attempting to climb onto the roof of the dentist's office across the store, presumably to get a "better angle." And don't even get me started on the disrespectful amounts of littering I witnessed as well. I parked my tripod and had to brace myself against a mob of ppl, protecting my sticks from overzealous feet to achieve the final result because I had to capture dozens of frames to be able to "paint in" an emptier parking lot reflecting a calmer scene. Could I have shot this in the morning with less hassle? Yeah probably, but because my time in the region was so limited I wanted to save those sunrises for other shots I had in mind, so this shot drew the short straw.
And yes, I realize that by taking a photo of that very subject, I am slightly part of the problem. To make up for it, I do my best to avoid being a nuisance, keep quiet, and try not to do anything stupid. Unfortunately, we can't have nice things because people don't know how to behave. As a result of a collective failure to act civilized, officials in the region chose to obstruct this view with a giant black mesh fence shortly after my trip.
This means this shot is now impossible to take. You won't be able to shoot it. But you can still have it in your living room or office! This is a perfect piece for those who appreciate a contrast of culture and architecture.
You know it. You've seen this shot a million times on your feed. This infamous, ultimate "for the gram" composition was the much-maligned subject of heated debate in early 2024. A twilight scene featuring a blend of ancient majesty and modern convenience as Mount Fuji appears to grow from the roof of a Lawson.
Konbini is simply the Japanese word for "convenience store" which is a vital staple of everyday life in the country and is significantly more useful than what we're used to in the States. If I could transfer ONE thing from Japanese culture to America (aside from their toilets and excellent public transit), it would be to replicate their 7-Elevens. Not only is the quality of food significantly better, healthier, more varied, and quite affordable, but you can do everything from holding deliveries to paying your taxes. It is a one-stop shop for life. The fried chicken wars alone are worth participating in, but my heart misses the teriyaki chicken and egg sandos that I ate almost every single day without getting sick of them.
This was one of the more "stressful" shots of my trip. As you can imagine, the view is quite popular, and since it is only steps away from the only train station in Lake Kawaguchi, it is accessible to literally EVERYONE. It's quite a depressing example of the worst parts of over-tourism as it's impossible to enjoy the sight without hundreds of other people fighting each other to get the same exact shot. Influencers all pointing and dancing, getting in each other's shots, women yelling at their boyfriends to get the perfect angle, and frustrated drivers honking at the idiots posing on the street. I saw one guy attempting to climb onto the roof of the dentist's office across the store, presumably to get a "better angle." And don't even get me started on the disrespectful amounts of littering I witnessed as well. I parked my tripod and had to brace myself against a mob of ppl, protecting my sticks from overzealous feet to achieve the final result because I had to capture dozens of frames to be able to "paint in" an emptier parking lot reflecting a calmer scene. Could I have shot this in the morning with less hassle? Yeah probably, but because my time in the region was so limited I wanted to save those sunrises for other shots I had in mind, so this shot drew the short straw.
And yes, I realize that by taking a photo of that very subject, I am slightly part of the problem. To make up for it, I do my best to avoid being a nuisance, keep quiet, and try not to do anything stupid. Unfortunately, we can't have nice things because people don't know how to behave. As a result of a collective failure to act civilized, officials in the region chose to obstruct this view with a giant black mesh fence shortly after my trip.
This means this shot is now impossible to take. You won't be able to shoot it. But you can still have it in your living room or office! This is a perfect piece for those who appreciate a contrast of culture and architecture.
You know it. You've seen this shot a million times on your feed. This infamous, ultimate "for the gram" composition was the much-maligned subject of heated debate in early 2024. A twilight scene featuring a blend of ancient majesty and modern convenience as Mount Fuji appears to grow from the roof of a Lawson.
Konbini is simply the Japanese word for "convenience store" which is a vital staple of everyday life in the country and is significantly more useful than what we're used to in the States. If I could transfer ONE thing from Japanese culture to America (aside from their toilets and excellent public transit), it would be to replicate their 7-Elevens. Not only is the quality of food significantly better, healthier, more varied, and quite affordable, but you can do everything from holding deliveries to paying your taxes. It is a one-stop shop for life. The fried chicken wars alone are worth participating in, but my heart misses the teriyaki chicken and egg sandos that I ate almost every single day without getting sick of them.
This was one of the more "stressful" shots of my trip. As you can imagine, the view is quite popular, and since it is only steps away from the only train station in Lake Kawaguchi, it is accessible to literally EVERYONE. It's quite a depressing example of the worst parts of over-tourism as it's impossible to enjoy the sight without hundreds of other people fighting each other to get the same exact shot. Influencers all pointing and dancing, getting in each other's shots, women yelling at their boyfriends to get the perfect angle, and frustrated drivers honking at the idiots posing on the street. I saw one guy attempting to climb onto the roof of the dentist's office across the store, presumably to get a "better angle." And don't even get me started on the disrespectful amounts of littering I witnessed as well. I parked my tripod and had to brace myself against a mob of ppl, protecting my sticks from overzealous feet to achieve the final result because I had to capture dozens of frames to be able to "paint in" an emptier parking lot reflecting a calmer scene. Could I have shot this in the morning with less hassle? Yeah probably, but because my time in the region was so limited I wanted to save those sunrises for other shots I had in mind, so this shot drew the short straw.
And yes, I realize that by taking a photo of that very subject, I am slightly part of the problem. To make up for it, I do my best to avoid being a nuisance, keep quiet, and try not to do anything stupid. Unfortunately, we can't have nice things because people don't know how to behave. As a result of a collective failure to act civilized, officials in the region chose to obstruct this view with a giant black mesh fence shortly after my trip.
This means this shot is now impossible to take. You won't be able to shoot it. But you can still have it in your living room or office! This is a perfect piece for those who appreciate a contrast of culture and architecture.
