Six must-visit spots for photography lovers in Tokyo
From new shops popular with beginners and young enthusiasts to long-established icons, Tokyo’s photography scene offers plenty to discover.
Mitsubadō Shashinki-ten—The perfect springboard into film photography
Just 500 meters from Nippori Station, the iconic green bench in Fujicolor colors stands out. The photographer-favorite Yanaka neighborhood is nearby.
Founded eight years ago by three passionate friends who met online, Mitsubadō Shashinki-ten focuses on beginners. Every camera on the shelves is carefully inspected to ensure a reliable, ready-to-use experience—no unpleasant surprises. The founders stress the importance of starting with a dependable, solid body before branching out.
The shop also stands out for its educational approach: half the space is dedicated to a gallery, while regular workshops invite curious visitors to borrow cameras, shoot, and then share prints after development. A warm, accessible gateway into the world of analog photography.
Top: Takuya Matsuda, Communications Manager. Even the film shelf resting on the counter adds a nostalgic touch. Many customers say it’s the charm of analog photography that inspired them to take up the craft. Bottom: A standout feature of the shop is its Polaroid repair service. A specialist technician is on site, able to fix numerous models—including the iconic SX-70—drawing repair requests from across the country.
Mitsubadō Shashinki-ten
5-32-6 Higashi-Nippori, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed on Wednesdays.
www.mitsubado.com/2nd BASE by Sanpou Camera—A treasure trove of vintage lenses
The shop’s design is based on a concept: a secret hideout belonging to a globetrotting photographer. Black-and-white prints hang from the ceiling, travel items are scattered throughout—every detail carefully considered. Cameras and lenses shine here as everyday objects that are both practical and stylish.
‘More and more people are moving away from film and turning to digital cameras paired with vintage lenses, chasing that analog ‘film-like’ texture,’ explains shop manager Yūta Mimura. This shift is partly driven by rising film costs and its scarcity.
Specializing in analog cameras and classic lenses, 2nd BASE by Sanpou Camera mainly attracts a young crowd. The recent surge in digital compacts has expanded their clientele to teenagers who have never used traditional film cameras. This shop isn’t about rare collector’s pieces, but accessible, functional models perfect for beginners—a thoughtfully curated selection that invites you to dive into a new passion.
Top: In the accessories corner, there’s also a line of leather goods designed by Yūta Mimura himself, who admits to loving cameras as objects. Bottom: Next to the vintage lenses for sale, photos taken with each lens are displayed. Various mount adapters are available, allowing customers to test lenses on their own cameras before buying.
2nd BASE by Sanpou Camera
13-1 Soto, Kanda Neribei-chō, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (SEEKBASE Building 01)
Opening hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed on Wednesdays.
www.2ndbase.jp/Fujiya Camera—Nakano’s indispensable spot to refresh your gear
The main store is located about 100 meters from Nakano Station’s north exit. It’s easy to spot thanks to its yellow sign. Fun fact: Renoir Café, on the building’s second floor, is also a popular stop for regulars.
With a history spanning nearly 90 years, this Nakano institution continues to attract everyone from seasoned pros to first-timers. You’ll find the latest digital cameras alongside impeccably maintained secondhand models. Fujiya Camera encourages trade-ins, offering a 15% bonus on appraisals when exchanging gear.
The brand’s reach extends beyond the main store with dedicated accessory and spare parts outlets—treasures for tinkerers. Their latest addition is a specialty shop focusing on professional video equipment.
Top: Display cases arranged by brand. The selection goes beyond the latest digital models, featuring a wide range of film cameras, especially from Nikon and Leica. Bottom: The accessories section in the annex store just across the street, packed with tripods, camera bags, and other gear. Recently, compact and easy-to-carry ‘travel’ tripods have become particularly popular.
Fujiya Camera
Nakano Tatsumi Bldg., 5-61-1 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Open daily.
www.fujiya-camera.co.jp/shop/default.aspxChūko Camera BOX—An underground haven in Shinjuku
The sheer volume of gear in the store is truly impressive—arguably among the highest densities in any photo shop in the Kantō region. You may have to squeeze past other customers in the aisles, but that’s all part of the experience. The strings of flags hanging from the ceiling highlight the shop’s international vibe.
Tucked away in a Shinjuku basement, this store impresses visitors with its incredible density of stock. Foreign shoppers often call it a photography ‘wonderland.’ Despite its niche feel, Chūko Camera BOX warmly welcomes beginners, guiding them toward alternative models that may be more affordable when their preferred gear isn’t available.
Shelves overflow with compact cameras and Japanese DSLRs at prices that have remained reasonable despite a tourism boom. This place still holds the thrill of a treasure hunt in an era dominated by online sales.
Top: ‘Today, about 70 to 80% of our customers are foreigners,’ says manager Furuo Tanaka. Warm and welcoming, he always greets tourists with a smile as they capture memories with a souvenir photo. Most of the buyer information in his notebook is also written in the Latin alphabet. Bottom: This area truly feels like a treasure hunt. When unsure, customers can easily take cameras out of their cases to inspect them. With such a large stock, multiple copies of the same model are often available, allowing for price and condition comparisons.
Chūko Camera BOX
B1, Yamato-ya Bldg., 1-13-7 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Closed on January 1st and 2nd.
camerabox.web.fc2.com/Lemon-sha Akihabara—Eclectic finds from classics to rare curiosities
Founded in 1983 with the concept of a ‘shop for adult hobbies,’ Lemon-sha operates several locations, including Akihabara, Ginza, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Yokohama, and Nagoya Sakae. Some branches also offer fountain pens.
For the past decade, this Akihabara branch of the Lemon-sha chain on Showa-dori has drawn a wide range of customers. Whether hunting sought-after digital compacts like the Ricoh GR or Fujifilm X100, or film cameras favored by beginners, there’s something here for all tastes. You can start with DSLRs priced between 100 to 150 euros, or half-frame cameras for those on a tighter budget.
The store accepts all trade-ins, making it a valuable destination for selling gear others might reject. You’ll also discover unique accessories, modified lenses, and even a studio for portraits and ID photos.
Top: One of the shop’s most extensive sections is dedicated to Nikon products. Film SLRs, digital SLRs, and mirrorless cameras are displayed side by side, accompanied by Nikkor lenses from various eras. Bottom: Among the consignment items are modified lenses for connoisseurs, sometimes highly specialized. Some combine optics from unusual cameras with Leica lens barrels, making them compatible with Leica bodies.
Lemon-sha Akihabara
Yamanaka Bldg. 3F, 1-19 Kanda-Sakumachō, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM. Open daily (except during the year-end holidays).
www.cameranonaniwa.co.jpNisshin Camera—A historic brand reinvented as a hybrid space
The display cases, lined with cameras and lenses, evoke a traditional shop, but the bright, welcoming interior makes it accessible even for beginners. Located in Akihabara, the store also draws many tourists, with autofocus DSLRs from Japanese brands proving especially popular.
With more than 40 years of history, Nisshin Camera used the Covid closure period to reinvent itself. Now brighter and more inviting, it still offers a carefully curated range from analog compacts to the latest mirrorless and DSLR models. The experienced team guides visitors based on their preferences and budget, paying special attention to beginners.
Accessories receive special care here too, with batteries and memory cards for vintage digital compacts making a comeback. In the evenings, Nisshin Camera occasionally transforms into a bar—a relaxed spot to sip a drink while admiring the cameras on display.
Top: The space occasionally transforms into a bar called ‘BAR Ichiban-chi,’ where visitors can enjoy a drink while chatting about photography or simply soaking up the atmosphere over good beverages. Its popularity is partly due to the absence of an entrance fee. Bottom: These unique items, popular with foreign tourists, are often bought as souvenirs. The same designs are also available as stickers and tote bags.
Nisshin Camera
Akihabara Seishin Bldg. 1F, 1-13 Kanda Iwamotochō, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Open daily.
nisshin-camera.com/enTRENDING
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Six must-visit spots for photography lovers in Tokyo
From new shops popular with beginners and young enthusiasts to long-established icons, Tokyo’s photography scene offers plenty to discover.
