On August 13th, 2025, at noon, I visited the east bank of Tokyo’s Sumida River to explore this layered urban riverside scenery. Under the bright summer sun, sunlight sparkled on the water surface, and the moderate crowd kept the atmosphere comfortable. I could see foreign tourists resting under the shade facilities along the riverbank.
The charm of this shooting spot is being able to capture the river view, bridges, passing trains, and the iconic Tokyo Skytree all in one frame, creating a perfect Tokyo cityscape. I intentionally used cooler tones in my editing to give the overall images a modern, contemporary feel.
The most unexpected discovery was finding a grey heron grooming itself under the bridge. Its focused grooming caught my attention, and I couldn’t help but take several more shots. When it looked into the distance, its gaze was sharp and handsome, but the few sparse feathers on its head added a touch of humor and cuteness, creating an interesting contrast.
Futuristic-looking water buses occasionally passed by along the riverbank, adding a sense of the future to this urban riverside scene.
