Dec 1-4th 2026 Tokyo Street Photography Workshop

  • WELCOME TO TOKYO
     
     

    My approach to seeing the world largely comes from my background as a press photographer. I'lI  introduce you some of my methods and techniques that have helped me over the past 30 years as a professional photographer.

     

    We will explore the streets of Tokyo in some of the most iconic locations and challenge ourselves to ask  "How do we capture it differently ?"

     

    We have all seen the postcards ! Now its time to create something nobody has ever seen before.

  • IMPORTANT INFORMATION

     

    • The cost of this workshop is for tuition only. The four-day course does not cover flights, accommodation, travel insurance,meals, or any other travel around Tokyo.

     

    • A full schedule of location meet up points and all relevant information will be sent prior to start of class.

     

    • Due to demand, refunds are only given up to 60 days prior to the start of the course.

     

    • Consult medical physician prior attendance to discuss any health concerns.

     

    • Class size is limited to 8 people.

     

    • Attendees should have a basic understanding of how to use their cameras. i.e. Aperture, Shutter speed, ISO.

     

    • Please bring spare batteries. To conserve battery life please refrain from viewing the LCD while shooting.

     

    • Camera insurance is highly advised in case of loss, damage, theft.

     

    • Please make sure you have something to protect your camera if its not weather sealed in case of rain. For example a plastic bag made for cameras

     

    •  It is advised to pre-purchase an international data plan for cellular services. Mobile Wi-Fi, or prepaid SIM cards (for unlocked cellular devices) may be rented at airports (contact airport for more information).

     

    • Attendees are responsible for their own personal belongings during the course (Both In and Out of Hotels). 

     

    • Attendees are responsible for their own safety; especially be careful of bicycles and electric gears on pavement and theft in crowded areas

     

    • Be respectful Japanese culture is high context, many do not know or speak other languages. 

     

    • Attendees are responsible for their own behavior and legal actions. 

     

    • Schedule and route is subject to change if circumstance dictate due to safety concerns 

     

    • Bring warm clothing and wet weather gear in case of rain. Shooting will continue in all weather conditions. 

     

    • Tokyo has a large population and the streets can go from near empty to almost full in any moment. Large crowds are normal.

     

    • Be prepared to exchange currency into Japanese YEN. Many establishments now accept credit cards. However, some establishments still only accept Japanese yen.

     



     

    WEATHER AND WALKING

     

    In early December, Tokyo experiences crisp, mostly sunny and dry weather   Daytime temperatures typically reach highs of 12°C to 14°C (54°F to 57°F), while nights and early mornings drop to lows of 3°C to 5°C (37°F to 41°F). Rainfall is rare, but the dry air can make the evenings feel colder.  

     

     

     

     

     

    HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS

     

    Book hotel close to the Shinjuku train station as its easy to get to most locations from here.

     

     

     

     

    TRANSPORT

     

     

    • The best international airports for accessing Tokyo is  Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport)

     

    • Connections to central Tokyo are easily available by taxi or public transport.

     

    • Attendees are responsible for their own personal passports or alternate method for entry into Tokyo, all transportation (airfare, bus, trains, taxi), hotel accommodations, meals, and any other expense.

     

    • During the course we will be  using the Tokyo metro  system to transport across the city. During peak travel hours it is normal and well known for the trains to be full. (WARNING FOR ATTENDEES WITH CONFINED SPACES CONDITIONS).

     

    • To Travel on the Tokyo Metro you will need a Suica Card 

     

    • The Tokyo Suica card is a prepaid , Contactless elctronic money card used to ride trains, subways, and buses . You can buy a physical card at major JR-EAST stations and airports, or add a digital version directly to your smartphone wallet.  It is advised you purchase through your Phone  in either the Apple Wallet or Google Wallet before you arrive in Japan.

     

     

     

     

    EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

     

     

    Phil generally utilises a full range of focal lengths from wide-angle to telephoto (21mm- 280mm).

     

    If you have a selection of lenses in this range, it is recommended you bring them with you to allow you choice over

    the course of the workshop. It is not however necessary to carry all your lenses on each day.

     

    Phil generally carries two fixed prime lenses, a 35mm and 75mm. If you are unsure more can be discussed on the

    whatsApp group below.

     

     

     

    COMMUNICATION

     
    For the purposes of the workshop we will be setting up a whats app group so that we can all stay in touch. 
     

    If you do not have WhatsApp, you can download it here: https://www.whatsapp.com/download

     
     
     

    STAFF CONTACT DETAILS

     

    PHIL PENMAN

    Phone: 917 496 1644

    Whatsapp: 917 496 1644
    Email: Studio@philpenman.com

     

     

    JOHN HENDRICKS

    Whatsapp:  1 619 724 3134

    Email: hello@johnhendrick.com
     
     
     
  • Hachiko Square, 2 Chome-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0043, Japan, Day One Meeting Location 8.00am

    Hachiko Square, 2 Chome-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0043, Japan

    Day One Meeting Location 8.00am

    Meet Location

    We will meet at 8.00am in front of the Hachiko Statue at Hachiko Square, 2 Chome-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0043, Japan. Find on Google Maps here

     

    Schedule for Day 

    8am- 12pm:  Photowalk 
    12pm- 2pm: Break/ lunch
    3pm- 5pm: Editing Demo by Phil at Leica Store Ginza
    (Laptops NOT required )
  • Japan, 111-0034 Tokyo, Taito City, Kaminarimon, 2 Chome−16−7 , Day Two Meeting Location 8.00am

    Japan, 111-0034 Tokyo, Taito City, Kaminarimon, 2 Chome−16−7

    Day Two Meeting Location 8.00am

    Meet Location

    We will meet at 8.00amat Starbucks  at Japan, 111-0034 Tokyo, Taito City, Kaminarimon, 2 Chome−16−7 . Find on Google Maps here

     

    Schedule for Day 

    8am- 12pm:  Photowalk 
    12pm- 2pm: Break/ lunch
    3pm- 5pm: Photowalk
  • 3 Chome-2-5 Nishinippori, Arakawa City, Tokyo 116-0013, Japan, Day Three Meeting Location at 8.00am

    3 Chome-2-5 Nishinippori, Arakawa City, Tokyo 116-0013, Japan

    Day Three Meeting Location at 8.00am

    Meet Location

    We will meet at 8.00am in front of the  Starbucks Cafe & Art Gallery Yanaka Gotenzaka

     at 3 Chome-2-5 Nishinippori, Arakawa City, Tokyo 116-0013, Japan. Find on Google Maps here

     

    Schedule for Day 

    8am- 12pm:  Photowalk 
    12pm- 2pm: Break/ lunch
    3pm- 5pm: Photowalk
  • Japan, 104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 6 Chome−4−1 , Day Four Meeting Location 9.00am

    Japan, 104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 6 Chome−4−1

    Day Four Meeting Location 9.00am

    Meet Location

    We will meet at 8.00am in front of the  Leica Store Ginza

     at , 104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 6 Chome−4−1 . Find on Google Maps here

     

    Schedule for Day 

    9am- 12pm:  Photowalk 
    12pm- 2pm: Break/ lunch
    3pm- 6pm: Edit Session and Review at Leica Store Ginza
    ( Laptops Required )

  • ABOUT THE TEAM

     

     

     

  • Phil Penman

    The British-born, New York-based photographer Phil Penman has dedicated over 25 years documenting the ever-changing scene of New York City's...

    The British-born, New York-based photographer Phil Penman has dedicated over 25 years documenting the ever-changing scene of New York City's streets. His distinctive black-and-white approach to street photography has cemented his reputation as one of the most significant visual chroniclers of the modern metropolis.

     

    Before rising to prominence for his personal street work, Penman built a substantial career as a news and magazine photographer. His reportage has appeared in prestigious international publications, including The Guardian, Paris Match, National Geographic, Time Magazine, The Independent, and The New York Review of Books. Throughout this period, he photographed major public figures and captured historical events.

     

    His dedication to documenting history is perhaps most evident in his powerful work following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. This searing reportage has been featured across major news outlets like NBC'sToday show, the BBC, the History Channel, and Al Jazeera, and his compelling images are now preserved within the archives of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, serving as a vital record of that tragic day.

     

    Penman's contributions to documenting modern American history have continued to earn high-level recognition. His poignant images covering the pandemic lockdown in New York City were acquired by the U.S. Library of Congress, placing his contemporary documentation alongside the work of legendary Depression-era documentarians such as Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange.

     

    Building on this legacy of capturing the American narrative through times of profound change, have been  featured in the upcoming exhibition, "Passport to Patriotism: 250 Years of Diplomacy," hosted at The Art Museum of the Americas in Washington, D.C. Organised in celebration of the United States' semiquincentennial, the exhibition highlights the powerful role of visual art in fostering global connection and honoring America's cultural legacy.

     

    His signature street photography, characterized by its sharp contrasts and evocative sense of moment, has been widely exhibited in galleries around the world. Most recently, his work was shown as part of the 100 Year anniversary of Leica.

     

    Penman is also an enthusiastic educator, touring the world to teach photography workshops for the renowned Leica Akademie. His expertise and influence in the field have been formally recognized; he was recently named among the “52 Most Influential Street Photographers,” a list that honors him alongside genre legends like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sebastião Salgado, Diane Arbus, and Garry Winogrand.

     

    His books have successfully brought his work to a broader audience:

     

    • Street (2019): This best-seller captured the raw energy and diverse life of New York's boroughs.

    • New York Street Diaries (2023): This follow-up also achieved best-seller status and was featured at the prestigious Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, further establishing his place in the fine art photography world. The book sold over 7,500 copies in its first two years after release.

    • Big New York (2024): Where his work was featured alongside photographic legends Elliott Erwitt and Thomas Hoepker.

    • Street Scenes (2025): His most recent book launched as the number one Street Photography book on Amazon and continues to be sold around the world.

     

     

  • BIOGRAPHY, JOHN HENDRICKS

    BIOGRAPHY

    JOHN HENDRICKS

    John Hendrick is a street photographer from Queens, New York. A retired U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman, he works with both digital and film cameras, creating photographs shaped by observation and curiosity. His work has been featured by Leica and Capture One, and he was recently included in Leica 100, a commemorative publication celebrating 100 years of Leica photography. John is looking forward to exploring Tokyo alongside fellow photographers and sharing in the experience.