Family Photos with Tokyo Tower: Zojoji Temple & Shiba Parkr

6 days ago
3 min read

Family walking near Zojoji Temple with Tokyo Tower in the background during their Tokyo photo session

A trip to Japan can mean something a little different when your children are already grown up.

A family of four from Atlanta recently visited Japan together for the first time, and they decided to make a family photo session part of their time in Tokyo.

From our first conversation, they had one request in mind: they wanted Tokyo Tower in their photographs. As one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, it felt like a fitting backdrop for their first trip to Japan.

But rather than starting with Tokyo Tower alone, we chose Zojoji Temple as our first location.

With its historic Buddhist architecture and Tokyo Tower rising just behind it, Zojoji gave us a chance to photograph two very different sides of Tokyo in the same place.

Starting at Zojoji Temple

Family posing on the stone steps of Zojoji Temple with Tokyo Tower rising behind the temple

Zojoji is a historic Buddhist temple located right beside Tokyo Tower.

One of the things I like about photographing here is the contrast. Traditional temple roofs and stone steps sit against the modern Tokyo skyline, with the red tower appearing from unexpected angles.

We started with some family portraits on the large temple steps, then walked around the grounds looking for different views of Tokyo Tower.

Their coordinated white, beige and soft pink outfits also worked nicely with the dark temple architecture and green trees.

What to Wear for Your Tokyo Photoshoot

Simple, coordinated colors work very well around this area.

For this session, the family chose white, beige and soft pink. The colors looked clean against the greenery while letting the red Tokyo Tower stand out.

Comfortable shoes are also a good idea, as we usually walk between several photo spots during the session.

A Short Walk to Shiba Park

family standing together in Shiba Park with Tokyo Tower and the city skyline behind them

From Zojoji, we continued to nearby Shiba Park.

The atmosphere changes quite a bit here. Instead of temple buildings and stone steps, we have open greenery and Tokyo Tower rising above the trees.

It is also a good place to loosen up a little during a family session.

We photographed the four of them walking together, leaning into each other, and eventually jumping in front of Tokyo Tower.

Getting four adults off the ground at the same time took a few tries, but those attempts were probably some of the most enjoyable moments of the session.

Family embracing in Shiba Park with a wide view of Tokyo Tower in the background

Family jumping together in Shiba Park during their Tokyo Tower photo session

Two Sides of Tokyo in One Photo Session

Zojoji Temple and Shiba Park work particularly well together because they offer very different photographs without requiring much travel between locations.

At Zojoji, we can include a sense of Japan’s history and traditional architecture. A few minutes away, Shiba Park gives us greenery, open space and wide views of Tokyo Tower.

For a family visiting Japan for the first time, it is a simple way to include several sides of Tokyo in one session — while still leaving plenty of time just to walk, talk and enjoy being together.

If Tokyo Tower is on your wish list for a family or couple photoshoot in Tokyo, Zojoji Temple and Shiba Park are two locations worth considering.

At bozphoto & styles, we photograph families and couples visiting Japan, with a focus on natural interactions and the small moments that happen along the way.

📍 Learn more about our family photo sessions in Japan