Photographer John Sypal poses during his exhibition, Other People’s Pictures 2, at Totem Pole Photo Gallery in Tokyo, July 8, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
On any given day, amid the neon glow and ceaseless rhythm of Japan’s capital city, John Sypal can be found walking its streets, a camera slung around his neck, looking for a moment that feels timeless.
For the Nebraska-born photographer, Tokyo has long been more than a home — it is a living gallery, where ancient shrines stand steps away from avant-garde architecture, and where the world of analog photography has not only endured but thrived.
Tokyo is also a city of daunting abundance. Camera shops line the streets from Shinjuku to Ginza, from gleaming showrooms to small storefronts crammed with vintage Leicas and medium-format treasures. For newcomers, the choices can be dizzying.
Which is why Sypal created the online Tokyo Photo Culture Map, a meticulously curated guide to a plethora of camera stores, film labs, galleries and photobook shops.
Used film camera gear fills the shelves at Lucky Camera Shop in Shinjuku, Tokyo, July 26, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
A Leica DIII, manufactured in the 1930s, is displayed at Shinjuku Kitamura Camera, a seven-story, museum-like store in the heart of Tokyo, July 10, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
Linked in the bio of his Instagram account, Tokyo Camera Style — where he often shares portraits of photographers and their gear — the map has become a lifeline for travelers hoping to navigate the city’s analog landscape.
“I was receiving many, many messages from people telling me that they were visiting Japan and asking where to go for photo equipment,” Sypal told Stars and Stripes during his recent exhibition at the Totem Pole Photo Gallery in Shinjuku.
“The initial impetus for making it was to save time with replies. But as I compiled the list, drawing on 20 years of experiences and memories, it became a reflection and thanks toward the city and its sprawling, photogenic community.”
Photographer John Sypal, center right, of Tokyo Camera Style, chats with a patron at Totem Pole Photo Gallery in Tokyo, July 8, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
Sypal began Tokyo Camera Style in 2008, at a time when many declared film photography obsolete. His early posts — street portraits of photographers cradling their well-loved film cameras — challenged that notion. Over the years, he has watched a revival take root, driven by a younger generation captivated by the imperfect beauty of analog images.
Tokyo’s continuing devotion to film is evident in its brick-and-mortar stores and processing labs.
“I haven’t been to a lot of other cities, but I think that the proximity of the shops and their inventory are probably unmatched,” Sypal said. “The condition of the items and the helpfulness of the staff are also noteworthy.”
Lucky Camera Shop in Shinjuku, Tokyo, specializes in analog equipment. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
Used Camera Box in Shinjuku, Tokyo, is a camera collector’s paradise. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
Despite its growing following — nearly 200,000 on Instagram — Sypal maintains the quiet, approachable manner of someone who has spent decades observing rather than performing.
He has become a fixture of Tokyo street life, rarely seen without one of his Leicas in hand. Over 21 years, he has built an extensive black-and-white portfolio of the city.
“My main advice is to enjoy photographing Japan as you like, through your own eyes — that is, don’t worry about taking some National Geographic shot or trying to match the style and exact locations seen on social media,” he said. “There is a lot to see. Finding your own vision of the country is the path your camera can help you discover.”
AloJapan.com