Journal · Kyoto · Tokyo · Kumano
Filming Japan: the small camera kit I'd bring now
In 2018 I filmed Japan on a Canon camera and our phones. Here's what that taught me, and the much lighter kit I'd pack for the next trip.
On our 2018 trip I shot hundreds of clips on a Canon camera, plus whatever Joanna and I caught on our phones. That footage became my Architecture of Japan video: temple roofs, pagodas, gardens and the incredible woodwork you find everywhere once you start looking up.
What the big camera taught me
- Weight adds up. A camera body, lenses and spare batteries are a real load on a day of stone steps. With balance problems, I also want my hands free.
- Short clips go a long way. A few seconds of a lantern, a roof line or light through the trees is often all a video needs.
- Look up. The best architecture shots in Japan are often eaves, brackets and ceilings.
The lighter kit I'd bring now
A pocket gimbal camera covers most of what I used the big camera for, with built-in stabilization so footage stays smooth even when my walking isn't. I haven't traveled with one yet; this is the setup I'd try.
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
A gimbal camera that fits in a pocket, so you can film a whole temple visit without a camera bag. In 2018 I shot on a Canon camera and our phones; this is the lighter kit I'd look at now. I haven't used it on a trip yet.
SanDisk Extreme microSD (128GB)
4K footage fills cards fast. A fast V30 card plus one spare is cheap insurance against a full card halfway up a mountain.
- Two fast cards. 4K fills cards quickly. Swap cards at lunch, not halfway up a mountain.
- Charge everything at night. One multi-port charger handles the camera, phone and power bank.
- Keep it in a pocket, not a bag. If getting your camera out is easy, you'll film more and stop less.
Anker Nano Power Bank (10,000mAh, 45W, built-in cable)
Navigation, translation and photos can drain a phone by early afternoon. A 10,000mAh bank with its own cable means one less thing to forget.
Anker 735 Charger (Nano II 65W, 3 ports)
One small charger for a phone, power bank and camera at night. Japan uses the same two-flat-pin plug shape as the US, so most US travelers won't need an adapter.
Filming etiquette in Japan
- Many temple and shrine halls, and some museum floors, don't allow photos or video inside. Look for signs.
- Tripods and selfie sticks are often banned at busy sites and on train platforms.
- Avoid filming people up close without asking, especially shrine staff, worshippers and children. I keep my published footage to places, not faces.
- Never film in onsen or changing areas.
The kit for this guide
Also in this guide
Opening hours, routes and rules change; check before you go.