take a deep dive into Nakano with it's old world Showa era charm and mix of Japanese pubs (izakayas), alleys and hostess bar culture

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NAKANO
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Beginner to Advanced
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2 hours or 3 hours available
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DAY or NIGHT TIME
Private or Group (up to 6 people)
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​2 HOURS private = ¥24,000 / 2 people or more = ¥20,000 per person
3 HOURS private =  ¥30,000 / 2 people or more = ¥26,000 per person
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Nakano district is not on everyones radar and not a place most tourists would think to go but for those interested in seeing a part of Tokyo that harkens back to its old Showa-era retro charm, this is a part of Tokyo not to be missed!

Its sometimes referred to as 'Otaku Heaven' for it's vast array of comic books, collectibles, costumes and rare toys and of course the iconic Nakano Broadway shopping mall that truly seems frozen in time. But it's also home to several narrow and picturesque streets full to the brim of izakayas, ramen shops and various other 'entertainment'.

It really has an old school charm you won't find elsewhere in such a large and walkable area. The local crowd is casual and laid-back in stark contrast to the more hustle and bustle parts of Tokyo.

Here, you'll find big signs displaying kanji and old steel and painted glass street lamps which make you feel as if you’ve been transported back to old Tokyo.​

WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS
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Deniz
A smiling man with glasses and tattoos on his arms, wearing a T-shirt with a sushi graphic and text, standing against a textured wall. 
Rico
A man with a camera hanging from his neck, wearing a black t-shirt and gray pants, standing in a busy outdoor street market. 
FABIAN
Silhouette of a person reading a book in front of a backlit window featuring a rooster silhouette, with red paper lanterns with Japanese characters hanging above.
A man in a white shirt holding a cigarette, looking upward in a dimly lit street decorated with Japanese lanterns and string lights at night.
Night scene of a busy Japanese street with illuminated signs, people dining outside, and string lights overhead. Shot by Deniz Demir, Tokyo photographer.
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People dining and talking in a Japanese restaurant, with blue noren curtains hanging above.
Interior of a Japanese bar with two patrons sitting at the counter and two staff members behind it, dimly lit with bottles of alcohol on shelves. Shot by Tokyo street photographer.Deniz Demir during a photography workshop for Tekumi.
A dimly lit bar with a bartender in the foreground and two patrons seated at the bar in the background.
Night scene in a Japanese street with illuminated signs, hanging string lights, and two men sitting at a small table outside a restaurant, one drinking and the other engaged in conversation.
A black and white cat standing on the ground inside a building, with smoke and glowing lights coming from an appliance or machine above, creating a contrasting scene.
A woman wearing a face mask looks through a window into a kitchen or food stand, with red Chinese characters on the window.
Inside a dimly lit restaurant with two staff members visible, one is a woman in a white cap working at a counter, and the other is a man in a white shirt with a backpack, standing nearby. There is a sign with foreign characters hanging from the ceili
A small Japanese street restaurant with red lanterns, one with Japanese characters, and a menu with red and black writing on white paper on the wall. Two men are inside; one is sitting with a brown beanie, the other is standing and holding a magazine
People walking and ordering food at an outdoor night market with colorful lights and Japanese signs. Shot in Nakano by Tokyo street photographer.Deniz Demir during a photography workshop for Tekumi.
People entering a dimly lit bar or club at night, illuminated by warm lighting, with a fan at the entrance.
Nighttime view of a Japanese restaurant entrance with a bright sign displaying Japanese characters and a phone number, partially open noren curtains, and patrons visible inside.
A man sitting in a dimly lit restaurant or bar, viewed through a window. There are Japanese or Asian-themed decorations and signs behind him, and the man is smiling or laughing.
City street on a rainy night with a man walking, umbrellas, bicycles, neon signs, and fog.
A man holding an umbrella waits on a rain-soaked street at night, illuminated by streetlights and colorful murals on a wall behind him, with a neon "OPEN" sign in the foreground.
A person standing on a wet crosswalk at night in a city with illuminated buildings, neon signs, and streetlights reflecting on the pavement. Shot by Tokyo street photographer.Deniz Demir during a photography workshop for Tekumi.
A person with glasses sitting inside a colorful, decorated Asian-themed restaurant or shop, looking toward the camera through a glass window, surrounded by posters and stickers on the walls.
Person playing a piano in a dimly lit room, with a poster of Bill Evans on the wall and decorative bottles on a shelf.
A person riding a bicycle down a warmly lit urban alley at night, decorated with string lights and festive signs.
A person wearing a white shirt, seen through a blurred and partially obstructed view. Shot by Tokyo photographer.Deniz Demir during a Tekumi street photography workshop called Tokyo Izakayas.
A group of young men sitting around a table in a dimly lit Asian restaurant or bar, decorated with neon lights, colorful posters, and hanging light bulbs, viewed through a window with a decorative frame. Tekumi street photography workshop Tokyo.

Book a workshop.

Choose between a 2 hour or 3 hour workshop below. Please note that you will be taken to an external site for booking (denizdemir.photos) and will receive a confirmation email with further instructions once purchased.

Looking forward to shooting with you on the streets of Tokyo soon and thank you.