There are trips you take, and then there are trips that stay with you—etched somewhere between memory and emotion, like grain on a strip of film. For photographer Rodolfo Belon, Japan was always destined to be the latter.
Armed with film cameras and a curiosity that started in childhood, Rodolfo set out to capture Japan in black and white—its chaos, its calm, its contrasts. The result? A journey that became as meaningful as the photographs themselves.
A Tour Through Cities and Contrasts
Rodolfo didn’t hold back when planning his route.
“We went to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Yokohama, Hiroshima, and Kawaguchiko to see Mount Fuji,” he says. “It was unforgettable!”
That list alone reads like a highlight reel of modern Japan: neon and rush in Tokyo, the spiritual hum of Kyoto’s temples, deer wandering freely in Nara, the breezy port charm of Yokohama, and the poignant silence of Hiroshima. And then, in Kawaguchiko, the quiet giant—Fuji—looming in the distance like something pulled straight from a postcard.
Why Japan?
Some fascinations are lifelong, and Rodolfo’s connection to Japan began early.
“Japan is a country I’ve wanted to visit since I was a kid. Japanese culture is truly unique, and the cuisine is incredibly diverse. The experiences I had were completely surprising — I’ll carry them with me for the rest of my life.”
This wasn’t just a bucket-list trip; it was the fulfilment of a long-standing dream.
The Highlights? How Much Time Do You Have?
Ask Rodolfo what struck him most, and he hesitates—not because there’s nothing to say, but because there’s too much.
At the top of his list: the people.
“They are extremely kind and helpful in a way I’ve never seen anywhere else. It’s a natural kindness, nothing forced.”
Then there are the bathrooms—yes, the bathrooms.
“Japanese toilets have buttons and functions everywhere. At first, you feel a bit awkward using them, but then you get used to it. Haha.”
(A universal Japan experience if there ever was one.)
And finally, the food. Not just the sushi fantasies people often picture, but the everyday meals—simple spots, street corners, tiny counters, refined restaurants — all of them delivering something exceptional.
“Everywhere we ate, the food was excellent.”
A Culture Like No Other
Through his lens—and through his experiences—Rodolfo saw a culture that’s both deeply traditional and strikingly modern.
“Japanese culture is fascinating. The country is a major reference in gastronomy, art, anime, and much more. The habits and customs are very different from ours, and maybe that’s what makes them so fascinating.”
It’s this contrast—old wooden shrines tucked behind skyscrapers, manga stores next to centuries-old tea houses—that makes Japan feel like nowhere else.
So Why Should You Go?
Rodolfo laughs a bit when trying to explain Japan to people who haven’t been.
“I always try to put into words what it’s like to visit Japan, but I just can’t. Japan is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.”
And maybe that’s the magic.
Japan isn’t a place you fully understand through stories or pictures or even film—it’s something you feel. Something you step into. Something that surrounds you.
Rodolfo captured Japan in black and white, but the experience?
That’s something far more vivid.
All images by Rodolfo Belon
