The Truth about shooting film in Japan

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  • čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
  • I wanted to make this video to inform others about my difficult and shocking experience shooting film in Japan when I was on my big end of year trip last year.
    If you are in Osaka I highly recommend this store as they can turn around 35mm colour film in a few hours.
    www.cameranona...
    This was also a easy to deal with store as a foreigner Yaotomishashinkiten Honten
    I picked up my Pentax 110 from Camera no Naniwa Kyoto

Komentáře • 45

  • @antoniof.8614
    @antoniof.8614 Před měsícem +3

    This is quite interesting, as my experience shooting film as someone living here has been quite positive. There is a local camera shop which will take 120 even in reversal and BW. These are clearly shipped off to some other lab but the turnaround is reasonable for someone who lives nearby (it's never been more than three days for C41 and one week for reversal and BW). They even give you discount vouchers for development when you purchase Fujifilm reversal film from them, which means it's by far the place where I can get it the cheapest.

    • @areelguy
      @areelguy  Před měsícem +1

      Post the lab. Part of why i made this video was hoping people had a different experiance. I want to put a post up on reddit analog once I have enough info that could be helpful to others.

    • @antoniof.8614
      @antoniof.8614 Před měsícem +2

      @@areelguy The shop is Itou Camera, they have several locations in western Tokyo suburbs. I doubt it is of much use to visitors due to how far away it is from central Tokyo, and I can't confirm whether they can do any English. But I can confirm that they take 120 film and BW and take a week at most to deliver, less for C41. I'd be surprised if there aren't any small shops in central Tokyo which offer similar services, though...

    • @beelzking
      @beelzking Před měsícem +1

      ​​@@antoniof.8614 Yellow jacket do few hour turned around for c-41, 3-4 days for b&w and slide and they also process 120. It's near sendagi station

  • @s_t_r_a_y_e_d
    @s_t_r_a_y_e_d Před měsícem +2

    situations like these are why Ilford XP2 Super is my favorite B/W film.

    • @jpjast5739
      @jpjast5739 Před měsícem

      This situation is fiction. You can get this film developed. HE didn’t know where to go - different story.

    • @areelguy
      @areelguy  Před měsícem +1

      @@jpjast5739 It is hardly fictitious but was a common experience I had across multiple different labs. @s_t_r_a_y_e_d is 100% correct on why XP2 is a great black and white film. If I had some I could of got it developed at a number of stores. I might just stock some for my next trip abroad.

    • @jpjast5739
      @jpjast5739 Před měsícem

      @@areelguy You don’t know how to get film developed in japan. It’s not that hard. The problem is in your end. Your claims are inaccurate.

  • @jpjast5739
    @jpjast5739 Před měsícem +3

    This video is incorrect. I know for a fact you can any type of film done because I did. If you can’t read Japanese or don’t know how to find the information (not like a UK google search), then that is a different problem. Even smaller prefectures in the sound do black and white. Poorly researched mate. This is like saying you can’t find toothpaste on the supermarket. YOU can’t even though everyone else seems to. This is Japan bashing.

  • @hmuz8388
    @hmuz8388 Před měsícem +1

    1- any biccamera, Kitamura or Yodobashi do develop 120
    2- straight up a lie, all previously mentioned stores and even more smaller labs do bnw
    3- true, very few obscure places do
    4- same as point 2
    5- can’t comment on this
    6- true for some film and not for others. C41(except portra linem it takes 2 weeks) you can get in an hour or so, bnw between 3 days and a week, slide between 4 days and 2 weeks

    • @areelguy
      @areelguy  Před měsícem +1

      @@hmuz8388 That wasn’t my experience with Bic camera or Kitamura through it may have been a wait time issue with them was more my issue whilst I was there or do they develop off site. If that was the case than pretty difficult if your on a schedule. If Kitamura is the store i think it is that was not my experience in regards to slide film. They sent me on a wild goose chase.

    • @beelzking
      @beelzking Před měsícem +2

      Yeah, that's been my experience of shooting here for the past years or two, seems like this guy just didn't do his research enough before coming to Japan

  • @solo360
    @solo360 Před 3 dny

    I'm traveling to Japan soon, and I'll be shooting B&W film exclusively (35mm). From there, I'll take a ferry to Korea, where I know a place that develops B&W film. So I'm not too worried about not being able to develop my rolls of film in Japan. However, I'd like to know if you had to go through X-rays to take bullet trains, etc. I've read that airports in Japan generally hand-check films easily (though I'm not flying while in Japan, just taking trains). Can you confirm? Thanks for your video - great content and perfect timing!

    • @areelguy
      @areelguy  Před 2 dny +1

      Security is more lax in Japan. So no xrays on any of the trains that I went on. Went on most of the lines in Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka and the train to Mt Fuji and the Shinkansen. None of these had Xray machines. However China is the opposite where all the stations in Shanghai had them and same with the bullet trains. Glad this was perfect timing for you. Part of why I made this. Hope you have fun in Korea.

    • @solo360
      @solo360 Před 2 dny

      @@areelguy Awesome, thank you so much! After I posted here, I saw your other video about China. I'm going there too, but to Beijing. But I'll be staying longer in Japan, and I'm planning to shoot exclusively on Delta 3200, so I can't even come close to any x-ray machines [lol]. Thanks again, you've been a big help! Cheers.

  • @koby1960
    @koby1960 Před měsícem +2

    Well...I live in Kyoto and just down the road from us there is a lab
    which develop 35mm and 120 color film
    The turnaround is quite good, if you are early you can pick up your film later that day
    Otherwise its next day..

    • @dhruvsirohi9670
      @dhruvsirohi9670 Před měsícem

      What's this lab? Will be traveling soon - usually I use camera no kitamura

    • @areelguy
      @areelguy  Před měsícem

      @@koby1960 Post the lab details and what they do. Part of the reason i made this video was there has to be labs that I didnt come across. Once enough people have commented. I will collate and post on reddit as an easy resource for people in the future.

    • @jacqr2960
      @jacqr2960 Před měsícem

      Ohhh would be good to know name/where the lab is

    • @koby1960
      @koby1960 Před měsícem

      @@dhruvsirohi9670 It is located in the corner of Sembon and Kitaoji

    • @koby1960
      @koby1960 Před měsícem +2

      @@areelguy It is located in the corner of Sembon and Kitaoji
      they are called "print bargain king" they also got good prices on color film last time i was there.

  • @raidriar01
    @raidriar01 Před měsícem +1

    Honestly I found not taking photos on my first trip to Japan helped me a lot. It’s a big culture shock even being Japanese and coming from Hawaii, so I think it’s better it just live in it and get lost. But on my second trip there i started to take more photos

    • @areelguy
      @areelguy  Před měsícem +2

      A few fellow photographers have said that. But that's just not for me might be for some. Plus New Zealand is so expensive to holiday from and life is to short to miss out on moments. I want to go to Hawaii in the next few years.

    • @raidriar01
      @raidriar01 Před měsícem

      @@areelguy Dang that sucks, i’m surprised it’s expensive even with the exchange rate. For me it’s way cheaper than going to the US mainland. But i think if you don’t wanna miss out on moments than you still shouldn’t be that focused on photography while traveling, especially on a first visit to a foreign country, as for me at least it takes me away from the moment, like i’m looking at it from the outside instead of actually being present. Not sure if u feel the same though. Also, don’t come to Hawaii lol, the entire state is basically a tourist trap nowadays. Go to the south pacific islands and atolls, it’s closer to you and cheaper.

    • @areelguy
      @areelguy  Před měsícem

      @@raidriar01 Oh when I say miss out on the moment I mean on film. The non photo moments are food related.

  • @tanner_spring
    @tanner_spring Před měsícem

    very strange that you weren’t able to find a 120 developer! here in the states you have to develop b&w yourself as many labs in my experience here are C-41 exclusively and E-6/B&W gets sent out.
    I’m very happy you shared these tips, i’m leaving for a trip abroad this week and it’ll be my first time traveling internationally with medium format!

    • @areelguy
      @areelguy  Před měsícem

      @@tanner_spring interesting about the states. Im assuming it’s probably different in different states? Surely the west coast and east coast would have labs that do?
      I was quite surprised as in little old new zealand i think every lab does black and white. Well every lab i use does. Good luck with your travels and dont drop your camera like me.

  • @giovannidematteis1519
    @giovannidematteis1519 Před měsícem

    I got my film processed by Yellow Jacket Photo Labs in Tokyo. They don't do B&W, but they do C41 processing and got my film back in two hours. I believe they also do 120 format.

    • @beelzking
      @beelzking Před měsícem

      Really, I've been using their service for my 120 slide and b&w. They even listed it on their website that they process everything except cinema film

  • @user-wy4ci7yj6b
    @user-wy4ci7yj6b Před měsícem

    I used to use National Photo in Harajuku for black and white. Having said that, they might not be operating any more.

    • @areelguy
      @areelguy  Před měsícem

      Lets hope someone else sees this coment and confirms if they are still operating.

  • @jacqr2960
    @jacqr2960 Před měsícem

    Thank you for the useful tips 🙂

  • @jpjast5739
    @jpjast5739 Před měsícem +1

    This video is incorrect. I know for a fact you can develop any type of film done because I did. If you can’t read Japanese or don’t know how to find the information (not like a UK google search), then that is a different problem. Even smaller prefectures in the south do black and white. Poorly researched mate.

    • @areelguy
      @areelguy  Před měsícem

      Im gonna rebuttal here;
      You can call it poorly researched all you want but that simply is not the case. This was a common experience that I had with many labs in both Tokyo and Osaka and whilst I didn’t try use any labs in Kyoto I did check and found this also to be the case. I researched both the popular recommended labs but also those that only had a Japanese name. My experience is very valid as I live in a small country where most of the labs provide a much wider degree of services. As I didn’t go further south than Osaka I can’t really speak to any experiences in southern prefectures. My video mainly covers the main areas that I and most tourists go too.
      As stated in my video that I know there has to be labs in Japan that do these services but I was unable to locate them especially within Osaka/Tokyo/Kyoto. If you know of the labs that do slide film (quickly) ecn etc comment them below. It will be helpful to others and I plan on putting a reddit post up so that others can have easy access to this information for their future trips in japan.
      I will stand by my statement that whilst staff are great the available lab services are as a whole poor considering i live in a small country and don’t have this issue with any labs here. I also didn’t have any of these issues when in China. However i found this to be a common experience across multiple labs/stores I went to in Japan.

    • @jpjast5739
      @jpjast5739 Před měsícem

      @@areelguy You said it was not possible to get those films developed in japan. You obviously a) a poor researcher; b) not that familiar with the film scene; or c) just trying click bait. There is NO problem getting film developed. Just because YOU can’t figure it out doesn’t make you correct. Next you will tell people soap is hard to find. I only found liquid soap…it was so hard to find bar soap. Warning to people watching this video: Don’t listen to this bloke. He is talking rubbish. Typical Japan bashing.

    • @areelguy
      @areelguy  Před měsícem

      @@jpjast5739 My experience is fair and seems to be common. Seeing as you’re not going to provide the name of any lab to back up your claim I’m going to leave this here. Japans a great country but the film scene is let down in my opinion/experience.

    • @jpjast5739
      @jpjast5739 Před měsícem

      @@areelguy How old are you? I’m not your parent. You can go find it yourself. Mature GROW UP. Act like an adult.

    • @areelguy
      @areelguy  Před měsícem

      @@jpjast5739 Pot, Kettle, Black.

  • @musa7606
    @musa7606 Před měsícem

    How hard was it to get them to hand check film? Last year on a trip I went through 2 airports in the US, 1 in Taiwan and 1 in the Philippines, and they all hand checked my film. None of it was ever x-rayed.

    • @areelguy
      @areelguy  Před měsícem

      @@musa7606 i think maybe it was hand checked if i remember correctly in Japan. It was hand checked in nz. Had to be xrayd in Australia cause well aussies. China was a xrayed as well upon entering the country. Honestly six months ago it’s getting hard to remember details. In the USA TSA guidelines say you are entitled to hand checking. Nz is introducing stupid rules no hand checking and it must go in your check in if you dont want it ct’d.

    • @cameronjames4437
      @cameronjames4437 Před měsícem +1

      Have flown out of Australia to Japan twice and was able to get my film hand checked every time we had to go through scanners on the way there and leaving the country I think it depends who you get and if it’s quite busy they might not want to do it but I’ve never been told no yet just have to ask nicely, I did have a roll loaded into a camera half exposed which Japan security had no problem hand checking but Australia didn’t understand there was film in the camera and it was really busy so we just put it through the xray, just make sure you have all your rolls in a clear zip lock bag ready to go and not lose makes it quick and easy for them!

    • @musa7606
      @musa7606 Před měsícem

      @@cameronjames4437 Yeah I went through 4 airports twice, and even the Asian airports were fine hand checking the film... Including a camera with film in it.
      Good note... I did have it in a big clear zip lock bag.

    • @areelguy
      @areelguy  Před měsícem

      @@cameronjames4437 Interesting. It's only the once from Aus to elsewhere but I did go through the Australian Civil Aviation Agency's guidebook and even reached out to them to get an answer but there is no policy allowing handchecking and most of those on reddit said there was no hand checking for Melbourne. Maybe it depends on Airport/security person you deal with. I'm usually pretty firm. Luckily most of my film was low iso so less likely to get damage and yes ziplocked bagged.