Originally posted by Nayu It would be either mid-December to mid-January for a winter trip, or some time between June and August for a summer trip. I would like to visit Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
If Tokyo, late March to early April is the cherry blossom season. Sakura flower every where! You can easily get a photo like
this
I took this one using a 50mm. You can check out my website for more detail on places to shoot in Tokyo. I have a few hundred locations with a map on that website.
IMO, spring and autumn are the 2 best season to visit Japan and that might include S.Korea too because they are so close. Singapore has somewhat the same weather pattern all year long. It is warm humid and rain, so I guess Season doesn't matter much. Beautiful country but try avoid going there when Indonesian farmers are burning their farm. I went there during that time once. It was smoke and burning smell all day / night. I feel like I am a smoke salmon! The smoke that year went far north to cover Malaysia and southern Thailand.
As I live in Japan, I will talk more about Japan.
If you want to be here around June – August, you might want to consider a WR lens. It rains sometimes. August and September is, in fact, a typhoon season, so be prepared for big rain. One good thing about Japan, In a particular Big city like Tokyo, Osaka etc, they have a very good urban infrastructure. It is next to worryfree when big strom hit the town. I went out to shoot during Typhoon day very often. Tokyo is very good for the low light street photo with a lot of reflection and neon light when it rain.
If you will be here around December to mid-January, It is unlikely to rain so you don’t really need a WR lens. I should mention that Odaiba Island which is in Tokyo will have a firework show every Saturday night during the month of December. Kyoto when it snow is very beautiful too.
And if you really like travel light in Japan, get only a prime you like the most with you. If it is not enough, just buy a new or used one here. I think 21 to 50 mm is useful here. (I use K3) but it is also depending on what Focal length you like. One good thing about travel light is you can enjoy your trip more rather than worry about changing lenses and walk less because of shoulder pain etc. I often just go with a phone a 21mm & a Gorillapod so that I can enjoy my trip, soaked in the experience with my eyes. I went to Italy with 4 primes. I came back with a lot of photos and still regress I take too much photo but enjoy myself less. Since then, I promise myself I won’t do that again. That is just me. Everyone has their own way to enjoy a trip. Do what work for you. Just remember if you come to Japan, they have a lot of camera store here.