A Photographer's Notes | From Nebukawa to Odawara with the Nikon ZR

As I have written here before, I learn by doing. And since I have recently picked up a Nikon ZR, I ventured out into Japan's inaka (countryside) with it in hand. Specifically, I decided it could be interesting to walk from Nebukawa Station to Odawara Station along the JR Tokaido Main Line and see what photos and videos I could capture with this new and intriguing camera along the way.

I picked Nebukawa Station for the start of this exploration because I read online that it is considered by some to be one of the most beautiful train stations in Japan. It is located by the coast and is relatively small in size. I did find it to be quite quaint and a pretty station for sure. But as I didn't have all the time in the world, I actually only shot here for a few minutes before heading off on my journey to Odawara Station.

All photographs by Jason Halayko.

Taking the Backroads

By Googling the route from Nebukawa Station to Odawara Station, you'd find that you can actually walk in a relatively straight line and reach Odawara Station in only 1.5 hours. However, I had discovered an interesting spot along the way that was more off the beaten path. So, as soon as I left Nebukawa Station, it was off into the windy and hilly backroads for me.

I love just wandering with my camera and being surprised by the random beauty I come across, especially in the Japanese cou n tryside. Random buildings, orange orchards, and sudden train crossings all caught my attention. They also added to the time it would take to complete my adventure.

It wasn't all just random walking, though. As I said, I did have one specific location in mind that was roughly halfway through my trip. When I did a little online research, I found there was a rather famous lookout spot where you could watch both local trains and the Shinkansen travel over bridges very close to the seaside. Although I am not a 撮り鉄 (toritetsu) or "train photographer," I thought this might be a great place to take a rest while getting some images of the trains. And I must say, I actually enjoyed this spot a lot more than I expected.

All photographs by Jason Halayko.

Not only was this a great spot scenery wise for my almost 48-year-old legs to take a much-needed break, but the local train bridge, especially, was very scenic. Moreover, I got quite lucky with the light while shooting there.

All photographs by Jason Halayko.

Tripods, Castles, and Train Shots

When shooting these kinds of scenic shots, especially with video, it is highly recommended to use a tripod. However, I found the international stabilization on the Nikon ZR quite good, and any shaking on my part was quickly fixed in post. So, maybe the days of always needing to carry around a heavy tripod are over?

All photographs by Jason Halayko.

Having got several clips I liked of the trains and noticing I was WAY behind schedule, I picked up the pace and made for Odawara Station with a little more focus. Still, it seemed like every 5 minutes I came across another temple, or a hidden train crossing. After all, it still ended up taking a couple of hours more than planned just to reach Odawara Castle, just before the station.

Even at the castle, which I had planned to just speed through, I got distracted at the adjacent temple. There, I enjoyed taking even more video of the lanterns and other things on display. As you can probably tell, I really enjoyed this walk, haha.

Assessing the Nikon ZR

All in all, what would normally have taken 1.5 hours ended up taking me 5.5 hours. But I enjoyed all 17,000 steps of the journey.

As you can see from the photos and video here, the Nikon ZR did great as well. I am quite happy to say it was super easy to use, and I am super happy with how everything came out in the end.

All photographs by Jason Halayko.

If you want to see the full walk, please check out the video on my YouTube channel, and hit me up there if you have any questions or comments about my adventure!

Author andPhotographer: Jason Halayko

Jason Halayko is a professional photographer specializing in action sports and portrait photography. Follow him on X and Instagram.