Honestly, im super happy with the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2. It wont break the bank and is a safe, reliable bet for night shots. No complaints!

over the years ive found that f4 in those neon alleys just doesnt cut it. once carried a massive lens through shibuya and my neck hated me. are you shooting more architecture or people? to save cash for the actual trip, maybe look at the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary since its way lighter and cheaper than the Art version.

Works great for me

Huh interesting. I had no idea. The more you know I guess 🤷

To add to the point above: focus on how much you are actually gonna be walking. Tokyo is a marathon and a heavy lens will kill your vibe by day three. I've been through this dance before and the weight really adds up. Before I can really point you in the right direction tho, I gotta ask: what is your tolerance for high ISO? If you are okay with some noise, that f4 might be fine, but if you want clean night shots, f2.8 is basically non-negotiable. Just a few things to watch out for:

• Weight creep is a trip-killer. A heavy setup feels okay for an hour but feels like a brick after ten miles.
• Be wary of gear without decent weather sealing. Tokyo gets some sudden rain and you dont want to be hiding your camera under your shirt all day.
• Some third-party glass can struggle with autofocus hunting in those dark neon alleys, which is frustrating when you are trying to move fast. Reliability is honestly the biggest factor when you only bring one lens. You need something that won't fail you when you are miles from a repair shop. Are you planning on doing mostly handheld street shots or are you bringing a tripod for long exposures?

Regarding what #5 said about "Huh interesting. I had no idea. The more you know I guess," it really is a massive learning curve once you're actually on the ground. I just found this thread and figured id share what I learned from my own Tokyo stint. Over the years, I've tried many different setups for city travel. One time, I even went full DIY and modified my own camera strap with extra padding and climbing clips just to handle a heavy zoom all day because I was so stubborn about carrying everything. It was a mess. After a few trips, I realized a few things:

• Having that extra light is way more valuable than the extra reach at the long end, especially in those narrow Shinjuku alleys.
• You can always zoom with your feet or just crop the image later if you've got enough megapixels.
• Carrying a brick around your neck for 15 miles a day ruins the fun faster than anything else. I eventually gave up on the do-it-all lens I had and went with a lighter, faster setup. I didnt miss the extra reach at all. If you're gonna be out after the sun goes down, that f4 is gonna feel real limiting real fast. Honestly, just go for the faster glass and your photos will thank you.