Slowly but surely the other old buildings near this little suburban row are disappearing, and yet somehow these long-closed shops still survive. Each and every time I turn the corner, I worry that the demolition crew might have been and gone, so each and every time the structures are still standing is another chance to enjoy seeing them.
In the decade or more I’ve been visiting the area, only the place on the left has actually been occupied. It still is in fact. The tiny eatery it once housed was already closed for business by the time I first wandered past, but the old lady who once run it still lives there. She still uses the tiny kitchen where she previously cooked for customers as well. Her continued presence more than likely the only reason the buildings remain.
What the middle shop was I don’t know, but the one on the right has the look of a beauty salon or hairdressers — its now uneven tiles and colourful awning making it by far my favourite.
That said, they work so well together. A little slice of the past in a rapidly modernising location, with their fading imperfections making them more and more perfect each passing day.
Friend says
A perfect example of wabisabi. It’s what makes Japan so fascinating.
Lee says
Ah, wabisabi. I do enjoy that concept, and the very different ideas people have of it. For me this isn’t it, but of course that doesn’t matter in the slightest. I know all too well that things I’ve thought of as being wabisabi have been met with denials, and occasionally even out and out derision!
ellen says
I know you like the buildings but I do love the cyclist’s cute cat patch! 🙂
Lee says
That’s a very fair call. I’d like to say I spotted it at the time, hence the photo, but I only noticed it afterwards.
Richard says
Shops like these were everywhere in Tokyo when I lived there 50 years ago. Even pre pandemic many of these were faltering, if not closed. Sad but understandable.
Thanks for the ‘walk down memory lane!’
PS I would not have noticed the cat patch!
Lee says
You are very welcome. The types of Tokyo lanes I like walking down!
Thankfully still a surprising amount survive., even if that’s just as buildings rather than businesses. But yeah, a lot less than there used to be, and getting less every day…
I only noticed after when I looked at the photo on my monitor, so a nice little bonus.