Tokyo changes fast, and of late, that speed of change seems to have picked up even further, with the likes of dated little bars and shops in particular disappearing. In the newly created space below, however, it was a relatively large and modern building that fell foul of the bulldozers, whereas its old and overgrown neighbour somehow survived.
In so many of these cases, the patched up and often corrugated sides of suddenly exposed structures are incredibly revealing, but this tiny restaurant and its previously unacknowledged narrowness is something else altogether.
Linda says
Amazing. Did you go inside?
Lee says
It’s quite a place eh? No, unfortunately not. In different times I wouldn’t have hesitated, but being so small, and with no windows open, I didn’t want to risk it. Hopefully it’ll still be up and running when I’m fully vaccinated and things have finally settled down. And seeing how it’s got this far, there’s definitely a good chance of that.
Linda says
Let’s say that next time I get to come to Tokyo, I’ll buy you lunch there 🙂
Lee says
That sounds like a good plan.
ellen says
😮 I know folks who I think wouldn’t even get through that door!
Lee says
Haha, certainly not the widest of doors!
Sean says
That’s not a building it’s just a thick wall! 😉
Lee says
And not thick a wall either!
cdilla says
These tiny buildings really are something that you dont seem to find in other cities. Whether it is a tiny police koban, a 2.5 metre wide three story apartment, or tiny stores on miniscule street corner plots. I once saw there was a book dedicated to them – but more concentrating on newer buildings.
It is great to see more of the older examples, especially from such a good vantage point. It looks similar in width to the absolute sliver of an izakaya you took us past (rotten luck that it was closed) a couple of years ago on Otakebashi-dori. Nice to see that in dec 2020 Street View shows that one open and serving customers.
Lee says
Yeah, definitely something very Japanese. The use of what limited land there is really is incredible at times.
Ah, went past there not that long ago. Alas no more it would seem. Still standing I’m happy to say, but not a going concern anymore. Or at least it looked that way. And if that is the case, it’s hard to see it lasting much longer…
Richard says
So this is a building rather than the facade/wall of what used to be there?!? The building next to it looks pretty worn out as well.
Lee says
The apartments next to it definitely seem to have seen better days, but yeah, a building, that houses a business, that amazingly is still a going concern.
Spanish fan says
*I once saw there was a book dedicated to them – but more concentrating on newer buildings.*
Perhaps azby Brown’s “The Very Small Home: Japanese Ideas for Living Well in Limited Space”?
link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/532624.The_Very_Small_Home
Paul says
I had to look twice to understand that there is indeed a restaurant.
One of my favorites building, lovely.
Lee says
Incredible, isn’t it? A very special little place. Definitely the best time of year to see it with all that foliage. Plus even better with no neighbour.
PaulSNYC says
The sign (kanban) promises coffee and spaghetti, and the red banner is for that Japanese delicacy curry rice (kare- raisu), so it looks like a Japanese coffee shop (kissaten), another vanishing breed.
Lee says
Definitely seemed much more in the way of an eatery than somewhere just for a coffee, although I suspect that wasn’t always the case. But yeah, a lot of old kissaten are closing. Thankfully still a good few left though, and hopefully that’ll be the case for a good few years to come as well.
Sophie says
Well that’s just amazing. First I thought it was a movie setting, only a facade. Then thought that they were starting construction of a new building while keeping the external “skin”. Finally I noticed the side door, and computed the thickness of the place. Or lack thereof. The fact that this restaurant is covered in greenery adds to the perfection… A tanuki in human form would eat there, finding respite from all the concrete.
I’m definitely curious on how it feels once inside, how it’s laid out. It’s also fun to have to imagine it.
Thanks so much for the puzzle, take care!
Lee says
You are very welcome. Glad you enjoyed it. Definitely a unique place. Totally impractical it would seem, and yet at the same time thank goodness places like this exist. Sights that make you stop in your tracks and simply stare in disbelief.
I was going to wait til it’s safer to go inside to see what the interior looks like, but someone sent me a link that I couldn’t resist clicking. It’s sort of what I expected, and somehow not quite, so still plenty of reasons for a future visit.
Richard says
Would you share the link so we can get an idea of what it looks like inside?
Lee says
Yeah, of course. No problem at all. Here you go: https://bit.ly/3jTRIKy
john says
A place for the undecided where you can get both a window seat AND a quiet seat at the back. Next door looks to be for those altogether more together.
Lee says
That’s very good, and very true. Something for everybody. Well, not everybody of course, as they’d never fit in.
Richard says
Ha, ha, ha!