This compact row of old Tokyo houses stops me in my tracks every time I see it, and while far more ramshackle and on a much smaller scale, it somehow always reminds me of Edward Hopper’s Early Sunday Morning. With that in mind, my hope has always been to capture a lone, suitably Hopper-like figure looking out of a window. Frustratingly that still hasn’t happened, but a resident stood in her doorway staring down the street will definitely do for now.
Celine says
I would love to know what they are like on the inside. Small I guess!
Lee says
Definitely on the small side, but yeah, me too. Likely a fascinating mix of the old, original features along with the addition of some comparatively modern fittings.
cdilla says
What a wonderfully complex and organic looking terrace. I very much like the work of Hopper and see the likeness here.
I’m looking at the process of procedurally creating buldings for 3D programs and seeing real life examples like this is so inspiring.
So is my usual hunt for the location of your photograph. Todays most excellent find, to be added to my ever expanding list of places to visit, is this
3 Chome-33-3 Central, Nakano City, Tokyo 164-0011, Japan – search in GoogleMaps – , a stunning copper clad Thai Stupa.
Lee says
Definitely a lot going on, isn’t there? Be great to see photos of it when first built and compare the differences. It’d be similarly interesting to see a 3D recreation of it as well.
Oh, walked fairly near there on so many occasions, but never spotted it. It’s as stunning as it is unusual. What a shame it seems to be surrounded by a decidedly ugly and out of place white fence…
Richard says
Goes to show that some areas of Tokyo haven’t changed in probably 60-70 years! Not pretty but probably still functional….and probably much less expensive than living elsewhere!
Lee says
Thankfully still quite a few areas like this too. Or at least small pockets of those areas anyway. Yeah, functional, but likely not very comfortable, especially so with winter coming…
Richard says
I remember very well how challenging it was to heat an old apartment like these when I lived there 1969-71! And I had to walk to the sento in the evenings, too.
Lee says
Blimey, that was proper old-school style. The real Japanese experience!