The almost warren-like nature of many parts of Tokyo makes it incredibly easy to get lost, not to mention sidetracked, as it’s often impossible to predict what’s round the next corner.
Not that it’s always something interesting of course. In fact invariably it isn’t. But when it is, photographs and further exploration are usually essential.
For starters from ground level.
And then if possible from above.
Which in this case at least allowed for a real sense of what Tokyo once was, and fortunately in a few places, still is.
Matt says
I love these street scenes you manage to find. They have so much character and always make me want to have a seat at one of these tiny bar. Works well in b&w.
Lee says
Cheers! Great places, aren’t they? The old and the new all rolled into one.
nausje says
Matt is absolutely right!
Lee says
Thanks!
A Former Expat says
I never really considered myself becoming ‘lost’ in such places , not some much in Tokyo (to which I rarely traveled, but Kyoto). Getting ‘lost’ like that usually ended in me finding some hidden gem.
Lee says
Definitely. When out walking or cycling in an area I’m relatively familiar with, I purposely try to get ‘lost’ in the hope of finding something new. The trouble is, the more times I do it, the more often I know where I am….
There again, Apple Maps may well change all that!
John says
Care to reveal where this alley is? Or would that be giving it all away?
Lee says
Nah, not at all. It’s a place to be enjoyed. Nishi-Ogikubo. Right by the station.
If you do go, and you see me, be sure to say hello.
John says
Haha. To be fair whenever I’m in Tokyo I’ve always been keeping my out for a guy snapping away on his Leica camera!
Lee says
One day you’ll catch me. Or I’ll catch you!
Michael says
Lee, I love the constrasty blacks and whites in these photos! Any post processing done or are these straight from your Leica?
Lee says
Cheers, Michael. A good bit of post-processing done. Mostly with Silver Efex Pro 2. Great piece of software.
Michael says
Ah yes, I know it well :).
Hans ter Horst says
This is the Tokyo of my dreams, not Ginza nor Akihabara, this is it! Must be all those old Kurosawa, Ozu, Imamura, … films I watched 🙂
Lee says
I know. If only there were more places like this. Or perhaps we should be thankful there still are.
Jordan says
How many spots similar to this still exist in Tokyo? And more so, how much of the older stuff was actually lost throughout the country due to the war? Outside of Tokyo and the other major metropolitan areas is there still a lot of old Japan to be seen?
Lee says
That’s a very good question. A good few I reckon, although in Tokyo at least, an awful lot was lost in the bombing raids.
Outside the cities it all depends where you go. There are a lot of old places, although a lot of them aren’t anywhere near as photogenic as this street.
June says
Lee, this is great! Where were you standing to get the 2nd and 3rd shots? Inside one of the buildings? On a roof?
Lee says
Thanks, June. I was in a bar on the corner, and it has a nice big balcony, so I was able to get the shots from there. Having a few beers and firing off the odd leisurely shot was very nice indeed!
Ian says
Very atmospheric shots. I particularly like the movement you capture between the couple in the first photo. It seems very intimate – like the alley itself. And the little cameo of the two men drinking to the side (with the kettle on the heater behind them) is brilliant.
Lee says
Thanks a lot, Ian.
I got one other shot of the young couple and they looked just as intimate and comfortable. Like you said, exactly like the street itself. The two men were a nice constant. Along with the kettle of course!