Tokyo Times

Discovering this old Tokyo tobacconist 18 months or so ago was a real treat, as turning a fairly nondescript corner complete with an empty plot, the wonderfully ramshackle structure that came into view was a genuine surprise. So unexpected in fact, that after taking some photos I was still so enamoured by it that I completely forgot to mark the location.

Fast forward to fairly recently and I tried to find it once again, but nothing appeared quite right when looking at maps online. Also, any spot that did seem even remotely possible proved the complete opposite when checked on street view.

The only option then was to go back to the area where I thought it was and explore properly. An approach that proved similarly unsuccessful, so as darkness fell, a friend and I gave up and headed for a few consolation beers. On the way there, and absolutely not where I thought the tobacconist was, we stumbled upon a little car park with a rare camera and screen combo. A set-up that caused us to briefly stop for a look. And, when standing there, noticing it was a new house on the corner, there was both relief and the awful realisation that I was actually in the exact spot where the tobacconist once stood.

It has always been nice to walk past this old school Tokyo garage. The place looks and smells fantastic, plus the owner is absolutely lovely. Then the red mini appeared, and the whole thing became even more wonderful. Better still the car was in there ages for repairs and a repaint, resulting in chances galore to see its bright dash of colour and that iconic design.

These then are some photos from that process. Ideally I’d have been there when it was driven out, but that’s okay. Seeing it just the once would have been great, but I was fortunate enough to get way more chances than that.

In recent months I’ve been documenting old school Tokyo barber shops when out and about on photowalks. They are wonderfully dated establishments, with their colours, plants and signage making them an absolute joy to behold. There’s also the ever present barber’s pole too, which can seem like an archaic legal requirement, as pretty much every single exterior boasts one of some description.

Unsurprisingly a couple of those featured are quite clearly no longer in business, but the rest are still very much going concerns. Shops that will likely continue for as long as their aging owners can manage, which will hopefully mean many more years to come.