The bright lights, bustling crowds and big stores are all popular images of Tokyo. Quite accurate ones too. Or at least they are for some parts of the city. But in the capital’s older, shitamachi areas, it’s a very different story indeed.
There’s a distinct lack of neon. Many of the stores are small, family run affairs. Plus any congestion is generally only because of slow-moving octogenarians. Visible differences that make such districts a delight to explore. In fact doubly so, as atmosphere-wise, not only are they are often much friendlier, they are definitely far more relaxed.
Dan Ryan says
I want to see whatever the leg apparatus was constructed to sell.
Lee says
He was making it for a summer festival. Although what its final shape will be, or how exactly it’ll be used, I have no idea.
winnie says
I was attracted to the legs stand that the man is making! I think he want to make the box with four legs then can put stuff to promote or sell. Or might be making a mascot! 🙂
It seem like a very nice place to go.
Lee says
Yeah, it’s a fascinating area. And it was the figure he was making that attracted me too.
Hans ter Horst says
I do like the way you look for the more original, grittier Tokyo, away from the gloss of Ginza.
Lee says
Cheers. I do like walking round Ginza and the like every now and again, but it’s the eastern parts of Tokyo that really fascinate me.
Don says
These are the sights of my visit to Japan that made the biggest impression on me. In every city, we kept walking until we found them and we were perfectly welcome, comfortable, and endlessly intrigued.
Love the shot, as always!
Lee says
Thanks Don.
I’m exactly the same. Such areas are invariably the ones I seek out. Fascinating places to explore.
Iwao Yamamoto says
Your explanation or comment on shitamachi in Tokyo made me quite satisfied. In shitamachi you can feel “relaxed” indeed because from Westernized culture after WWï¼’you might see there something older style Japanese life.
You don’t need to be careful at anything around there; of course there may be some dangerous people. Plus if you want to talk to someone at a store, try it then how you feel relaxed and don’t need how you are ; rich or poor, that doesn’t matter to them. Please think of the movie “Torasan”. How well you can feel relaxed and can we laugh! That’s shitamachi. I was born and raised at shitamachi near Torasan’s homeplace; Katsushika Shibamata.
Now I’m living in the western part of Tokyo near Shinjyuku. I sometimes go to Asakusa( å…区 mainly ) and Shibamata. How wonderful you can have your homeland I wonder! Still there as a wonderful culture.
Lee says
Yes, you really can feel relaxed in such areas. It almost feels like being in a village or small town rather than part of a huge city. After growing up there, I can imagine you miss it. Or at least certain aspects of shitamachi life.