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Oct 29 2024 4 Comments

A grittier and comparatively more rundown side of Tokyo

The vast majority of my photographs show a slightly different side of Tokyo — one that’s older and decidedly more dilapidated than the shiny, modern areas that tend to be more regularly depicted.

Of late, however, I’ve had a good number of comments and messages about images that included graffiti — the common theme being that such sightings were very unusual in Japan. To be honest, there isn’t as much to be seen as in some cities, but that said, Tokyo does have its fair share of urban art. Both creative and otherwise. In the city’s more suburban areas too. So here then are photos from a walk that eventually ended in central Shinjuku, where the last shot was taken. A stroll that took in quite a few scenes that in some ways show a comparatively grittier, and more rundown side of the capital.

A grittier and comparatively more rundown side of Tokyo

A grittier and comparatively more rundown side of Tokyo

A grittier and comparatively more rundown side of Tokyo

A grittier and comparatively more rundown side of Tokyo

A grittier and comparatively more rundown side of Tokyo

A grittier and comparatively more rundown side of Tokyo

A grittier and comparatively more rundown side of Tokyo

A grittier and comparatively more rundown side of Tokyo

A grittier and comparatively more rundown side of Tokyo

A grittier and comparatively more rundown side of Tokyo

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sean says

    10/29/2024 at 1:45 pm

    Awesome. Always cool to see different sides of Tokyo.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/30/2024 at 8:53 am

      Thanks a lot. Glad to hear it. Always good to see different aspects of a city.

      Reply
  2. Richard says

    10/29/2024 at 7:29 pm

    Maybe less many major cities which I have visited over the last 30 years. Certainly much less than large US cities. But Tokyo has its gritty side. Not having visited Singapore I am not sure about it, however.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/30/2024 at 8:55 am

      Yes, even though there is more than there used to be, it’s still definitely less than a lot of cities. Agreed about the gritty side too. Not all cleanliness and neatness.

      Reply

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