On a recent trip a few hours north of Tokyo, we saw a whole host of faded scenes — places where time, neglect and the climate had taken their toll. There were also plenty of abandoned buildings to be seen as well. Hotels in particular, of both the conventional and love variety, plus several homes.
These then are photographs of some of the interiors we saw. Sights that in so many of Japan’s small towns and settlements are increasingly the norm. A decline that will only become more visible as the population gets smaller, and those young enough continue to make their wholly understandable exodus to the country’s major hubs and cities. All of which make such locations a fascinating mix of the past, present and future.
YesterdaysHero says
Great work, Lee. There is such a quiet melancholy to this series. I particularly like the green bath shot.
Lee says
Thanks a lot. Definitely that vibe with these places, and cheers, that bath was something else.
Matthias says
Amazing sights…! It is incredible to see how nature takes over these places and even smashes windows and completely uproots a living room.
The room with the stag’s head is my favourite, like a crime scene… thank you for posting this set!
Lee says
You are very welcome. Always incredible to explore such places, and see nature take them back.
scruffy says
Plaid wheelchair, among other things.
Another nice set, Lee. Thanks for showing.
Plenty of people like to watch videos of exploration of all types of old places. On YouTube I watch a channel The Secondary Highway. This is not an ad for them and I’m not affiliated in any way, just telling you since its another aspect of sharing these abandoned places with the world.
Lee says
Thanks a lot, and you are very welcome. Always a treat to find these places.
Seen a few videos myself, but such a lot of work involved. Also I struggle to do both. So for now at least it’ll be stills only.
cdilla says
Another wonderful glimpse into what must now be a truely extensive body of work you have created.
The economic, political and social “weather”creates abandonment and decay the world over, but there seems a greater persistance in this final stage of habitation in Japan.
Lee says
Thanks a lot, and yeah, got more than a few photos now. Those video machines we saw though still take some beating. But yeah, Japan does seem to have a staggering number of such places.
Arno says
I always find these randomly, left behind personal photographs very poignant.
Lee says
Yeah, me too. A small look into lives we’ll never know. Quite possibly lives that don’t exist anymore too. A sort of rare privilege in many ways.