Lee

Almost two months ago I posted a series of photos featuring a variety of Tokyo citizens in places they lived, worked or spent a good deal of their time. Local, everyday locations that benefited massively from having a person in the frame, and in particular someone familiar with the environment.

These then are more photographs along the same theme. Little vignettes that in so many ways make Tokyo the city it is.

There are numerous series from faded Japanese towns and cities on these pages. Settlements that were once thriving and filled with dreams, but now, after decades of decline, are quiet, ramshackle and presumably long past the tipping point of ever being resuscitated.

Also, away from Japan’s big cities, such places are far from rare, which means it’s impossible not to wonder what the country will be like in the years to come. That though remains to be seen, so for now, these are photos from a few southern towns. Scenes of the present made up from elements of a far more expectant past.

July’s newsletter, Zen and the demise of old-school Japanese restaurants, covers similar themes, along with my thoughts on accepting the inevitable disappearance of such places. You can subscribe, or simply have a read here.

This walk wasn’t anything different from what I usually do. A friend and I chose a starting point, along with a rough idea of where our final destination would be. Adding in parts of the greater Tokyo area wasn’t especially unusual either.

What is different though is that rather than sequencing the photos in a way that I feel works best in regards each frame’s content, colours etc., they are instead laid out in the order they were taken. An order that admittedly does work pretty well, but more than that it was simply interesting to post a document of the walk in the way it unfolded.

Documenting the changes Tokyo always seems to be going through is something I do a lot, but these photos are slightly different. They step back quite a bit further than usual to show a much wider view. One that makes it possible to see the types of older buildings still left, along with those that will inevitably take their place.

Public baths (sento) used to be an integral part of the daily routine in Tokyo, as well as a similarly key component of community life. Those times, however, are mostly long gone, with changing habits and modern accommodation making bathhouses inconvenient and no longer a necessity.

That said, despite such changes, a good number of sento still remain, providing many people with something of a treat every now and again. A chance to soak in a big bath and take in the retro surroundings.

For many older inhabitants, on the other hand, those past habits still persist, meaning just before opening time there can be quite a gathering. A daily outing that the old lady featured still loves after so many years. 93 years to be exact.

For a bit more context, I’ve also added some interior shots of a different public bath I had the pleasure of photographing last year. Scenes that allow one to appreciate why they remain popular for daily visitors, and those who go less frequently.

On a similarly retro theme, I wanted to add that my friend Giovanni and I are offering a unique, 8 day photography workshop in February next year, covering dated, Showa era Tokyo and Osaka street scenes, along with stunning winter landscapes. So if that sounds of interest, the info is here: Winter Scenery and Old School Streets – Workshop 2026.