Photographs from a faded hot spring resort
The tourists still arrive, but the numbers aren’t, and never will, be anywhere near what they once were. Plus those that do turn up generally relax and enjoy a soak in the comfort of their all-inclusive hotels — all too often only venturing out to buy some obligatory souvenirs by the station before they are whisked back from whence they came. And so, in their absence, the rest of the town tries to somehow struggle on.
For more photos of decaying and faded Japan, there’s a large set of images on my portfolio site, here.
A David Lynch-like room in an abandoned hotel
The hotel in general wasn’t all that photogenic. Too much vandalism, and too many identical rooms. But this fantastically Lynchian scene in the once plush bar made the whole endeavour well worth the effort.
A sword wielding Tokyo bar owner
When asked how the food was, I bowed deeply, and in the most reverential tone possible, told him it was the best I had ever tasted.
A Tokyo bank’s ad campaign versus the desperate reality?
Life’s winners, and losers?
