Sadly 63% of Tokyo does not look like this, but the fact that some of it still does is definitely worth celebrating.
Food and Drink
Traditional Japanese snacks down a dark Tokyo alleyway
When you work all day in a dark little alleyway, idyllic visions of the world outside are clearly deemed necessary.
A retro but abandoned Tokyo ramen restaurant
Despite Tokyo being a city of ramen lovers, there’s also a seemingly never ending number of ramen shops, so whether the owner of the little eatery below lost the battle of increased competition, or simply lost the battle against time, I don’t know. The wonderfully dated nature of the fittings, however, do seem to suggest it was the latter, and such an ending sadly wouldn’t be the only one I’ve photographed this year. Yet whatever the reason, the place still looks absolutely incredible despite being abandoned.
The narrow alleyway on the left led up to a couple of second floor rooms which were interesting enough. Or the combined cassette and 8 track karaoke machine was anyway.
But music player aside, it’s without a doubt all about those stunningly retro red chairs.
An old-style Tokyo drinker in an old-style outdoor setting
The masks are a bit of a giveaway of course, but those aside, the scene, and indeed the people seen in it, are surprisingly timeless.
An old Tokyo restaurant then and now
One day, this colourful, 45 years in business little restaurant was on the corner as usual.
Then come sunrise on another day, it simply wasn’t.
A not to be messed with Tokyo mama-san
Tokyo’s many mama-sans are almost always kind, welcoming and fun to be around, but running a bar on your own requires a tough nature in addition to such charm, and a little bit of that steeliness was definitely on display here.
