Photography

There’s an awful lot to be said for Tokyo’s cleanliness, particularly in relation to its public transportation network. In fact the only real negative is a genuine lack of character — a certain sterility even — in regards the surroundings. A factor that always made me fond of this previously posted, and far from generic, entrance.

Since the photo was taken, however, it has been given a lick of paint and a general make over, resulting in it looking pretty much like all the rest. Yet all is not completely lost, as very close by I stumbled upon this surprisingly little used access point. Not as grubby, or even decrepit, but it does have a certain, slightly down on its luck charm.

For all of its much touted modernity, Tokyo is also incredibly old fashioned — archaic even. An element that does have plenty of positives, not least of which is a large number of utterly endearing, lost in time bars and eateries.

Not so positive, on the other hand, is a good amount of the city’s accommodation. Places that in many ways are only a minor step up from camping, and a world away from the robot filled, high-tech toilet world portrayed in the media. Ramshackle abodes that are horrendously cold in winter, and the total opposite in summer. Plus for more than a few, there is only a toilet. No bathroom. A throwback presumably to a time when every neighbourhood had a sento (public bath).

Nowadays, however, these bathhouses are rapidly disappearing, and for those that do remain, their opening hours and time consuming nature may not be in tune with the modern world, or indeed its workforce. So public showers like this can sometimes be found.

Open most of the time.

Plus nice and quick.

If not necessarily nice and clean.