With the fairly recent addition of a fancy new hotel and cinema complex, Tokyo’s wonderful grubby Kabukicho red light district has started to see distinct signs of gentrification. So families now mill around on a day out, and tour groups regularly move through en masse, frantically firing off smartphone and tablet photos like their lives depended on it.
But for the time being at least, it still maintains a good amount of rough and ready charm. Drunks, for example, can still be seen passed out on the street. Both male and female. Or even males pretending to be females. Plus the area’s various alleyways remain incredibly dingy, with some of its eateries not all that dissimilar. And as such, weekend afternoons in particular are still as gritty and marvellously impromptu as ever.
Coli says
Really interesting picture, especially with the man in the right frame. Unbalanced makes this very fun to look at.
Lee says
Thanks a lot. It was an interesting scene to observe. Good to hear that comes through a bit in the photo.
Tom says
Great shot. Love the carefree feel of it. Interesting mix of people too. Again, great shot!
Lee says
Cheers! Yes, quite a varied bunch, aren’t they? A group as colourful as their surroundings.
Hans ter Horst says
Funny such a nice and quiet family scene in an area of Tokyo, as you describe already, many people do not want to enter alone I’ve seen the tourists you mention with their brave faces all clinging together 🙂
I walked in Kabuki-cho with my wife, a bloke stopped us and started talking to us and I replied by asking him to pose for a photo, that completely defused the situation; I’m still not sure what he wanted 🙂
Lee says
That’s funny. And quite a character eh? Dressed like that he’s clearly not your average salaryman. Great that you got a shot of him.
AF says
A Tokyo’s urban picnic scene. They are missing the sakura…
Lee says
Now that would be something. Sadly the nearest things to nature in this area are crows and rats…