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Dec 05 2023 14 Comments

Japanese shops of the past still surviving in the present

Japan may well have loads of fancy, well stocked department stores, but thankfully it also boasts a huge number of fabulously dated old businesses to balance things out a bit. So many in fact that the photos below were all taken very recently.

That said, the sad truth is that the vast majority will only last as long as those who own them, but for now for at least these shops are there to be seen and enjoyed, as we will likely never see their kind again.

Japanese shops of the past still surviving in the present

Japanese shops of the past still surviving in the present

Japanese shops of the past still surviving in the present

Japanese shops of the past still surviving in the present

Japanese shops of the past still surviving in the present

Japanese shops of the past still surviving in the present

Japanese shops of the past still surviving in the present

Japanese shops of the past still surviving in the present

Japanese shops of the past still surviving in the present

Japanese shops of the past still surviving in the present

Japanese shops of the past still surviving in the present

Categorized: Food and Drink, Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sean says

    12/5/2023 at 9:50 am

    The colors of the first store are awesome!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/6/2023 at 9:44 am

      Yeah. So much to take in with that place. A very special little shop.

      Reply
  2. Wes says

    12/5/2023 at 3:04 pm

    Great collection. #1 is my fave. I’ve seen my local high street hollowed out with chain stores now dominating. I’m told it is progress.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/6/2023 at 9:46 am

      Thanks a lot. Yes, definitely not just a Japan thing that’s for sure. Seems to be happening everywhere.

      I have a real soft spot for that first one too. Lots to enjoy.

      Reply
  3. YTSL says

    12/5/2023 at 4:01 pm

    Another great photo essay! I can feel the atmosphere emanating from all of the images.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/6/2023 at 9:47 am

      Thank you! It’s always a pleasure to photograph such places. With all their history and details on display, they make photography a lot easier too.

      Reply
  4. Richard says

    12/5/2023 at 7:50 pm

    The colors are great. These feel like 1960’s Japan. Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/6/2023 at 9:49 am

      Cheers. And yeah, I couldn’t agree more. Most of these likely haven’t changed much at all in all the years they’ve been open.

      Reply
  5. cdilla says

    12/5/2023 at 9:47 pm

    An encouraging sight to see so many shops like this. I’m quite getting used to the green street address signs and found that long covered shopping street. I almost thought it was called “Shady Lane”, but that was the name of a quiet bar about halfway along.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/6/2023 at 9:53 am

      Yeah, for all the ones gone, there are thankfully still many remaining.

      The signs really are useful. The old way of finding somewhere rather than just Google maps. Although obviously now we can combine the two.

      Shady Lane would be a perfect name. Might use that just for my own reference!

      Reply
  6. Nobody says

    12/7/2023 at 11:40 am

    藤本時計店 大阪 looks pretty cool in the first photo

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/10/2023 at 7:11 pm

      Yeah, it is quite the place. Always a treat to see.

      Reply
  7. Damien says

    12/9/2023 at 4:03 pm

    What an amazing pre-loved treasure trove is the shop in image 8. The Takoyaki maker looks like a rewarding buy, although with the privacy of a new one so cheap, I wonder if it will ever find a buyer.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/10/2023 at 7:14 pm

      There’s definitely no shortage of stuff on offer in that place, but how long it has all been there, and how often he actually makes a sale, is another thing altogether.

      Reply

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