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Sep 03 2014 14 Comments

The quiet loneliness of a Japanese coastal town

Most of the standard images of Japan are packed, bustling streets, with even busier trains. They are true representations too. At least in regards Tokyo and the country’s other big cities. But escape the concrete metropolises and it’s a very different scene altogether. One made all the more extreme by the ongoing movement away from rural areas, and the rapid ageing of Japan’s population.

Creating places that are quiet.

quiet Japanese coastal town

Often bleak.

quiet Japanese coastal town

And sometimes really quite lonely.

quiet Japanese coastal town

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Martin says

    9/3/2014 at 8:37 am

    Nice shots. It does look desolate. I can understand why people would move to the city for jobs and entertainment but with all the virtually abandoned rural land one would think there should be a market for country or weekend homes. Does that exist at all?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      9/3/2014 at 2:55 pm

      Cheers.

      It does. At least in some places. Karuizawa is a famous area for people to have second homes. A nice spot to escape the summer heat too. And nearer to Tokyo, there are a good number round the lakes near Mount Fuji. The old coastal/onsen resort of Atami has lots as well. But settlements like the one in the photos just seem to be left to slowly die…

      Reply
  2. Brittany Chenteale says

    9/3/2014 at 10:43 am

    Looks like a good day trip.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      9/3/2014 at 2:57 pm

      We passed through on a recent trip to Hokkaido. So part of a longer stay. But yes, it was very interesting. A far cry from what I’m used to seeing.

      Reply
  3. Hans Ter Horst says

    9/3/2014 at 1:50 pm

    Almost as empty as the quarantine zone around the Fukushima reactors….

    Reply
    • Lee says

      9/3/2014 at 2:57 pm

      Yeah, pretty much…

      Reply
  4. willy says

    9/3/2014 at 1:56 pm

    my old friend Kuzu….

    Reply
    • Lee says

      9/3/2014 at 2:57 pm

      Kuzu… Sorry, I’m not with you?

      Reply
  5. nagoyablue says

    9/3/2014 at 7:19 pm

    Great pictures. I’m a big fan of your stuff.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      9/3/2014 at 7:53 pm

      Thanks X2! Very kind of you to say so.

      Reply
  6. Coli says

    9/4/2014 at 8:17 pm

    Beautiful. Hokkaido. I’ve always wanted to go there especially after watching kita no kuni Kara.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      9/4/2014 at 8:50 pm

      Somewhere I’d always wanted to go too, and I’m happy to say it didn’t disappoint. Thoroughly enjoyed it. So if you can get up there at some point, I heartily recommend it.

      Reply
  7. Theresa says

    9/4/2014 at 11:23 pm

    That is one big dog, not something you often see in Japan.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      9/5/2014 at 5:49 pm

      Yeah, that’s very true. I guess rural areas are the only real places where it’s possible. Although that said, I have sen a Great Dane being walked in Tokyo. Heaven knows how they take care of it…

      Reply

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