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May 16 2023 12 Comments

The untold stories of packed Tokyo post boxes

Land in Tokyo may well be at a premium in both value and availability, but it’s always surprising how many abandoned buildings there are throughout the city. For one reason or another, many of them still have mail delivered too, resulting in stuffed post boxes that are suggestive of countless stories. So many possibilities that may, or indeed may not be true, but none of that detracts from the instinctive impulse of speculation.

Here then is a selection of photos from the last year or so. All are in Tokyo, and all were taken without any idea of why things ended up this way.

packed Tokyo post boxes

packed Tokyo post boxes

packed Tokyo post boxes

packed Tokyo post boxes

packed Tokyo post boxes

packed Tokyo post boxes

packed Tokyo post boxes

packed Tokyo post boxes

packed Tokyo post boxes

packed Tokyo post boxes

packed Tokyo post boxes

packed Tokyo post boxes

packed Tokyo post boxes

packed Tokyo post boxes

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Denise says

    5/16/2023 at 11:08 am

    What an interesting set of pics. I love the colors of the first 2. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/17/2023 at 4:01 pm

      Thank you very much. Very fond of those as well, especially the first one.

      Reply
  2. Günter says

    5/16/2023 at 3:23 pm

    These are very intriguing scenes. I am finding it hard to understand why there are so many homes like this in Tokyo.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/17/2023 at 4:02 pm

      Thank you. Yes, it is a strange one. A combination of factors I think, but still a surprise to see so many in a city like Tokyo.

      Reply
  3. YesterdaysHero says

    5/17/2023 at 11:10 am

    Such a good idea well executed Lee. I particularly like the opening two. The colors are beautiful.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/17/2023 at 4:05 pm

      Thank you very much. One of those times when a few photos slowly turned into a series of them, and that first post box in particular is an old fave. Taken more than a frames of that one.

      Reply
  4. Richard says

    5/17/2023 at 12:27 pm

    Great photos, thanks. My fav is the next to last one: I like the way it is crooked on the wall….kinda symbolic of things being out of whack!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/17/2023 at 4:07 pm

      Thank you, and you are very welcome.

      That’s a really good point. It does say an awful lot about the whole set.

      Reply
  5. john says

    5/18/2023 at 11:01 pm

    The fourth one is a most unconventional post/letter box as we know it, unless a ‘real’ one hides behind the ‘insulation’.
    I keep returning to number five with the subtle colours and what appears to be a waving arm and a face made from the number ten.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/19/2023 at 8:32 am

      Yeah, that array of post is really quite something. Be interesting to return in several months and see if it has spread even more.

      I’m similarly fond of the fifth one. Something very pleasing about the face and colours.

      Reply
  6. YTSL says

    5/19/2023 at 2:01 pm

    I’m going to say it again: you’re such a great chronicler of Tokyo life!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      5/19/2023 at 8:04 pm

      Thanks ever so much. That’s really kind of you. Something I thoroughly enjoy, so to hear that makes it even more enjoyable.

      Reply

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