Tokyo details

[DianeMP]

In November, 2013, I was in Tokyo and Kyoto for a too-short six days.  It was a sort of business trip full of meetings and planned activities, so finding time to wander around by myself was a challenge. My photos in general tend to be of details and it rarely occurs to me to back up for the Big Picture, so I have few shots of famous places.  Japan was no different.  I think I'd have to be in Japan for several months to "get it" even superficially, but there were amazing people and sights everywhere that I'll never forget.

Here are some Tokyo details (later I'll post Kyoto).


Mori Art Musem, Rappongi Hills district





Restaurant, one of thousands in Tokyo.




高山神社 (Mountain Shrine).  Japanese cities have small shrines, temples and cemeteries tucked everywhere.  Shrines are Shinto, temples are Buddhist.




I'm not sure about this figure, but since it's in a shrine, therefore Shinto, it could be the Fox, protector of rice harvests and sake (more about that in my upcoming Kyoto post).  
Temples are Buddhist, shrines are Shinto.




Foot of Shisa, the half dog-half lion guardians of shrines, temples, homes, or anywhere protection is needed.  There are usually two, one on each side of an entrance.




Somewhere in central Tokyo.  This intersection was quite empty!



"Maman" by Louise Bourgeoise, 1999.  Copies if this gigantic bronze sculpture are place in about two dozen cities around the world. 




Climber, somewhere in Tokyo.  Two men were working on what looks like part of a communication system.



Four dogs - one in his satchel! (Terrible photo, but here it is.)



Thanks for joining me and see you later in Kyoto!

[DianeMP]

The Shinkansen, or "bullet train," Shinagawa Station.  I absolutely loved this train, a real class act!

[bixaorellana]

So interesting, Diane, & great photos. The Maman sculpture was a surprise. I had no idea there was so many reproductions of it around the world. Are the windows in the Mori museum a nod to the traditional paper screens?

I envisioned Tokyo as impossibly crowded, but get a different impression from your photos.

Bullet trains! Living in a city of rattletrap buses, I'd love to know more about the sleek fast train experience.

[htmb]

Wonderful photos, Diane, and welcome to AnyPort.

One of the Maman sculptures is in the Garden of the National Galley, Washington, DC.

[Deleted]

The main thing that struck me about Tokyo is that so much of it does not look the way one expects. The same images of Tokyo are shown over and over again by the media and in movies, but there are so many little quirks around just about every corner.

I hope you have a lot of photos, Diane!

[questa]

Lovely to see such modern and detailed pictures. I, too, was surprised by the absence of crowds.

[DianeMP]

Hello, everyone, and thank you so much for your welcome and comments! I, too, was surprised by Tokyo. Although definitely crowded (think Manhattan), there were still places to sneak away by oneself. The Moon Temple was very close to the hotel and on a very busy street across from the train station, yet I was the only one there for the 40 min. or so I was taking pictures. Of course, it might have been because I was there - lol! I was disappointed that the city wasn't packed with ground to sky neon, as I'd expected. Only a small part in the center is like that and those are the tourist photos you see.

I was with people who were either my age (60s) or much younger. The younger ones were out every night in seedy old-Japan neighborhoods I would have loved seeing, but I'm way past being out drinking all night in dives (darn!). Really, Tokyo looks like L.A., Chicago, Sydney, anywhere! There are only small surprises of occasional pre-war buildings, because the city was fire-bombed to smithereens.

The absence of crowds in my shots is because we were out before or after rush hour times, but also I try to avoid shots of crowds (and, I had read that the Japanese consider it rude). Their peak rush hour is around 9:30-10 a.m. and many seem to work until about 7-8 p.m. Here's what it looked like at about 10 a.m. at Shinagawa Station, slightly outside of the busiest downtown area.  So, it was actually the tail end of rush hour.



There was only the sound of footsteps. No conversation, no smiling or laughing, no eye contact, almost everyone walking solo. The lack of noise and even lack of rudeness was a little bit eerie, for an American, anyway. There were some mentally ill and homeless people, and there was one young man walking around yelling crazily at his companion. Other than that, there is practically no unusual behavior.

You may have seen YouTube videos of Tokyo commuter trains - yikes! The bullet train is used for longer distances. It is gloriously clean, super-efficient, dead-quiet and zipped along at about 90 mph between Tokyo and Kyoto. Toilets were rather deluxe, no pee splatters to be seen or stepped in! Stunning view of Mt. Fuji on the way, but didn't have time to catch a photo of it before we went into a tunnel.

This is in the famous, wacky Harajuku district. One of many shops catering to girls who dress like baby dolls or other costumes. I loved it!



There is so much about the culture that I didn't have time to explore or even see.

[Deleted]

My two trips to Tokyo were very short, and I regret having spent so little time there. I have a vivid memory of a surprising number of homeless people, though.

On one of my trips, I stayed at Shinjuku and I think the station was even busier than Shinagawa.

[DianeMP]

Oh yes, I think that's the biggest station. Financial district and all of that! It's definitely a country you can't get a feel for in a few days. That was my sense of it, anyway.

I don't know anything about their social services situation. I suppose, like the U.S. or Europe, they can't force people to accept help. I've read a bit about poverty in Japan, and there is a surprising amount of what we would call "the working poor." The homeless people I saw were definitely mentally ill and at least one had a drinking problem. So, same as everywhere.

[lugg]

Hi and welcome Diane.

Great photos, really enjoyed this short insight to life in Japan.

[questa]

Welcome aboard, DianeMP, and thank you for the kind words re Australia and its people.
Interesting to contrast your Japan and my Tibet which were posted close to each other. I too go after gritty photos but mainly mine are just grotty!

[tod2]

Thanks for the photos and explanations - I hope I will find myself in Japan oneday!
I found the name 'Shisa' for the half dog-half lion statue quite funny. If it is pronounced "sheesa" it means hot in our Zulu language. So I guess that means it could be a 'hot dog'?

[anshjain97]

I too was surprised- never envisioned Tokyo like this.

[DianeMP]

Happy to hear from you,lugg, questa, tod and anshjain! Sorry I haven't checked in for awhile. I am planning more posts, so see you soon!