3 street scenes in northern Tokyo, by the Yamanote Line Komagome Station.
Walk around this area, or many of the mixed business/residential areas in Tokyo, and you can see a billion little streets like this one. Each has its own special character and feel. Each is filled with a living history of the residents and people who work there.
One thing that draws me to these areas is finding little gems - a coffee shop dating to just after the war or a shopping arcade selling senbei rice crackers and handmade clothes and crafts. It's so much different from the bland suburban landscapes that now dominate the area of the US where I'm from.
Just look at these pics and others I posted, or better yet, go there for yourself, and any thoughts of redesigning the areas to be more commuter friendly, or have more centralized shopping, will disappear from you forever.
My love for Japan comes in part from being able to see and connect with places like these that have real character and real soul.
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