One of the things that I love about Tokyo, is that you can stray only a block or two from some of the busiest streets and shopping precincts in the world, and find yourself lost in narrow, quiet, residential streets with barely another soul in site.
Each time I’ve visited, I’ve made sure I make some time to wander these quiet streets, whether on the way to or from an “attraction” or just as a way to wind down and relax after battling the Yamanote Line in peak hour on a Friday night, with luggage.
These first two are from the area around Shirakawa, and they illustrate another of my favourite things about Tokyo – bicycles, left out front with, at most, just a small rear-wheel lock for security.
The next three are from the Koenji area, where I spent several hours just wandering up and down the grid of streets…
and found this wonderful glass house, by architect Sou Fujimoto.
And finally, Harajuku and Shibuya.
