Monday, June 27, 2011

On urban localism

Tokyo is one of those places that doesn't always feel very large despite the fact that its population is one of the largest for any city in the world (depending on how and what you count). As an urban area, it's obviously HUGE with its 30 million people. But the place I'm currently living in, however, doesn't feel very big at all. Perhaps the considerable local-ness of Tokyo is what made me feel so at home here right from the start? Below are a few of the things that comprise my local community.

The Mori Tower. My favourite skyscraper.

Roppongi Crossing

Traditional meets modern, at the Imperial Palace/Hibya

Hibiya at sunset 

One of the oddest buildings I know, right in my neighbourhood

Because every pet needs that special attention, right?

Temple with a basketball net? But of course. 

Geisha barbie and all her friends @ the spa...

Stairway to heaven? Maybe not, but there is a temple at the top

The mandatory temple cat 

I thought this was interesting, in all its moldy, broken beauty

Messy, noisy, trafficky, and YET local...



♥ local Tokyo :)

9 comments:

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Awesome pictures, looks a wonderful place,
Thanks for sharing,

Yvonne.

Unknown said...

Ah, I wish to go back to Tokyo again. I wish they had plastic food in the windows here in America, that way, when I get my meal, I can point out how my cheeseburger looks nothing like it does in the window.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thanks for sharing the photos, Cruella! I bet you've taken hundreds.

Kelly said...

Great photos!! Thanks for sharing them with us.

I think it would ALL feel "big city" to me, but then I live near a small community in a rural area with nothing but trees on four sides of me. I have to drive over an hour to reach a city with even 50,000 people!

CA Heaven said...

Cool photos, in particular the skyscraper. I could easily have my office on the top floor >:)

Cold As Heaven

Liz P said...

One of my favorite commercial buildings was the Fuji TV office in Odaiba. Looks like a futuristic, planet-side space station.

I agree with you on the "small" feeling. We stayed in Asakusa and every evening when we returned to the hotel, it just felt like we were coming home, to "our neighborhood". We had the grocery store, the yakisoba shop, Mr. Donut, and Kaminarimon around the corner. Tokyo is magical like that. I do envy you! :)

Pat Tillett said...

I love the photos and words. You are so right. Despite being so large, it has a neighborhood feeling also. I need to get back there and soon. We've been talking about going, but some of the relatives there are talking about coming here instead. So I don't know...

Pat Tillett said...

Oops! I forgot. Do you like Russian food? If you do, here is a restaurant with fantastic food. Plus it's amusing to see the staff wearing Russian folk costumes. It's in Shibuya. Shibuya Rogovski is the name. They have a website and it's very close to Shibuya station.

Sue said...

I'm glad to hear you sounding so happy. Thinking of you.

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