Tokyo 1930

When the shrine overdose sets in, I shift my concern to mostly two areas of architecture, the contemporary, and the evanescent 30's buildings, like the Kensugakukan, a historical prep school in Nishi-Kanda, or the more crispy brick buildings of the Tokyo University of Fine Arts' campus. More hidden treasures still await for the wanderer to visit.

Tokyo Iceberg

I bumped into the news about the Iceberg building in Harajuku in the newspaper this morning, just before going and meet C and M from Los Angeles at their hotel. We got there and where stunned by the beauty of work. A new landmark in Tokyo for sure. Could not frame it all in the camera.

Tokyo in May

Views of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ward, Kasuga and Koishikawa districts. With the visiting rainy season, the green is profuse, overwelming.

Tokyo frontier

So we went to the far western tip of administrative Tokyo, in the mountains, in the green. Okutama is the final end for a sub-branch of the Chûô railway line that starts from downtown Tokyo station. Buses climb up a little bit further into the mountains then stop at the Okutama dam lake.

Ghosts

One does not need the cultural background to feel at times, in the many provincial like back alleys of Tokyo, a ghostly atmosphere. Ghosts, globlins and fantastic creatures are crowding the Japanese folklore landscape. What with the many shrines and cemeteries to be found all over the place - that is, off the beaten tracks - holly often comes with the creepy. Yet, there is no risk ... but to start believing. A slideshow of a recent walk around. Take note of the rare two stories wooden building near Tokyo University.