All marterials including photographs are ©2011 Ronald Gary Dunlap / Doglight Studios.
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I took the Yamanote Line north to Nippori station and walked east up the hill to begin my rambling.
Fires had swept through Edo (Tokyo) back in the seventeenth century, and in the aftermath many temples were moved to this area because of its higher elevation. I guess they knew what they were doing, because many of the relocated temples are still standing today.
Fires had swept through Edo (Tokyo) back in the seventeenth century, and in the aftermath many temples were moved to this area because of its higher elevation. I guess they knew what they were doing, because many of the relocated temples are still standing today.
Many of the area's cemeteries are overflowing with an abundance of religious statuary. Some of the stone effigies wear knitted skull-caps that some devoted parishioners have provided so that the statues might have a more comfortable winter as they stare over the fence at the growing encroachment of modern Tokyo.
The streets were mostly empty. I saw only a few individuals and families making their pilgrimage to the grave of a loved to deposit some token of remembrance.
Farther on, I chanced upon a section of a one-story commercial building that looked like it could have been there for at least a few centuries.
Yanaka Ginza is the area's main shopping street. It is the total antithesis of the modern Tokyo mall. Much like the craftsman section of Asakusa, the street is lined with small, family-owned businesses selling everything from rice crackers to wooden clogs to custom tea blends. This is a unique experience, so if you ever get a chance to visit, don't be afraid to explore.
After spending the morning in this timeless area, I had to make a 180-degree mind adjustment to contemplate a return visit to "Electric City."
It was mid-afternoon when I arrived at Akihabara station. The area had a lot more buzz than the first time I visited. Everyone must have been taking a late lunch, because the streets were packed and restaurant hawkers were everywhere. Most were fronting for "Maid Cafes," but some were dressed as Geishas, and the one girl I got to pose for me was dressed as either a pirate or a gypsy, so I'm not sure what kind of place she was working for.
This area is all about technology and the myths that surround it. These optimistic fans of the future hope to role-play themselves into a better tomorrow, not unlike many in America's Millennial Generation. I hope it works out for them, but I have my doubts.
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