5 Days in Tokyo: Hidden Yanaka

Lost in Time

By Sol March in Travelogue

Tokyo is a modern city, full of glass towers, wide avenues, and constant activity. However, there are hidden time-warps scattered throughout the city that have somehow evaded modernization and offer a rare glimpse into Tokyo’s past.

One of these hidden places is Yanaka.

Residential

Yanaka is where people live.

However, they don’t live in high-rise apartment buildings– they live in houses. It’s amazing to see in a city like Tokyo where space is at such a premium, but Yanaka’s narrow winding roads are lined with quaint houses complete with fences and small yards.

The only tall buildings you see are in the distance, beyond Yanaka’s borders.

Here in Yanaka, you can breath. The open sky and absence of large buildings makes Yanaka feel even more at ease than the extremely relaxed Otsuka (our home-base in Tokyo).

The Ginza

If you find your way out of the maze of houses, you will find yourself standing before the entrance to Yanaka Ginza— a marketplace that has remained largely unchanged for over a hundred years.

Here you will find artisans selling their wares from small storefronts. Each shop is unique and specializes in something different, from clothing and accessories to food and snacks.

Most of the shops in Yanaka Ginza are one of a kind, meaning that you may have to stand in line to get a taste.

The shops are situated mostly along a single avenue, but there are numerous side streets and alleyways to explore as well.

Cat-Friendly

Cats also live in Yanaka, and the locals have embraced them.

Even the taiyaki— a traditional fish-shaped Japanese cake– has been reimagined in the form of a cat at a unique taiyaki shop in Yanaka.

Thankfully, the cats stay out of people’s way and are generally quite tame, even when they’re begging for a snack.

Find Yanaka & Get Lost

Yanaka is one of the last remnants of Tokyo’s past. As time goes on though, more and more of Tokyo is sure to be modernized and rebuilt to make room for its ever-growing population. When you visit Tokyo, make sure to explore Yanaka before it’s gone forever.

Gear

Camera: Panasonic GH3
Lens: Panasonic SUMMILUX 25mm f/1.4

5 Days in Tokyo

Otsuka — Tucked between Tokyo’s hot spots is a place where golden hour never ends.
A Different View of Harajuku — We discover that serenity is surprisingly easy to find in Harajuku.
Lost in Ebisu — A random stop in Tokyo turns out to be more than we bargained for.
Old Town Akihabara — Pass under the bridge to a different side of Tokyo’s futuristic district.
Ginza to Tsukiji — A search for fresh fish leads to a surprising discovery about Tokyo’s Ginza district.
Lunch at Tsukiji Fish Market — This is where you go to get the freshest fish in Tokyo.
The Solitary Soldier — Sunset at Japan’s Imperial Palace.
Finding Peace in Hibiya Park — A small pocket of peace amidst Tokyo’s never-ending activity.
Cats of Hibiya Park — Hanging out with some furry friends.
Saturday in Ikebukuro — Ikebukuro. Weekend. It’s over.
Okachimachi Crunchy — Walking down Tokyo’s multifaceted shopping boulevard.
Hidden Yanaka — Frozen in time.

Suggestion of Motion