As I think I've said before I used to live at the end of Togoshi Ginza in the early 1990s. So I got to see some of the transformation of Gotanda as Sonny moved out. I have to say I don't recall a lot of love hotels but then maybe I just want looking for them. There were then and I think still are a few classic Kakuuchis where you can grab a drink and a snack
Wow, the TOC looks eerie in its state of semi-desertion. I can absolutely see why you love it! There's something so atmospheric and nostalgic about wandering through tired, empty buildings. Looking at the cardboard boxes photographed, I can imagine them being put there temporarily and then ending up there for years.
Exactly. Particularly in Tokyo, where grit and trash are quite hard to find even outdoors, I find the TOC's state of neglect somewhat "refreshing." This said, they are going to reopen several of those spaces. I'm curious to see how the place will look next year.
Yes you can. I have run that a few times. You can I think go almost all the way to Ebisu. I have often run a loop from around Shinagawa up through Takanawa then cutting down to the megurogawa between Meguro and Ebisu and then running back down to the shore.
Yes. If you can believe it (you should ;) ), I did not get to Gotanda until my last jaunt to Japan (November 2023). The Japanese Railway Society [from the U.K.], of which I am a member (#2105) had its first "old timers" tour of Japan since 2019, and for the weekend assemblage in Tokyo, it chose an izakaya in Gotanda.
When there was such a thing as print guides (in Japanese) to adult-oriented escapades in Tokyo (which I found in Adult Video shops), Gotanda was one of the areas with its own section.
Great post, Gianni. The images, especially the first 3-4, are amazing and compliment your words beautifully.
They come from the books I mentioned in my previous post. I just love old pictures.
Yes, those images tell a story on their own.
Nice. Thank you. I also liked “ashimoto wo miru”. Kind of “looking for Achiless’ heel “.
Want to revisit Meguro river. Don’t remember if I can walk from Shimbamba to Gotanda or even starting earlier at Tennozu Isle. But believe doable…
Thanks, Igor. You can certainly walk from around Shin-Banba to Gotanda and all the way to Ikejiri Ohashi Station.
Great, thank you.
As I think I've said before I used to live at the end of Togoshi Ginza in the early 1990s. So I got to see some of the transformation of Gotanda as Sonny moved out. I have to say I don't recall a lot of love hotels but then maybe I just want looking for them. There were then and I think still are a few classic Kakuuchis where you can grab a drink and a snack
I didn't know about the love hotels either. I only found out about them while researching the subject.
Wow, the TOC looks eerie in its state of semi-desertion. I can absolutely see why you love it! There's something so atmospheric and nostalgic about wandering through tired, empty buildings. Looking at the cardboard boxes photographed, I can imagine them being put there temporarily and then ending up there for years.
Exactly. Particularly in Tokyo, where grit and trash are quite hard to find even outdoors, I find the TOC's state of neglect somewhat "refreshing." This said, they are going to reopen several of those spaces. I'm curious to see how the place will look next year.
Nice. Thank you. I also liked “ashimoto wo miru”. Kind of “looking for Achiless’ heel “.
Want to revisit Meguro river. Don’t remember if I can walk from Shimbamba to Gotanda or even starting earlier at Tennozu Isle. But believe doable…
Yes you can. I have run that a few times. You can I think go almost all the way to Ebisu. I have often run a loop from around Shinagawa up through Takanawa then cutting down to the megurogawa between Meguro and Ebisu and then running back down to the shore.
Got it. Thank you Francis.
Fascinating post, Gianni and great photos.
Yes. If you can believe it (you should ;) ), I did not get to Gotanda until my last jaunt to Japan (November 2023). The Japanese Railway Society [from the U.K.], of which I am a member (#2105) had its first "old timers" tour of Japan since 2019, and for the weekend assemblage in Tokyo, it chose an izakaya in Gotanda.
When there was such a thing as print guides (in Japanese) to adult-oriented escapades in Tokyo (which I found in Adult Video shops), Gotanda was one of the areas with its own section.