JAPAN: Tokyo - put in stark contrast


Joanna Mika-Hadelka, Hideyuki Baba 2008-05-04

Image:Hideyuki Baba

Similarly to most Asian and European cities Tokyo also has many examples of traditional, historic buildings and those, the modern ones put together. This is maybe to make the visitors puzzled or surprised and make them think of how deep the past is rooted in the contemporary times.

Tokyo Station (東京駅) the Marunouchi side is its perfect example. The building of the railway station was constructed in 1914 and was designed by architect Tatsuno Kingo.

Image:Hideyuki Baba

Nowadays Tokyo has more and more "glass panel" buildings. Their architecture combines experimentation with surprising effects that generate faceted reflections.

Image:Hideyuki Baba

They enable viewers to see constantly changing pictures and almost cinematographic perspectives of one of the busiest cities in the world.

Image:Hideyuki Baba-A shrine of Shintoism called 'Jinja'

Nevertheless, you can still easily come across buildings that remember other centuries.

The second house in Edo, ancient Tokyo,
which was inhabited by a major Daimyo, local leader at that time
Image:Hideyuki Baba
The second house in Edo, ancient Tokyo, which was inhabited by a major Daimyo, local leader at that time

Here and there, when you turn a street you can encounter
an old shrine or temple.

Image:Hideyuki Baba - Typical Tokyo street.

And only people living here their busy city lives seem not to notice the time that goes by.