38
Dawn inside the Golden Gai
Spring
As of Hiroshige’s depiction of Yoshiwara, this image portraits Golden Gai’s visitors hastily departure as the dawn breaks. As most of the bars don’t open until 9 or 10pm it’s not uncommon for customers to indulge drinking until dawn.
Notes
Shinjuku Golden Gai is a small area of Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, famous both as an area of architectural interest and for its nightlife. It is composed of a network of six narrow alleys, connected by even narrower passageways which are about wide enough for a single person to pass through. Over 200 tiny shanty-style bars, clubs and eateries are squeezed into this area. Bars in Golden Gai are known in particular for the artistic affinities of their patrons. Golden Gai is well known as a meeting place for musicians, artists, directors, writers, academics and actors, including many celebrities.