From the top of Yuyake Dandan (literally, ‘sunset staircase’ in Japanese) the illuminated arch announces the entrance to Yanaka Ginza, a glimpse of an older, slower-paced Tokyo. The charm of Yanaka is preserved by the tendency to re-purpose older buildings rather than rebuild, making this area the most quaint and aged parts of the city.
Notes
Yanaka Ginza is named such after the famed shopping district in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward, although the similarities stop there. On Yanaka Ginza, there are purportedly around 60 shops that occupy a narrow street where only foot traffic is allowed.