The screencap is from Jingumae 6 Chome, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo. If you were to walk down that alley and then turn right when you get onto the main street, you'd be near the southern entrances to Meiji Jingumae Station on the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line. How about we take a walk?
-
-
Show this thread
-
Instead of going to Meiji Jingumae (after all, no street view in that alley), let's turn around and head towards Shibuya Station. Turning left from the initial picture, we can see down the road--someone has obscured the view with their parked car...pic.twitter.com/E0H8USziut
Show this thread -
...but that's ok, because that's not the direction for Shibuya anyway. Turning left again, and now we're looking down the street in the opposite direction of the initial alley--single family houses, only two stories high, right here in the heart of the city! Off we go...pic.twitter.com/fYkKXmFjvP
Show this thread -
Walking along, the street gets a bit narrower--nice bamboo fence and plantings, makes the entire street feel more relaxed. Looks like some construction ahead?pic.twitter.com/sAABmNpNzG
Show this thread -
A little further on, fruit growing on one side and flowers on the other. Much more pleasant complement to cityscape than yards and lawns, imopic.twitter.com/bp0u9K0opU
Show this thread -
Coming out onto a slightly wider street--the construction signage makes sense now; it's a vacant lot pending new development. Some older street view photos indicate there used to be, surprise surprise, another single family house on that lot.pic.twitter.com/iNLjTNsth0
Show this thread -
We've turned left, and walked a little down the road. Shops mixed in with houses here, and another intersection up ahead.pic.twitter.com/T9OWDOy7VZ
Show this thread -
Turning right at that next intersection, we find ourselves on what looks like a posh shopping street--the extra effort they put into paving here suggests a lot of customer foot trafficpic.twitter.com/M3tUtqKajx
Show this thread -
A little bit further down, and we've come upon another intersection with an even larger street.pic.twitter.com/5T77UkHmtQ
Show this thread -
Glancing left, down the cross street--still very narrow by US standards, but they clearly expect heavier car traffic on this one, as there are designated sidewalks now. Notice the sidewalks are level with the street, instead of raised above itpic.twitter.com/y0zMr3MF2J
Show this thread -
Back on track--we've crossed the street now and are continuing on our way towards Shibuya Station. Up ahead where the street comes to a t-junction, we'll turn right.pic.twitter.com/DQVpguusDV
Show this thread -
After turning right, we find ourselves on a street which is too narrow for real sidewalks, but which clearly distinguishes between where moving cars should be expected and where you can stand to let them go by. When no cars are around, ofc, you can walk anywhere.pic.twitter.com/VZ4HKBFlBp
Show this thread -
We'll be following this street for a while, so I'll space out the pictures a bit more...pic.twitter.com/98ef1k6xRc
Show this thread -
Lovely potted plants on the left, shame about that graffiti on the right--hopefully someone cleaned it up soon.pic.twitter.com/OSzfSLGSp8
Show this thread -
Paid parking lot on the right--can't see from this angle, but there are only three spaces in the lot
pic.twitter.com/KrIqav353q
Show this thread -
-
Some *very* narrow commercial properties here--I like this about Japan, that they opt for density via small footprints before going for density via tall buildings (not that they're the only country that does this, ofc).pic.twitter.com/tjGDtYKnEy
Show this thread -
A nice view down the road--complete with a car to give you a sense of scalepic.twitter.com/WevQQmJFYG
Show this thread -
Apartment building on the left--can't be more than 4 stories high. Taller one visible in the distance, maybe 12 or 15 high. Gorgeous greenery here, all accomplished without wasting space on lawns.pic.twitter.com/ql7dr9EY8H
Show this thread -
The street ends at this busy intersection--we're looking right, back towards Meiji Jingumae where we came from, but we'll be turning leftpic.twitter.com/rmV7g6yuHl
Show this thread -
We climb a little bit of the way up this hill--notice the red tarmac on the roads to remind drivers of the slope, and the level sidewalks marked by fencing rather than raised on curbs--before turning again, this time to the rightpic.twitter.com/mE6HisaDHo
Show this thread -
Taller buildings, more effort on the sidewalks...we're getting close to Shibuya Station now...pic.twitter.com/2HcDsmWMs1
Show this thread -
Closer still--and yet, still a comfortable walking environment, not choked by traffic...remember, dense cities don't need to look like New York!pic.twitter.com/xxZQGNwKGB
Show this thread -
Those tall buildings at the end of the road are flanking the train tracks--also, love those roof gardens on the building that's reflecting sunlightpic.twitter.com/cF69C76tU2
Show this thread -
Emerging onto a two-lane street, glancing left before we turn rightpic.twitter.com/mBq3theP2V
Show this thread -
Only a short walk on this street before we turn left--large construction site dead-ahead, and the Yamanote Line viaduct is visible. From here, street view won't be quite as useful, as it will be from a car's perspective rather than a pedestrian's perspective
pic.twitter.com/gJ4T1r41cp
Show this thread -
...see what I mean? The middle of the road is not the best place to be on a street this wide...you can't get a good feel for what walking on the sidewalks is like either. Regardless: station dead ahead, lots of construction going onpic.twitter.com/exuA7YGd4o
Show this thread -
One more before we get into the station plaza...we've already made it to the Fukutoshin Line's Shibuya Station, which is underneath this streetpic.twitter.com/5bTtGuWbkL
Show this thread -
And here we are--Shibuya Station itself, the fourth-busiest train station in Japan (and the world). The plaza is in the middle of reconstruction, and isn't much to look at right now...the old Tokyu terminal was moved underground, and new development is going up in its place.pic.twitter.com/pvPV5RqTvt
Show this thread -
Our walk covered a distance of 3,660 feet, not even a mile. 15 minutes, at a leisurely pace. And yet in such a small distance--so much variation in landscape! From tiny, quiet streets flanked by houses, gardens, and shops, to towers, traffic, and construction.
Show this thread - 1 more reply
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.