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?
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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
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We'll be following this street for a while, so I'll space out the pictures a bit more...pic.twitter.com/98ef1k6xRc
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Lovely potted plants on the left, shame about that graffiti on the right--hopefully someone cleaned it up soon.pic.twitter.com/OSzfSLGSp8
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Paid parking lot on the right--can't see from this angle, but there are only three spaces in the lot
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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
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A nice view down the road--complete with a car to give you a sense of scalepic.twitter.com/WevQQmJFYG
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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
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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
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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
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Taller buildings, more effort on the sidewalks...we're getting close to Shibuya Station now...pic.twitter.com/2HcDsmWMs1
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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
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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
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Emerging onto a two-lane street, glancing left before we turn rightpic.twitter.com/mBq3theP2V
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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
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...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
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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
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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
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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.
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You can see the route here--take a look for yourself, and check out other side streets in the area...you'd be amazed how cozy they can be while still being a stone's throw from thriving stations and bustling avenuespic.twitter.com/bsp57L1Jwb
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