Koenji and beyond

River 2 - Bike 1

River - Ogikubo.
Bike - Koenji.

Cables again...

Imagine these outside of your window.

Vending Machine Group

In Tokyo, one of the things you can't help but notice is the amount of vending machines placed in the streets.
They're everywhere, from main roads, next to office buildings, outside peoples front doors, in small back alleyways, up mountain trails...everywhere.

You can buy soft drinks, cigarettes, beer, toys, snacks and sweets, porn mags and DVDs, and the rumoured schoolgirl panties, which I've never actually came across, for want of better words.
The fag and beer machines have recently been fitted with an ID card system which you touch onto the machines sensor before making your purchase.

Even more surprising is the the fact that none of these, at least I've never seen or heard of it, have been broken into.
Vandalised, yes. Broken into, no.

Back street

Cable theme

Cables of Koenji, Tokyo.
What keeps the place going.

Azuma Dori

This street in Koenji is called Azuma Dori.

The boxes on the right are from a record shop called "European Papa".
You can see more in my Koenji blog:
http://koenji-live.blogspot.com

Windows

And wires.
Cowboy job for sure.

Surviving the test of time

This old building is in Koenji.
Boarded up with corrugated iron, it fights to survive the harshest of winters.

It does have satellite TV, though.

The pics are of how it is in winter(top and middle) and spring.

VDub x Cola collaboration

A classic VW in your parking space and a Coca Cola vending machine on your front doorstep.
Life doesn't get much better than that...I'm easily pleased.

Apartments

I'm curious to see the inside of this place.
It's in Koenji, so that explains quite a lot about the design.
It's, erm...very grey.

"Who lives in a place like this?" that Lloyd Grossman might ask.
Who indeed?

I like it. Could do with a door, though.

Track Side

A stroll from Koenji to Nakano.
Only about 15-minutes from station to station on foot.
Tozai Line train to the left.
Sobu and Chou Line also runs past here.
This walk by the train tracks has some good rundown places and lots of tagging and graffiti.