Ikebukuro is only 1 minute away from Mejiro, but it could not be any more different. Wikipedia says an average of 2.7 million passengers pass through this station each day, a number second only to Shinjuku.
In trying to keep each set under 30 photos, I chose to stick to the East exit. This leads out onto a main strip of major department stores, electronics, pachinko parlours and just about everything else Tokyo has to offer in the way of entertainment.
Welcome to Ikebukuro!
A 5:30am start on a Saturday morning to catch the sun rising, and a quiet, empty Ikebukuro.
The first trains are arriving with the few early risers.
Ready for Christmas
The Seibu Department store which shares the East exit with competitor, Parco.
The clean up begins.
For the day ahead.
Approaching winter
Delivery service.
Later that day…
The crowds emerge.
Blue lines
Anna and Hiro, of 9degrow, perform outside Parco department store. Here’s some video of them performing. Besides their regular street performances, they’ll be playing a live gig on the 18th of February at Morph, Roppongi.
Refuge.
Prime positioning at the East exit.
The stumble home.
In an area with so much happening, so many people, and so many sights, I thought this set would be easy. With page after page of scribbled down ideas, I found it quite difficult to stick to any one of them, there was always something there to distract me.
In the end, I found comfort in just shooting whatever I could see. The things that catch your eye usually do so because they are unique, and therefore remind you of that place and time.
So hopefully you’ve enjoyed this set, and if you’ve been to Ikebukuro before, you’ve seen something that’s reminded you of being there.
Next stop: Otsuka.