Tokyo Housing
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133)
Wed 2008/06/25 12:31
I'm sure you've seen many touristy pics of Tokyo and I've been showing you the non touristy pics of daily life Tokyo in the Week in Tokyo series but what about the run down areas?
I don't know of any single area full of run down houses/buildings but you can see them dotted throughout Tokyo.
I don't know of any single area full of run down houses/buildings but you can see them dotted throughout Tokyo.
When I say "run down" I mean in the sense of being battered, old decrepit and not ridden with crime.
Wanted to show these pics because I didn't want to give the impression that Tokyo was all spick n span. Most Japanese tend to have an image of the London as "Big Ben", "Shiny Red London Bus", "Buckingham Palace", "Notting Hill and tell me how London looks like such a beautiful place. London is a lovely place but it also has places like Hackney - full of dog poo in the roads, houses with smashed windows filled with squatters, never ending roadworks and people throwing stones, eggs and chicken into crowds - been on the receiving end of the eggs and chicken and seen the stone throwing.
And why are there always shreds of newspaper lying around the floor in train carriages?
It was like that when I left but wasn't that bad when I visited last time though.
And why are there always shreds of newspaper lying around the floor in train carriages?
It was like that when I left but wasn't that bad when I visited last time though.
The excellent Notting Hill with Hugh Grant below. Hmmm. I really feel like a trip back to the UK these days - its been a few years since I been home.
In the A Week in London article, 37% of you said that you lived in a country other than the place of your birth. How often do you go and visit the country of your birth? Do you have folks back there?
How about folks who have parents who were born in another country - do you visit there often?
My parents used to bring me back to Malaysia when I was young - only to be brought back to the UK and stuck in a foster home orz.
In the A Week in London article, 37% of you said that you lived in a country other than the place of your birth. How often do you go and visit the country of your birth? Do you have folks back there?
How about folks who have parents who were born in another country - do you visit there often?
My parents used to bring me back to Malaysia when I was young - only to be brought back to the UK and stuck in a foster home orz.
Many folks who live in decrepit houses like these usually own the land that the house stands on. You will often see leaflets from real estate agents sticking out of their postboxes - the estate agents want their land. The price of land in Tokyo is slowly on the rise and keeping hold of land for a bit longer could mean more money to buy figures when its sold.
Do you or your family own land in your region? Is the cost of land on the rise or fall?
Do you or your family own land in your region? Is the cost of land on the rise or fall?
The most expensive piece of land in Japan is at 4-5-6 Chuo Ginza where 1 square meter costs 39,000,000 yen (source)
Are there battered decrepit houses/buildings in your neck of the woods?
If you got some photos of rundown areas in your region, feel free to show us using the uploader.
If you got some photos of rundown areas in your region, feel free to show us using the uploader.
With your feedback, I grabbed the nearest electric guitar I could find, threw on the arm...(more)
Tue 06/17 18:44 comments (187)
Its that time of the week again where we take a look at life in Tokyo.
First up is Kero...(more)
Sat 06/14 10:11 comments (130)
Not very many run down areas near here. Some on the outskirts of the city, though...
(ID #221425) Posted on 2008/06/25 12:37
Oh, and typos: "I dont know of any single area" dont -> don't "I didnt want to give the impression" didnt -> didn't "How often to you go and visit" to -> do "bring be back to Malaysia" be -> me "figures when its sold." its -> it's "photos of rundown ares" ares -> areas ^_^
(ID #221431) Posted on 2008/06/25 12:42
Director/代表取締役
Thanks for the typos ^^; Today I have a good excuse. I'm lying down in bed today because my back is playing up. BTW, is "dont, didnt and its" incorrect?
(ID #221435) Posted on 2008/06/25 12:53
(it doesn't really matter to me, but...) dont should be "don't" because it is a contraction of do and not, didnt should be didn't because it is a contraction of did and not, and its should actually remain its - you only write it's to show possession of the antecedent "it" is in place for... so its Calan's bad on that one...
(ID #221446) Posted on 2008/06/25 13:16
"its" is a possessive "it's" is a contraction meaning "it is"
(ID #221627) Posted on 2008/06/25 17:30
Student, Gamer, Part-time EFSF Pilot
touché
(ID #221764) Posted on 2008/06/25 20:24
Calan and tenrou are correct on it's ^_^
(ID #222028) Posted on 2008/06/26 03:11
Thankfully you got this site and whatnot to keep your english from getting too rusty. I should probably do something similar in the future.
(ID #222214) Posted on 2008/06/26 09:53
Can you stop pointing out Danny's typos ? its not like we don't get the point. Obviously he was typing fast and possibly hit the wrong keys. It would take him longer and harder to post just to make sure its perfect. This is just a blog, not a book thats going to be published.
(ID #221481) Posted on 2008/06/25 13:59
Director/代表取締役
I actually dont mind the typo checks as it does help me keep on my toes. I really should start to read more English language books before I forget my Engrish all together ^^;
(ID #221490) Posted on 2008/06/25 14:11
Student, Gamer, Part-time EFSF Pilot
That seems to tend to happen... Yesterday there was this piece on the news about eastern europeans living here in Portugal and there was this one kid from Ucraine (I think) that spoke very nice portuguese and was talking about how he doesn't remember how to write in ucranian any more. So, you're not alone on that one Danny-san! ^_^
(ID #221765) Posted on 2008/06/25 20:28
While we on the topic of typos, I think its Ukraine, with a k.
(ID #222060) Posted on 2008/06/26 04:13
website designer (currently assist. graphic designer)
I think it adds to your charms Danny, lol~ Don't stress too much about it, it's the content we're interested in, fixing typos is a bonus for you (and us as we get to nit-pick, hehe~ ;p~)
(ID #221856) Posted on 2008/06/25 22:58
Stigmata Martyr
it seems we have a Grammer Nazee in our midst...
(ID #221491) Posted on 2008/06/25 14:12
Interactive design, web 2.0 entrepreneur
Well I certainly think its not the right place to correct those mistakes. Isn't there a private messaging function or something? Personally I think blogs can have typos and spelling mistakes. I prefer more posts with a dynamic language and fast typing over fewer posts with perfect grammar.
(ID #221543) Posted on 2008/06/25 15:36
I was trying to avoid putting them in the comments before (I suggested a "report typo" feature), but Danny told me to just use the comments, and so I did.
(ID #221990) Posted on 2008/06/26 02:13
Director/代表取締役
As I mentioned - I dont mind and do appreciate folks pointing out typos. Instant messaging feature soon (ish) ^^;
(ID #222183) Posted on 2008/06/26 09:03
Student, Gamer, Part-time EFSF Pilot
Actually it's Nazi (xD)
(ID #221766) Posted on 2008/06/25 20:29
Lmao xD But, if you were a real Nazi about it, you would have picked up that he spelled "grammar," "grammer." O.O While on the subject, I need to start using my "too" and "to"s right.
(ID #221848) Posted on 2008/06/25 22:49
Stigmata Martyr
i was trying to be ironic, fail.
(ID #222057) Posted on 2008/06/26 04:06
I'm not saying "omg danny u r t3h sux0rz @ da english u suk stop writing posts if u cant rite in english lolololol n00b" - if I were him, I would be making mistakes too. As such, I don't ever expect (or necessarily want) his posts to be perfect. You'll also notice I don't try to "correct" the obvious grammar mistakes that contribute to the uniqueness (and thus enjoyment) of his posts. I'm just trying to point out typos that any of us would make, and I don't think pointing them out/getting them fixed detracts from anyone's enjoyment. That said, if Danny wants me to stop posting typos, I'd have no problem doing so, but he has expressed that he's fine with it...
(ID #221994) Posted on 2008/06/26 02:14
Ah, sounds good. sorry if I sounded rude, its cool that Danny don't mind it. =D
(ID #222421) Posted on 2008/06/26 15:06
The town that I live in is fairly new and most of it's development has taken place within the last 5 or so years so everything is new. I do see more run down areas in the next towns over though.
(ID #221426) Posted on 2008/06/25 12:39
Yep, they're mostly kept out of the spotlight much like how you say people have this image of London that runs through their minds.
(ID #221428) Posted on 2008/06/25 12:40
Whenever I see "run down" areas, I don't really see an area filled with crime, low-lifes, etc. I just see a place with a long past and many memories, even if I wasn't there for them. I usually can recreate an idea of what the place looked like "new". Great article Danny. Yes, we own land here in the US, a lot of it too, though not THAT expensive.
(ID #221429) Posted on 2008/06/25 12:40
nanu (Registered on 2007/12/28 21:40)
This town is an old town. It is rather just historical like you phrase it, and less "run down" now that I think about it. While there is typical litter around, there are isolated cases of unmaintained property. I know of a hippie who always keeps items out in the carport as if they are sale, and he has a plastic storage box with lid, for a mailbox. But ancient or ugly old cars dead in yards, is rather common.
(ID #221444) Posted on 2008/06/25 13:13
Student
yup theres alot of that around here
(ID #221433) Posted on 2008/06/25 12:52
In Mexico we have a lot of places like those but the sad thing is that crime is a common problem so if you are in a place with broken windows, dirt on the streets and old houses, you better watch out and hide your wallet. It's sad but it's the truth.
(ID #221436) Posted on 2008/06/25 12:53
Raven, AMV & MAD maker, Otaku
only some here in the place where i am currently living
(ID #221441) Posted on 2008/06/25 13:07
Cannot recall much delapidated places in Singapore. Maybe the occassional run-down houses as no one lives in them anymore. Wow, 39 million Yen per sq metre?! Wtf. That's bout SGD 530,000 bucks! Gosh.
(ID #221453) Posted on 2008/06/25 13:25
Hmm, since I left Spain I've only been back 3 times. All my friends and family live in London so don't have that many people to visit in other countries. If I remember correctly, London was voted the dirtiest city in Europe ^^;;; The problem is that certain bouroughs in London don't know how to handle their budget(and their residents don't give a crap either). On the bright side, London was voted to have the nightlife and parks, second best place to shop after Paris~ Wai~
(ID #221463) Posted on 2008/06/25 13:33
In my particular area there isn't alot of run down houses. However, I can move 20 minutes south and I'll find nothing but the ghetto. Here owning land usually means you own a house though the two don't always go hand in hand. I currently own my own home. Since the economy here is kinda starting to suck new home pricing is starting to drop due to lack of sales. Four years ago houses would go for $600,000 US Dollars easily within a week of being built. Now comparable houses struggle to sell at $300,000 and many homes are being foreclosed on.
(ID #221472) Posted on 2008/06/25 13:45
Aurora (Registered on 2006/12/26 08:49)
Wow, those pictures are eye-openners to me. I guess even the most populus city have a run-down area.
(ID #221475) Posted on 2008/06/25 13:50
Director/Technical Director, Cameraman
In Canada, most of the run down places would be within the big cities, or if the areas been around for a while. I'd say a lot of Canada is suburbs, which were made recently, past 30 years or so, so if you're in the suburbs, it'll be nice, downtown, then you can find old run down places.
(ID #221478) Posted on 2008/06/25 13:52
I usually see really old battered houses in the country side. Wow, old houses. Some of these are just creepy. Makes me think of the Grudge. Still, wow, land must be worth a least a house these days in Japan...
(ID #221479) Posted on 2008/06/25 13:55
Designer, Trader
Those pics you took are still good (I mean liveable) compare to some run down area in my city. Lots of village people try their luck in Jakarta and usually they live in a very poor area. Those people don't live in real houses, usually they built their "houses" from very thin plywood for walls and zinc roof. I really want to share some pics when I get my feet to those neighbourhood.
(ID #221484) Posted on 2008/06/25 14:03
I live out in farm country so there is more run down buildings around here than nice ones. Most of the people who live in them are nice and some of my best friends live in them. Their houses make those ones look great. I've been fortunate though to not have to live in a run down home.
(ID #221500) Posted on 2008/06/25 14:19
"Smelly" Recruit
i just took a stroll around my office area, and it look something like the pictures above...should take photos next time.
(ID #221502) Posted on 2008/06/25 14:26
website designer (currently assist. graphic designer)
Not in my area that I'm aware of... Houses are generally fine, but depending on where you go, you can find a lot of rubbish outside apartments and houses (generally apartments), mostly in areas where there are a lot of none-english speaking families living. The area I don't like is around Newtown near Sydney... smells bad and people carry their pets around and into shops. I only visited once to watch Howl's Moving Castle at Dendy cinema with subtitles (every other Dendy had the english dub version). I don't go out to explore much so I wouldn't know of any other suburb matching your description more closely. Also, Australia's fairly young, that might factor.
(ID #221504) Posted on 2008/06/25 14:27
Student, Spiral Warrior
Those pictures remind me of most of the residential areas I've seen in Taibei – just take all the grass and replace it with asphalt, and turn all the wooden buildings into concrete.
(ID #221505) Posted on 2008/06/25 14:29
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
My first home is one of those really run down kind wooden walls, zinc roof, cement floors, but at the time no digital camera. When I was about 6-7 years old, we were forced move out by the government, so all that remains is my memories of the place ^^; it was eventually pulled down :( we used to have animals like dog/cat/chicken, and would have crazy adventures like discovering a snake under my dad's car while squatting by the drain to brush our teeth lol. May try to dig out some kid pix I have somewhere floating around :P And hmmm Haven't gone back to Singapore in about say, a couple years, cos tickets are expensive =_=; this year we got a morgage started also, so to go back to asia, gotta save up for it ^^;
(ID #221508) Posted on 2008/06/25 14:33
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
Dug up 3 old pix but hmmmmm I dunno, those pix are at least 30 years old lol I dunno how much of those kinda housing is left, since Singapore is full of concrete jungle these days ^^;
(ID #221516) Posted on 2008/06/25 14:49
Brazil = favelas. Well, that's not entirely true... but almost all big cities has them. Most of them don't have right in the middle of the city, like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo though. About Tokyo... even the old buildings has some charm on them. I saw some of them... I remember while I was in Akiba I saw this old run down building in the middle of 2 big moderns ones. Kinda funny... looked like it was being bullied. Anyways, this Ryokan we stayed in Osaka was in a kinda run down 2 story building too. It had a very small ofuro... but it was kinda fun. Narrow steep stairs, my uncle didn't like much... :P
(ID #221511) Posted on 2008/06/25 14:40
Danny, the Post Comment on top of the page isn't working for me. Firefox 2. Dunno if it's affecting others. Lucky me I'm used to CTRL+C every message I post... :P
(ID #221512) Posted on 2008/06/25 14:42
Director/代表取締役
What happens when you click?
(ID #221787) Posted on 2008/06/25 21:08
It closes and "swallows" the reply. XD Doesn't reload the page... and doesn't post the message either...
(ID #222145) Posted on 2008/06/26 07:19
Online Shop
Los Angeles is same, one part is a glamorous city and next part is some run-down slum area. I have cousins living back in Korea and I went to visit them last year. It was good to see all of my relatives again but honestly, trip to Korea wasn't as fun as trip to Japan(I know because I went to Japan 3 days after I came back from Korea) ^^;
(ID #221521) Posted on 2008/06/25 14:54
well, housing/land prices are increasingly on the rise, and governments have started giving out subsidies, i dunno around other places, but some house got sold around where i live for 2.5mil aud, with a rundown house and an average size of land
(ID #221527) Posted on 2008/06/25 15:09
I live in a run-down area -.-
(ID #221545) Posted on 2008/06/25 15:38
As long as the capitalistic system exist, those kind of places is unavoidable.
(ID #221547) Posted on 2008/06/25 15:42