![Local Shopping Arcade at Akabane, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD] @ohayuni71](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EjyIcqyku2k/sddefault.jpg)
Uploaded September 2012 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Due to the rise of major supermarket chains and large shopping mall chains, local shopping streets have been declining for these several decades all over Japan. However, there are still many shopping streets supporting local people's usual life. Many of them are shopping arcades. Without having to worry about getting wet even on a rainy day, you can get ingredients for dinner, articles for daily use or something else there at reasonable prices.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Sep. 5th, 2012
Due to the rise of major supermarket chains and large shopping mall chains, local shopping streets have been declining for these several decades all over Japan. However, there are still many shopping streets supporting local people's usual life. Many of them are shopping arcades. Without having to worry about getting wet even on a rainy day, you can get ingredients for dinner, articles for daily use or something else there at reasonable prices.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Sep. 5th, 2012
![Local Shopping Arcade at Akabane, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EjyIcqyku2k/mqdefault.jpg "Local Shopping Arcade at Akabane, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
Due to the rise of major supermarket chains and large shopping mall chains, local shopping streets have been declining for these several decades all over Japan. However, there are still many shopping streets supporting local peoples usual life. Many of them are shopping arcades. Without having to worry about getting wet even on a rainy day, you can get ingredients for dinner, articles for daily use or something else there at reasonable prices.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Sep. 5th, 2012")
![The Bell of New Years Eve in Japan (Joya no Kane) [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FGT574gp97A/mqdefault.jpg "The Bell of New Years Eve in Japan (Joya no Kane) [iPhone 4S/HD]
It is said in Japanese Buddhism that human beings have 108 vices. To sever the ties of them, in Japan, temple bells are tolled 108 times at midnight on New Years Eve. It is called joya no kane, which literally means the bell of New Years Eve. Although bells are basically tolled by monks, some temples allow common people to toll the bell by spells. In that case, the bell rings more than 108 times to make it possible for more people to join the event.
Shakujoji Temple, located in my city Kawaguchi, also holds a joya no kane event every year. Numerous people gather there on the last night of the year, to purify their spirits of evil thought and to pray for the coming year.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S from Dec. 31st, 2012 to Jan. 1st, 2013")
![Tokyo Sunset ~The View from Tokyo Station~ [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FmDroE-9HE4/mqdefault.jpg "Tokyo Sunset ~The View from Tokyo Station~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
Standing in front of Marunouchi Central Exit, Tokyo Station, you can see a wide street leading straight to the Imperial Palace located in the west of the station. There, you can watch the sunset over the palace at the end of the street in sunny evenings.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 14th, 2012")
![Yanaka, Old Tokyo Town [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GUhlupGmeP8/mqdefault.jpg "Yanaka, Old Tokyo Town [iPhone 4S/HD]
In areas east of Tokyo, you would find several areas with many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines when you look at a Tokyo map. The areas are called shitamachi. Although the word shitamachi literally means downtown, they are not like Manhattan. It is more like a place dominated by small old residences, typical Japanese shops and narrow streets. In other words, they are old towns.
Yanaka, one of them, is located in the northwest of Ueno area. There, older buildings are being replaced with modern ones. However, you can still feel the distinctive atmosphere of old Tokyo.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 30th, 2012")
![Old Shopping Streets at the Foot of the Tokyo Skytree [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GoZ_0F-ICQ0/mqdefault.jpg "Old Shopping Streets at the Foot of the Tokyo Skytree [iPhone 4S/HD]
The Tokyo Skytree, the worlds tallest TV tower at 634 meters, is located in an old residential area dominated by small houses and shops. It was designed to avoid tall buildings that would disturb radio waves passing through.
In the area, there are several local shopping streets. They had been declining for decades due to the flourishing of major supermarket chains and large shopping mall chains. They hoped that the opening of the tower would galvanize them with newly built towers attraction. However, it was not all it was cracked up to be. The number of people who visited the shopping streets decreased rather than increased after the towers opening. People chose to visit the Tokyos new landmark and its surrounding facilities including a large shopping mall without stopping over the old streets.
It would be sad if nostalgic scenery like this would be completely replaced with uber-modern structures.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Dec. 7th, 2012")
![Japanese Bath System [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H-xo0dF-qEo/mqdefault.jpg "Japanese Bath System [iPhone 4S/HD]
This is not a cutting edge system, but useful enough.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 20th, 2012")
![Sakura, Cherry Blossoms, in Tokyo 2013 [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H5pZjEXEOo8/mqdefault.jpg "Sakura, Cherry Blossoms, in Tokyo 2013 [iPhone 4S/HD]
The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that sakura, or cherry blossoms, reached full bloom in the capital on March 22nd. It was around 10 days earlier than usual and the second earliest on record. Under the glorious blossoming trees, people stroll, sing, eat, drink, lie down and get intoxicated by their beauty, hoping to see the fugacious flowers next spring again.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Mar. 26th, 2013")
![Kids Triathlon in Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IBp3NAAa6iQ/mqdefault.jpg "Kids Triathlon in Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
A kids triathlon was held near my place on a hot summer morning, in which about 300 local fourth to sixth-graders swam 50 m, rode a bike 4 km and ran 1 km under the scorching sun. The suntanned kids got excited about the competition and fully enjoyed the last event of their summer vacation.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 26th, 2012")
