David Hilgier Photographs

A brief break to survey the daily crescendo of mid-morning activity at the Tsukiji Outer Market.

One of numerous late morning pick-ups and drop-offs amidst the maze of vendors, visitors, and workers navigating the Tsukiji Outer Market.

The need for streetlights almost negated by the light emanating from Ginza’s blade signs and high-end storefronts. We pause at a few crosswalks to observe the passing traffic and people.

Pedestrians on their way home from work pass by a few groups of friends enjoying a meal outside in the midst of a pleasant late summer evening. A scene we found common throughout our time in Asia where food is consumed in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the streets. More often than not portable tables and low profile stools or plastic chairs on the side of the road serve as the establishment’s dinning room.

The visual vernacular of nighttime in Tokyo exemplified by the layering of vending machines, blade signs, narrow alleyways, lanterns, and trains passing overhead.

The side streets and alleyways of Tokyo are so compact in places that those passing through and those doing their jobs seemingly share the same space. As we wander around the streets of Shimbashi, I linger for a moment and watch this cook/chef go about his evening routine.

A couple leisurely strolls by the numerous izakaya bordering this narrow street sandwiched between buildings of varying height and the labyrinth of JR lines.

Lost somewhere within the ethereal landscape of teamLab Borderless, one of my favorite experiences from our visits to Tokyo.

A moment of pause amidst the hustle and bustle found within the passageways of Tokyo Station. A woman takes a stance found throughout the world. Nearly oblivious to the surrounding chaos as her mobile device consumes her attention.

The scale of the Tokyo Imperial Palace demonstrated as a security guard bikes past the remains of the Edo Castle.