Cultural Chronicles: Exploring Hikifune Through the Lens

It was a beautiful clear sky when I hopped off the Tokyo Metro train at Keisei Hikifune station.

Hikifune, just a 21-minute direct ride from Ginza, turned out to be this cool neighbourhood in Tokyo that I’d only heard about a few days earlier when I set up a Photowalk session as a birthday treat for myself. In my earlier emails to Lee, I mentioned I’m into soaking up the local vibes, checking out the culture, and exploring markets. I was totally open to his suggestions.

Fast forward a few weeks, and there I was in Hikifune, the first residential spot catching my eye in Tokyo, with high-rise apartments all around the train station. But hey, I wasn’t there to snap pics of Tokyo’s flashy side—I’ve got plenty of those saved in my Google Photos. I wanted to dive into the local culture and explore the older, abandoned parts of Tokyo. That’s why I hit up Lee in the first place. He’s been showcasing these spots with some cool pics on his Tokyo Times blog, and what better birthday gift than spending part of my weekend this way?

The Photowalk with Lee totally lived up to my expectations—and more.

Hikifune Photowalk Adventure

He guided me through the alleys and conversed with the locals with such ease, which makes sense since he’s been living in Japan for two decades. He also showed me his favourite cultural spots, sharing stories behind them—some about demolitions, some about abandonment, and others that are still standing strong, holding onto their stories.

On the flip side, some parts of Hikifune’s culture were even livelier than what I used to see in Tokyo’s hustle and bustle. You can’t escape modernization, especially not in Tokyo, with the Tokyo Tower peeking from everywhere, even in Hikifune. And yeah, soulless brick-and-mortar buildings are slowly taking over the old structures, wiping out decades of architecture and cultural anecdotes.

Lee and I totally agree that, no matter how necessary these new buildings are, they’re pretty hideous compared to the old charm. Speaking of that, when I stumbled upon a newly built basic-looking townhouse in one of the lanes with a ¥ price tag board in front, I whipped out my calculator to convert it to AUD. What can I say? Recession turns you into a bit of a hypocrite.

Moving on, I caught a neighbourhood Matsuri and checked out a Sumo Stable that was nothing like what I had in mind. Then we strolled past an old confectionery shop still doing its thing—grabbed some candy, and chatted with the 80-year-old who took over the business from his grandmother 30 years ago. Right across from him was a fancy wine bar (that bar and the closed pottery shop are my reasons to swing by Hikifune again).

Til Next Time, Hikifune!

I also want to capture photos of these cultural spots again—something I learned from Lee during our Photowalk.

The whole experience turned out to be way more than I anticipated.

I learned a bunch, we had some great conversations, and the Photowalk made me appreciate photography, Japan, and its awesome culture even more. So, if you’re into photography, go on a photo walk when you’re in a new place, whether alone, with a group, or with a local friend who can recommend some off-the-beaten-path spots.

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