Photos

• The Rōmon of Tsurugaoka Hachimangū

  The imposing Rōmon, a two-storey gate at the top of the stone staircase, marks the entrance to Tsurugaoka Hachimangū’s elevated Hongū, or Main Shrine area.

• The table inspector

  A vigilant chicken conducts an unscheduled quality check of the dining area.

• Breakfast at Café Lyon: Two eggs, two sausages

  A straightforward plate of eggs, sausages, rice, tomato, and cucumber.

• The table squatters: Customer seats turned public lounge

  I despise this repulsive Filipino trait. In mall corridors, customer tables often become free waiting areas, leaving actual buyers to compete for space.

• The yellow luggage caught my eye

  Above the noise, stories stack floor by floor: sushi dreams, coffee rituals, and meetings that blur into memory.

• Barrels beside the old temple

  These ceremonial sake barrels, marked 奉献, are dedicated offerings from brewers and patrons, displayed in the old shrine-and-temple heart of Asakusa.

• Red Brick Warehouse straight ahead

  A festival day at the Red Brick Warehouse, seen from the crossing from Shinko Chuo Square.

• Dial tone at The Linden Suites

  The old hotel ritual—read the card, press a number, wait for a voice.

• The workday lingers in the windows

  JPMorganChase rising into the early evening sky.

• Just a plate of Pancit Malabon

  Pancit Malabon in all its orange, egg-topped glory.