Tokyo - Daikan-Yama, Naka-Meguro and Jiyūgaoka

[Minato Ku]

I went to Tokyo, this February.

To begin. My little trip in some territories served by Tokyu railways, some of the trendy areas of Western Tokyo in west of Shibuya.
My primary focus was on trains.

1. Daikan-Yama station on Tokyu Toyoko line

Daikan-Yama station, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Daikan-Yama station, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Daikan-Yama station, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Daikan-Yama, Shibuya ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Daikan-Yama, Shibuya ku,Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Daikan-Yama, Shibuya ku,Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Daikan-Yama, Shibuya ku,Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Daikan-Yama, Shibuya ku,Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Kyuyamate-dori, Daikan-Yama, Shibuya ku,Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Kyuyamate-dori, Daikan-Yama, Shibuya ku,Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Kyuyamate-dori, Daikan-Yama, Shibuya ku,Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Kyuyamate-dori, Daikan-Yama, Shibuya ku,Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Kyuyamate-dori, Daikan-Yama, Shibuya ku,Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Kyuyamate-dori, Daikan-Yama, Shibuya-ku Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Daikan-Yama, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Komazawa dori, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
17.

Komazawa dori, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
18.

Komazawa dori, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
19. Models photographed in front of trains

Saigoyama dori, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
20.

Komazawa dori, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Komazawa dori, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
22.

Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
25. Meguro river

Hinodebashi, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
26.

Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Yamate-dori, Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Yamate-dori, Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Yamate-dori, Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Yamate-dori, Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Yamate-dori, Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Yamate-dori, Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Yamate-dori, Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Yamate-dori, Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Yamate-dori, Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
36. Naka-meguro station, transfer betwwen the Tokyu Tpyoko line and Tokyo metro Hibiya line

Naka-meguro station, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
37. Hibiya line use the inner tracks while the Toyoko line use the outer ones.

Naka-meguro station, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
39. Toyoko line bound to Motomachi-Chukagai in Yokohama

Naka-meguro station, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
40.

Naka-meguro station, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
41. Inside an express service of the Toyoko line bound to Motomachi-Chukagai in Yokohama. Next stop Jiyūgaoka.

Tokyu Toyoko line by Minato ku, sur Flickr

To be continued

[mrnyc]

never enough tokyo around here — gracias!

[Minato Ku]

42. Jiyūgaoka station

Jiyūgaoka station, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
42. Jiyūgaoka station is interchnage between two line of the Tokyu train network. The line Toyoko and Oimachi line

Jiyūgaoka station, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka station, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
44.

Jiyūgaoka station, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
45.

Jiyūgaoka station, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
46. As any district near a station, the area has become a healthy commercial district. Jiyūgaoka is popular among upper middle class famillies.

Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
47.

Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
48.

Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
49.

Megami St, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
50.

Jiyūgaoka Toyokowa Inari Shrine, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
51.

Maple St, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Cattleya St, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Maple St, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Maple St, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Deai no michi, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Hilo St, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Hilo St, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Gakuen-dori, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Gakuen-dori, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Kuhonbutsu-gawa, Setagaya-ku, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Gakuen-dori, Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Kuhonbutsu-gawa Midori michi, Setagaya-ku, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Kuhonbutsu-gawa Midori michi, Setagaya-ku, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Kuhonbutsu-gawa Midori michi, Setagaya-ku, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Rue Marie Claire, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Rue Marie Claire, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Rue Marie Claire, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
83. See how integrated the station is inside the district. The platforms of the Oimachi line are visible.

Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
84. A train is passing there every four minutes per direction.

Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
94. Tokyu Ōimachi Line platform

Jiyūgaoka station, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
95. Ōokayama station, it's provide cross platform interchange between the Tokyu Ōimachi Line and Tokyu Meguro line

Ōokayama station, Ōta-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Ōokayama station, Ōta-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
97. Back in the Tokyu Ōimachi Line toward the south

Tokyu Ōimachi Line by Minato ku, sur Flickr
98. At Hatanodai station, I've decided to change train

Hatanodai station, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
99. Going toward the Tokyu Ikegami line to the East toward to Central Tokyo (Yamanote line)

Hatanodai station, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
100. Tokyu Ikegami line

Hatanodai station, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
101. Gotenda is the eastern end of the Tokyu Ikegami line where the line has interchnage with inner loop line of Tokyo (JR East Yamanote line) and the TOEI Asakusa subway line.

Gotanda Station, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
102. The Yamanote line seen from the Ikegami line platform.

Gotanda Station, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Gotanda Station, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Gotanda Station, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Nishigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
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Sony St, Highashigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
107.

Gotanda Station, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr

The end

[mrnyc]

very nice. the use of space always astounds. the narrow streets especially make the cheap, junky architecture and eyesore signage still look and feel downright pleasant.

[Minato Ku]

I like to say that Tokyo and Japan is the kind of place where some of the urban developments and features work while they would fail elsewhere.

Freeway in middle of attractive the lively disitrict.
Many disruptive infrastructure in the middle of the city without creating the urban barriers that would exist elsewhere.
Signs everywhere.
Telephone and electric pole in most street
Cities full of railway crossing.
...
Yet as you say it's kind of pleasant.

[sopas ej]

Fantastic photos!

I LOVE Tokyo. I've only been there once, but I found it very fascinating and very vibrant.

And I'm always bothered when people say it's an ugly city; I don't find it ugly at all. Again, it's very vibrant, very clean, yet not sterile. I think the people who think it's ugly have this "western" notion of what a big city should look like with "traditional" architectural aesthetics---which usually means "western" traditional buildings.

Again, really great photos!

[mrnyc]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

Fantastic photos!

I LOVE Tokyo. I've only been there once, but I found it very fascinating and very vibrant.

And I'm always bothered when people say it's an ugly city; I don't find it ugly at all. Again, it's very vibrant, very clean, yet not sterile. I think the people who think it's ugly have this "western" notion of what a big city should look like with "traditional" architectural aesthetics---which usually means "western" traditional buildings.

Again, really great photos!

yes, some do say that, but i didn't say its ugly. i said its mostly cheap and junky architecture, lights and signage, as well as my personal favorite, frightening random hanging wiring in your face. often it is far from some ideal looks-wise. that said, its also quite pleasant and nice for other reasons mentioned, incredible use of space, paths thru and around obstacles, clean, orderly, not sterile, superb use of otherwise liminal spaces, easy to get around and all that. and of course they have stunningly beautiful modern and traditional architecture as well in the mix. all in all tokyo is easily my favorite big city.

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by mrnyc

yes, some do say that, but i didn't say its ugly.

I didn't say that you said it's ugly. I was talking about in general, when people say Tokyo is ugly, because I don't think it is. I've talked to people who have said that, or have said "it's not a particularly attractive city." People on Skyscraperpage have also said Tokyo is ugly.

Originally Posted by mrnyc

i said its mostly cheap and junky architecture, lights and signage, as well as my personal favorite, frightening random hanging wiring in your face. often it is far from some ideal looks-wise.

I think that's part of Tokyo's character. And for me, none of those characteristics is intimidating or stressful, or makes me think it's a horrible place to visit. I consider all of it as... part of Tokyo.

Originally Posted by mrnyc

that said, its also quite pleasant and nice for other reasons mentioned, incredible use of space, paths thru and around obstacles, clean, orderly, not sterile, superb use of otherwise liminal spaces, easy to get around and all that. and of course they have stunningly beautiful modern and traditional architecture as well in the mix. all in all tokyo is easily my favorite big city.

I totally agree!

[Minato Ku]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

Fantastic photos!Again, it's very vibrant, very clean, yet not sterile. :

Very true.
"Very clean but not sterile" is often how I describe Tokyo to friends.

________________________________

Just to give some detail. While this trip around Tokyu network is the first thread of the many photo threads of Tokyo that I have planned to post (I have so many pictures. Too many. ). It was actually in the last day of my stay in Tokyo.
I wasn't in Tokyo for leasure, so I couldn't visit the city except during teh night and except for a few free days.

I choose to begin by this trip in Jiyūgaoka because it's not the areas usually posted.

Some bonus picture that I haven't posted.

I've "discovered" Naka-Meguro station while coming back from Yokohama.
Instead of using the usually JR lines (Tokaido, Yokusuka or Shonan Shinjuku) to Central Tokyo, I had choose to take a train from the Minatomirai line in Motomachi-Chugakai (Chinatown) in Yokohama. A train that follow its journey on the Tokyu Toyoko line toward Shibuya where it become a Tokyo Metro Futoshin line train.
While arring at Naka-Meguro, I changed my plan and decided to change train for the Tokyo Metro Hibiya line (and then go to Roppongi). Most of my trips revolve around a bit a planning (where I want to go at first place) and a lot of changing my plan (this seems interesting to go there).
This explains those night pictures.

Yamate-dori, Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr


Naka-meguro station, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
I didn't venture much in Daikan-Yama. I went there to see a big book store that I've found quite disappointing compared to other ones. It wasn't the kind of book I've wanted.
Daikan-Yama seems quite "suburban" despite being next to Shibuya. Very residencial, a medium density of shops sporacly spread unlike Naka-Megure where you have real corridors of shopping streets.
Architecturally there some interesting buildings.

Kyuyamate-dori, Daikan-Yama, Shibuya-ku Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
A reproduction of a mini bus from a Western African country, maybe Senegal.

Kyuyamate-dori, Daikan-Yama, Shibuya-ku Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr


Saigoyama dori, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr


Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr


Gakuen-dori, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
One of the reason why many suburban lines have a lot railway crossings is that they used to be former interurban trams that where convertered in heavy rail line as traffic grew.
It's the case of Tokyu network. Just one line remained a tram line. The Tokyu Segatawa line.

Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
One of the reason why Jiyūgaoka is popular is the small shopping pedestrian streets that remind of an European city.
It's a bit exaggerated in my opinion. Jiyūgaoka wouldn't pass as European. Small shopping street are very common in Japan.
(I kinda agree about Motomachi in Yokohama (in one of my planned next threads) where you really feel you are in a shopping streets of a small german or northwestern european city.
Not a sterotypical way with old sterotypical architecture but in a modern way).

Thus some streets in Jiyūgaoka have european names, here a French name. Marie-Claire.
(Note that Marie-Claire has become a pretty outdated name in France, very women few under 45 are called Marie-Claire).

Rue Marie Claire, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
I'm almost home.

Gakuen-dori, Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
Monceau Fleur is a real French florist chain.
This promenade is the path of a former river.

Kuhonbutsu-gawa Midori michi, Setagaya-ku, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr

Railway crossing in the middle of moderatly busy shopping street where trains pass every few minutes. It wouldn't work in Paris.

Jiyūgaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr


Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
The Tokyu Ikegami line is a rather minor line. It only has three cars trains and don't has platform doors but there are here are detectors.

Hatanodai station, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr


Hatanodai station, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo by Minato ku, sur Flickr
It's a minor but busy line, it's seem so here but its a counter peak train but trains on of the opposite direction were packed.

Tokyu Ikegami line by Minato ku, sur Flickr
It would be a bit misleading to call the Ikegami line a suburban line because it stays within Tokyo city limits serving Shinagawa ku and Ota ku.

Tokyu Ikegami line by Minato ku, sur Flickr

[mhays]

Awesome!

[geomorph]

I agree that the amount of narrow yet utilized lanes and alleys is interesting!

[mthq]

Glad you captured Meguro. I recently visited Naka Meguro for the first time despite vistiing Tokyo many times, and indeed, as many say, the area is really attractive and has many interesting businesses. I guess because it falls in the shadows of other nearby areas like Shibuya, the place gets overlooked.