Stroll through hidden alleyways filled with lights and lanterns in this beautiful homage to the night in Tokyo.
With its maze of narrow alleyways, shops, and tiny shrines nestled between high-rise buildings, a stroll around Tokyo during the day is always an exciting adventure. But when the sun sets and the streets begin to glitter with lanterns, neon signs and well-lit shopfronts, that’s when the city really starts to shine. Now a talented, self-taught photographer, Masashi Wakui, has captured the beauty of the city after dark in a series of atmospheric photos.
今日のボツ写真。
— Masashi Wakui (@masa_photo_jp) January 19, 2016
お店に近い位置で撮ってしまったので暗さが出せなかった。離れて路地の暗い感じが必要だと思いました。離れると人物小さくなるしジレンマを感じます。 pic.twitter.com/3Ahb6522UC
Lanterns of all shapes and sizes create beautiful focal points in a number of Wakui’s pictures.
高田馬場。呑み屋は路地の片側だけでヒキの写真が撮れなかった。 pic.twitter.com/QW0Y3cyMqz
— Masashi Wakui (@masa_photo_jp) January 21, 2016
奥の提灯の続く路地が気になって撮ったけど手前の道の感じが上手く撮れなかった。 pic.twitter.com/mQwtVl4HjQ
— Masashi Wakui (@masa_photo_jp) January 21, 2016
Shopfronts and eateries emit a warm glow, bathing patrons and passers-by in pools of light on otherwise dark streets.
この場所を撮りたくて撮りに行ったのに手ブレしててUP見送り…
— Masashi Wakui (@masa_photo_jp) May 10, 2015
また行こう… pic.twitter.com/Zgu3RQfaaS
UP寸前まで考えたのですがピンクの人がどうやっても横の店の色と被ってしまい浮かび上がらす事が出来なかったのでボツ。 pic.twitter.com/fMX1EvcWqD
— Masashi Wakui (@masa_photo_jp) January 18, 2016
When taking this photo, Wakui was reminded of Nighthawks, a famous 1942 oil painting that depicts people in a diner late at night.
Nighthawks的な感じで撮ったんですけどコインランドリーに人いなくて結局ボツ。 pic.twitter.com/gYVlPNKI2T
— Masashi Wakui (@masa_photo_jp) January 18, 2016
Train crossings are a familiar sight in the city, filling the quiet backstreets with lights and sound.
撮り歩いたけど、こんなのしか撮れなかった。漂う、写真人臭! pic.twitter.com/POm1N50kSi
— Masashi Wakui (@masa_photo_jp) February 25, 2015
Ameyoko, located between Okachimachi and Ueno Stations on the Yamanote Line, is a bustling market street during the day. After the sun goes down, the shutters close, people go home and the busy area goes to sleep for the night.
中央に人が居すぎなのでUP見送った写真 pic.twitter.com/uUBZKka5mQ
— Masashi Wakui (@masa_photo_jp) January 21, 2016
These streetscapes capture a beautiful, serene stillness not often found in photos of the bustling metropolis.
何気にautoタグの精度が改善されてるみたい。着色夜景が全然反応しなかったのだけどタグがちゃんと付いてる! https://t.co/hPVaG6rELz
— Masashi Wakui (@masa_photo_jp) October 21, 2015
テカテカでイケると思ったけど恐ろしくスベリそうな出だしだった為お蔵入り… pic.twitter.com/6VgjbYHkV0
— Masashi Wakui (@masa_photo_jp) January 18, 2016
ボツ写真2。
— Masashi Wakui (@masa_photo_jp) January 19, 2016
なんか地味。 pic.twitter.com/WrRWQQMu9x
To continue the journey into Wakui’s beautiful Japan collection, be sure to follow him on Twitter or stop by his Flickr and Tumblr accounts.
Source: Flickr/Masashi Wakui (h/t Bored Panda)
Top Image: Flickr/Masashi Wakui
Insert Images: Twitter/@masa_photo_jp
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