#daily life in the shitamachi

[todayintokyo]

When I say houses in the shitamachi are narrow, I really mean narrow, as in the width of one car. It’s quite long (deep?), though.

[chiisai-fukurou]

Shitamachi Museum :)

I have been wanting to come back to this charming and pleasant museum for quite a while now :D

As the name suggests (Shitamachi meaning low place) this museum is mostly about the daily life of ordinary people like craftsmen and simple merchants running small shops :) It is very charming to walk through the narrow paths between the small houses that are on display :)

The museum doesn't romanticise but rather shows pretty accurately what life was like back then and it has a very nice section with child’s toys that you are invited to play with :)

There are a lot of small details that might escape the viewer at first glance but that are very accurate and pleasant to see :) Over all while the museum seems to receive very little funding, it does feel warm and welcoming due to the lovingly maintained displays and the gentle and kind staff :)

It is a little gem of a museum right next to Ueno station that easily gets overlooked. It is like a lot of things in Japan that do get overlooked while they each offer a myriad of ways they could entertain the viewer or user depending on their perspective and experience :)

One pleasant thing is the classic Japanese post box greeting you at the entrance :) The first display I decided to put in this article is a Geta shop (Japanese wooden clogs :) They are a nice example of early Japanese industry as the wooden soles were cut by a sawyer specialising in this task, the ribbons holding your feet were woven by another craftsman and the sale and final adjustment were accomplished by the shopkeeper :) In case you are wondering what the wooden board and sticks are for, those were used to hit and soften the ribbons prior to adjusting them to the customers feet :) I admire how early on during history this teamwork was being established leading to all crafts along the line blossoming and developing in a nice way :)

I will write a few more articles about the displays in this museum soon :)

Today I gave the keys to my old flat back to my old landlord :) I hope I can get my security deposit back soon :3 I feel like a burden fell off my shoulders and I’m looking forward towards the weekend :3 Tomorrow I’ll take part in riding the Critical Mass bicycle thingy in Hamburg :) While I’m apathetic towards the political side of it I do enjoy riding on streets that would otherwise be too dangerous and busy to ride on :D I like to let myself fall back to the end and then race towards the front and then fall back again (^-^;) it is quite selfish but well, I do apologise for the inconvenience m(_ _)m

Recently I received a few messages asking me rather bluntly whether I would fancy having sexual intercourse with them (°_°;)  I’m a guy and I’m not into other guys.... I like women and I remember having mentioned that in the past (°-°;)

Anyway I’m enjoying my new home and slowly furnishing it ((((((((((っ･ω･)っ

I wish everyone a great time with sweet daydreams (^-^)/

[babbelcause]

I went to the tiny Shitamachi Museum in Tokyo's Ueno Park today. It's a charming little museum on the daily life of ordinary people in Tokyo until the mid-XXth century. A handful of visitors, some of the staff don't speak English. At the end of my visit, I bought a few postcards, and as I was about to leave, one of the staff behind the counter asked me where I was from. When I replied, he said "I have a small gift for you" He opened a shoebox that contained a number octogonal origami boxes. "You can take one."

[todayintokyo]

See the rattan blinds in front of the windows? It's called sudare (簾 or すだれ), and it protects a house against sunlight. You can buy it at supermarkets.

[todayintokyo]

Torigoe Jinja and nearby shops reminding us to maintain a distance when praying and to “let’s wear a mask”.

[todayintokyo]

Spotted in the shitamachi: fresh water left outside a shop, and one of the stray cats it’s meant for. Neko-chan was sprawling in the shade in a gap between two buildings. It was very, very hot.

[todayintokyo]

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Ah, the joyous sounds of spring! That’s a 7-story concrete building that’s being demolished by jackhammers. They’ve been at it for two weeks. They haven’t even done one full floor yet.

[todayintokyo]

willbemother said: Many plant pots are always on the pavement. Sitamachi people like putting plant pots on the pavement?

@iwillbemother, yes! I took all these photos (this afternoon) (just for you) (grin) in the short walk from my apartment to the nearest station. I think shitamachi people love pot plants because we don’t have enough space for gardens, so we turn sidewalks and balconies and roofs into green spaces. :) PS: Yes, that’s a last stubborn patch of ice in that top photo. The narrow alleys in the shitamachi don’t get much sunlight. PPS: Don’t you love the little ornaments?

[todayintokyo]

I wouldn’t mind living here, in a green house with white trim behind a cherry tree.

[todayintokyo]

Pot plants in front of houses in the shitamachi. It’s spring!

[todayintokyo]

Almost every house in my neighourhood has flowers at its front door; now -- in early spring -- particularly colourful. It’s fun to observe the different displays and the ever-changing offerings. PS: Many of the dwellings in this old shitamachi area are a combination of shop / business plus home. There is no space between the building and the street: the only separation between private and public is a sliding (often glass) door. Plus a few pot plants. :)

[todayintokyo]

It’s a cool but sunny spring day. Let’s laundry and air the futon! :) PS: Those plastic bottles on the sidewalk are called 猫よけ nekoyoke (cat repellent), because they’re supposed to keep cats out of your plants. I don’t necessarily believe this life hack, but the rest of Tokyo clearly does.

[todayintokyo]

This is what the backstreets in my neighbourhood look like. We’re not exactly talking boulevards.

[todayintokyo]

You often see this little elephant mascot in front of drugstores in Japan. The (orange) male is callled Sato-chan; the (pink) female is Satoko-chan. Elephants for longevity, orange is cheerful and energetic, pink is warm and calm. Quote unquote.