Asagaya is Great for Street Photography
Is Suginami City’s Asagaya one of Tokyo’s lesser-known spots for street photography? It might be. I’ve never seen many photos of the area on the internet. You mightn’t believe the reason I went there recently to photograph it. Do you want to hear the story? Well, you are going to.
I’m not much of a drinker, so I rarely go there at night. If I go, it’s during the day. I associate the area with Asagaya Pearl Center and Asagaya Shinmeigu. And as I like Burger King, I go for that too!
Let’s get back to why I went. I am a big fan of the program Adomachiku Tengoku (アド街ック天国). TV Tokyo broadcasts the show on Saturday at 9 PM. It’s a talk show. Yoshihiko Inohara, a member of the now-defunct boy band V6, hosts it. A panel of celebrities joins him.
They talk about local areas in Tokyo, but sometimes other places in Japan. Many topics are places to eat and drink. But they also talk about sightseeing spots and people. It’s a lighthearted and good way to pass a Saturday night.
I’ve watched it religiously for several decades. Yes, it has been going for a long time. I rarely miss it. If you want to learn about Tokyo, it is a good place to start. You won’t go wrong with it.
On March 25, 2023, they chose Asagaya. That surprised me. I don’t drink much so I had no idea there were so many bars and izakayas. Some of them are tiny, only holes-in-the-wall types of places. Others are more upmarket.
Of course, it has music. You can enjoy everything from jazz and rock to traditional Japanese music. Special events and festivals are held throughout the year. Asagya has a lot of nightlife to enjoy!
Asagaya is on the Chuo, Sobu, and Tozai Lines so access to other areas in Tokyo is easy. Kichijoji, Shinjuku and Shibuya are all near. Additionally, the area is well-connected by bus. Many people want to live there.
Adomachiku Tengoku did a good job. Asagaya at night looked good! I decided to go and take photos. Luckily, it was only a thirty-minute walk for me.
As it was my first time, I didn’t know where to go. So I wandered the streets aimlessly, but I remembered the TV show said Star Road was very popular. After going there, I can see why. Some of the restaurants looked great. One day, I will dine there for sure.
One day, I will go back for more photos. The area around the station is interesting. I regret neglecting it for so long. Now I know better! Asagaya is more than Pearl Center and the Tanabata Festival. Street photographers should search for photos there.
I kind of feel ignorant, to be honest. There was a place next door to me that I knew little about. But maybe, I’m being harsh on myself.
Tokyo is a gigantic. No one knows everything about this city. Over 800 train and subway stations serve the population. Some areas are culturally different from each other. There is still much for me to learn. I’m glad I have Adomachiku Tengoku to help me out.
How about you? Have you been to Asagaya? Let us know what you think of it if you have. Leave questions and comments below.
Asagaya is great for street photography photo gear:
Camera body: Fujifilm X-T3
Lens: Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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