Ebisu - The Big Local

A tiny neighborhood? No, a bustling area fit for groovy nighttime photography.

I’m constantly visiting a neighborhood in Tokyo named Ebisu because it’s convenient for me to travel to. It’s quite a diverse area for my style of photography, and every time I cruise its streets, I find something new.

The main streets of the area are filled with camera candy, but I like setting out to the alleys and side lanes to find colors that are just as vibrant but are tucked away.

Ebisu makes me feel uneasy in a comforting way. It’s hard to describe, but maybe it creates a sense of needed (?) loneliness which hits differently than when I’m in Shinjuku or Shibuya (which I visit often because there’s SO much to photograph). I don’t feel lonely when I’m in bigger neighborhoods, but Ebisu feels transient in ways that touristy areas don’t. I feel it’s a place to go where weary workers unleash their need for booze and food then head home. Sure, tens of thousands of people live in the area, but it always feels like it’s all for show. Hence all the G-Wagons.

I feel that parts of Ebisu look like it’s trying to be something else — buildings that appear to belong in another country, or scenes that remind visitors about international exchange. I want a different kind of authentic, and thankfully, Ebisu brings diverse scenes for my cameras and lenses.

It’s all there — the traditional tea garden in front of a special restaurants, mirrored retail buildings, wooded buildings with lanterns which have been hanging for a generation or two, or the concrete walkways with lighting that makes for ease of travel.

So when you’re in Tokyo and looking for an area that feels like a big local city, Ebisu hits the mark, every single time.

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Thanks for visiting. If you’re interested in the vibe I’m creating here, check out my presets located HERE. I like creating images that might evoke a vintage feeling, and if you do too, these are a great avenue for creation. They’re also a great starting point if you want to build upon them. Thank you for your support!