Surreal Photos of Akihabara Without People Show the Beauty of Empty Space

Akihabara Tokyo at Night

With an estimated population of nearly 14 million people, it's hard to imagine Tokyo without crowds. Its famed crosswalk in Shibuya regularly shuttles hundreds—if not thousands—from one side of the street to the other and has become an emblem of the city's bustling nature. But there's another side to Tokyo, one that few see. Luckily, thanks to Twitter user @urbex_34, this quiet side to Tokyo is now on display.

This urban explorer sets out to expose a different and unexpected side to some of Tokyo's beloved neighborhoods. His photographs of Akihabara—Tokyo's capital of otaku culture—devoid of life are a striking look at an area that's typically filled with a human presence. Akihabara, which earned the nickname “Electric Town” thanks to the electronics stores that popped up after World War II, is filled with manga and anime shops. Its sidewalks are typically teeming with cosplayers and maids beckoning guests into special maid cafes. For urbex_34, Akihabara is also something else. By exploring the neighborhood late at night, he's able to come away with imagery that shows its secret side—a side without people.

With only the glowing neon signs of shops and street lamps to light the way, Akihabara looks like another place altogether. In fact, many commenters point out that the atmosphere seems like a video game where people are ready to pop out and shoot at any moment.

While it is surprising to see such a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo, other commenters pointed out that it's not so unusual for Akihabara. While areas like Shibuya are filled night and day, as a commercial area, Akihabara tends to empty out once the shops and cafes close down around 9 pm. So the next time you want a little peace and quiet in Tokyo, you now know that Akihabara is the place to visit.

Twitter user @urbex_34 shared otherworldly photos of Akihabara in Tokyo at night.

Devoid of people, the empty streets are a sharp contrast to daytime, when the area is filled with people.

Akihabara Tokyo at Night

Akihabara Tokyo at Night

Empty City in Japan at Night

@urbex_34: Twitter
h/t: [Sora News]

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Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book 'Street Art Stories Roma' and most recently contributed to 'Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini'. You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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