Tokyo backyard: Don't forget Tokyo's atmospheric narrow alleys

Think about the city of Tokyo. What do you imagine? Even if you have never been there, you can picture what it might look like: the crowded intersection of Shibuya with hundreds of people crossing at once, or the four-lane streets running through Roppongi full of speeding taxis and mopeds, lined with sidewalks complete with well-dressed, fast-paced pedestrians. 

Well I've got a secret to share. All those tour groups standing in the parking lot of the Tokyo Tower and taking pictures of its massive structure have their backs turned to the most beautiful part of this city: the hidden back streets. Take a turn down one of these roads and you've entered into the most genuine view of the city. The streets are like giant sidewalks, inviting anyone to take a stroll, only needing to move to the side every so often to allow a scooter go by, or a Japanese van smaller than an American sedan to pass. To take a walk through these streets on any afternoon and absorb all the sounds, smells, and sights might mean watching an elderly Japanese woman shuffle out of a door and move quickly down the street, barely lifting her feet. Or a cat hopping out of a window and chasing after a crow its own size. 

Sounds of the street

These streets are quiet and peaceful: a contrast to the crowded main streets that lie just around a few more corners. A cry of a child might be heard for a few seconds, then fade into the direction it came from. A joyous laugh could echo through the streets and off the walls, but there is no way of telling where it originated.

Though these streets are packed full of apartments and homes, it's hard to find many people walking around. Most of the apartments have clothes hanging over the balcony banisters, bikes lining the outside walls, and occasional potted plants sitting on corner walls or porch floors. There are houses amongst the buildings, blending in with the visual chaos, and they all have uniqueness to them: a bright blue tiled wall, a beautiful wooden door, a little Rose garden. Some of the houses date back to World War II and are made of wooden shingles that might tell stories of fear, of bravery, of family, and of love -- if they could talk. The earth is hilly beneath the pavement and shops.

Everything is stacked up and pieced together, using every foot of space available. Turn a corner and you could see an ivy-covered doorway sitting in contrast next to a newly built office. It all fits together like a huge mural with layers upon layers of paint, of life, of what a majority of Tokyo is. 

Atmospheric life

In the evenings smoke hangs in the back roads from the yakitori bars that are embedded in the buildings. Appetizing smells fill the air as restaurants that seat five people start to cook for the dinner crowds. Signs along the roads advertising daily specials are the only reason a person passing by would know the curtained doorway leads to a bar's beer specials or a shop selling trinkets and fruit. As the sun goes down, strings of lights and lanterns hanging across alleys and along walls take on the responsibility of lighting the way. Depending on where you are, you could catch a reflection of the Tokyo Tower lit up in a window or reflective building.

These streets are full of surprises, full of images that please eyes and stick to memories. They are the veins of this city -- pumping the life through them without complaining about being overlooked. Tourists should spend a day getting lost in their charm and filling their cameras with pictures of the pieces. These back streets are another reason to walk to work or to take a shortcut to meet friends. For the peace and contentment found drifting along these roads, they are a part of Tokyo that speaks loudly of its culture and hidden beauty.