Check out Tokyo–over 30 years ago, and again today!
I haven’t pinpointed the exact date when the old photos in this post were taken. At first, I assumed they were from the late 80s, but spotting Sonic the Hedgehog in the Akihabara pictures below suggests the photos were likely taken in fall 1991.
The old photos all come from a single trip to Japan, probably in fall 1991, while the new photos were all captured in September 2024.
If the 1991 date is correct, each photo pair was taken almost exactly 33 years apart.
Akihabara
In the 80s, the Akihabara district of Tokyo centered on consumer electronics. Small, niche stores dominated, and little electronic booths selling components were everywhere, with minimal tourism in the area. Today, Akihabara thrives as a hub for anime, manga, video games, and otaku culture. Tourism plays a major role, and most stores are now massive, multi-story complexes. You can see these contrasts in the pictures below.
The picture on the left below was likely taken in the fall of 1991 because Sonic the Hedgehog’s likeness appears on the front of the Sega arcade.
Asakusa
Asakusa is Tokyo’s historic heart, if it has one. In Asakusa, one can shop for snacks and souvenirs as they walk down Nakamise-dori street en route to the famous Sensō-ji temple, which is Tokyo’s oldest temple. (Note: The temple was re-built after World War II in 1950.)
The two pictures below show how little the area has changed in over 30 years. Today, local traditions are preserved with a lot more foreign tourists visiting the area.
Shinjuku
Shinjuku features the famous Shinjuku Scramble, the world’s busiest pedestrian crosswalk. Since the late 80s and early 90s, the skyline has expanded dramatically, and modern curved 3D LCD displays now light up skyscraper walls in ways we could only dream about 30 years ago. While the technology behind the displays has evolved, their spirit remains unchanged. Like the rest of Tokyo, the area preserves its most iconic traditions, including the statue of the loyal dog, Hachikō, shown immediately below.
Hard Rock Cafe – Tokyo
The Hard Rock Cafe in Tokyo opened in 1983 and was the first Asian location for the Hard Rock cafe. The restaurant (in the Roppongi district) originally had a giant King Kong looking in at diners. King Kong was removed from the restaurant building over a decade ago.
Nogi-jinja
Nogi-jinja has retained its serene charm while evolving into a site of historical and cultural interest appealing to more visitors; balancing tradition with modern accessibility.
One of the gates has moved within the temple grounds–like most of these locations, some things have changed, some have stayed the same. The shrine still hosts an antique market on the 4th Sunday of each month. (The pictures from over 30 years ago were taken when the market was taking place.)
If you’re planning a trip to Tokyo, check out my post on my recent trip to Tokyo. Let me know what you think about these pictures in the comments!
