Summer has arrived in Tokyo, bringing with it the usual abundance of heat and humidity – as well as random flowers that decide to pop up here, there, and everywhere. 
At this time of year, the temples are a vibrant green – their silence only punctuated by the sounds of insects flying by, and the occasional frog in a nearby pond. 
At this temple, participants in a procession wore masks of buddhist saints, crossing a bridge they believed would bring their deceased loved ones to heaven. 
It was a slightly surreal sight 
Japan has the best lunch sets – this hamburg (basically hamburger without a bun, served in a skillet) set cost ¥1,500 (£7.50) 
While at home, the colours from this dinner spilled out… 
… into the sky above. 
Out and about, Mrs IKIMASHO spots some gyoza… 
Before stepping inside a store to buy some cakes for a friend. 
During May, she had to leave her old Rolleiflex in for a service 
Despite being a 60-year-old camera, it still gave us this shot from the Sanja Matsuri.
We try and go to the Sanja Matsuri most years, particularly to see the Yakuza show of strength. One of the videos I posted on Facebook was watched 2.5 million times, and I gathered some more photos together here:
https://ikimasho.net/2024/05/27/undressing-tradition-the-yakuza-at-sanja-matsuri-2024/
From a friend’s balcony, looking out over the city below, rainclouds not too far away… 
While on ground level, the streets get a refreshing clean. 
Walking about the Tokyo streets, there is always something that will catch your eye. Even the simplest scenes have lots of little things going on. 
Aging portraits, slowly damaged by the sun, sitting in a photographer’s window. 
I liked how the pinks of the building and street matched up… 
And how the chalk marks are still visible on this one – a worker from a sushi shop quickly passing by in the background. 
June was my birthday. As a once-a-year treat, we have a bit of a tradition of going out for a Michelin-starred lunch. Alchimiste is a one-star restaurant in Shirokanedai. 
I’m a lucky boy indeed 
As always, capturing the quiet scenes around us… 
Thank you for following and have a wonderful summer ahead.
Justin / IKIMASHO
IKIMASHO! 
Thank you for showing me how to see things differently. My appreciation of small details is now growing as I walk around my home city, Norwich in England. I am 72 and have much to learn.
A beautiful comment – thanks so much for taking the time to write to me 🙂
I always love the photos of Tokyo and beyond and also the captions that accompany the pictures. I miss Japan very much.
Dennis S.
downhomecg@yahoo.com
Great pictures. Your blog is a huge inspiration, thanks for sharing. Greetings from Mexico.
Thank you, Dan!! Much love
Thank you. 😌
Thank you Dennis!! Thank you for following!