Tokyo Scouting Dates: Feb 10 – Feb 15
Hello everyone. I have just returned from my trip to Japan and Hong Kong. I’ve gathered a wealth of photo and video reference material to use for my upcoming novel.
During my time in Japan, I visited Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, spending the longest period—5 nights and 6 days—in Tokyo. Since Tokyo serves as one of the most critical settings in my story, I plan to post my scouting reports by dividing them into different districts.
On my first day in Tokyo, I explored the Minato City area. Since my accommodation was located here, I spent the day scouting the neighborhood. In Japan, you can find shrines of all sizes tucked away throughout the city. While walking around, I accidentally discovered a shrine sitting atop a hill right next to my hotel. It was very accessible, located only about a 5-minute walk from Akasaka Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.
This was Hie-jinja Shrine. Its scale was impressive, allowing me to observe various aspects of traditional Japanese shrines from day one. Interestingly, like the Fushimi Inari Shrine I would later visit in Kyoto, this place also featured a striking row of several Torii gates at the entrance. These rows of gates are called Senbon Torii (Thousand Torii). They are said to symbolize the boundary between the sacred realm of the spirits and the human world. The vibrant red color is believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits, which is likely why they are placed at the main entrance—to invite good energy while keeping the bad away.
The shrine interior is divided into an outdoor hand-washing station (Temizuya), an inner area for prayer and offerings, and the main sanctuary. Entry beyond the offering box is restricted, so I couldn’t go inside the sanctuary itself. Furthermore, the sanctuary was shielded by a white curtain, keeping the innermost details hidden from view.
Venturing deeper into the grounds, I found an even larger sanctuary. The February weather in Japan was quite warm, and I could already see flowers beginning to bloom. During my stay, the temperature hovered between 5°C and 15°C. Perhaps because of the spring-like atmosphere, I saw a family taking photos with their baby, who was dressed in a traditional Kimono.
Hie-jinja Shrine is dedicated to the monkey, considered the messenger of the gods. The monkey statues in front of the shrine are often depicted holding a baby, which is why people visit here to pray for safe childbirth, healthy upbringing, and the prosperity of their children. The statues were draped in red bibs, which contrasted beautifully with the floral backdrop. It reminded me of how people sometimes wrap scarves around the lion statues in front of the New York Public Library on 42nd Street during winter. It was fascinating to see a similar tradition here in Tokyo.
Japanese shrines exhibit several distinct characteristics compared to other East Asian architecture. Compared to traditional Korean architecture, the roof colors tend to be a more vivid green, and the structures are often more ornate, decorated with gold leaf. There is also a preference for a much deeper, more intense red for the woodwork. This likely relates back to the power of warding off misfortune I mentioned earlier. Additionally, the green of the roof and the red of the structure create a complementary color scheme, making the buildings look more vivid and three-dimensional.
Later, I visited the Imperial Palace (Kokyo), where the Emperor resides. Unlike the shrines, the roof colors were darker, and the buildings were painted white. Since this is a space for humans rather than gods, it pursues a more understated, restrained form that harmonizes with nature. This aesthetic is known as Wabi-sabi. The white sections are made of lime, which is said to be fire-resistant and durable against humidity. The main gate shown in the center photo is Sakuradamon, built in 1620. It is one of the few remaining gates that has maintained its original form, having survived even major earthquakes.
If you go further inside, you can reach the entrance to the area where the Emperor resides. Behind the first bridge, there is another, and behind that stands a white building called the Fushimi Yagura (watchtower). The bridge itself is called Nijubashi, an iconic symbol often associated with the Tokyo Imperial Palace.
While there are many gardens within the palace grounds, I particularly liked this modernly designed one. I would have loved to go inside the palace itself, but apparently, you need to book a week in advance or try for a first-come, first-served spot on the day. Since I don’t imagine my characters running around inside the palace anyway, I thought this modern garden would be a great spot for their activities, so I took some videos to capture the feeling of walking through it.
Afterward, I headed to a shopping center called KITTE Marunouchi. It was an impressive space with a unique triangular interior structure. The interior was beautifully designed. From the second floor, I was able to capture a great photo of Tokyo Station, which still retains its historical appearance.
I also stopped by the MUJI store inside the center. Unlike MUJI stores in other countries, the Japanese branches sell ready-to-eat meals (Deli), which was interesting enough to photograph. My characters will be traveling to various cities, and I think readers will find it engaging if I can highlight these subtle differences between locations.
For dinner on the first day, I went to Kaitenzushi Nemuro Hanamaru, a famous conveyor-belt sushi restaurant in the same building. Interestingly, there weren’t many sushi plates actually rotating on the belt; instead, the structure required customers to write their orders on paper. Since it’s right next to Tokyo Station, there were many travelers with suitcases, looking like they were stopping by for a quick, re-energizing meal. I arrived after 3:00 PM, but even then, it was popular enough that I had to wait in line for 30 minutes.
I’m glad I came to Japan for this on-site scouting. The details I perceive by seeing and feeling things in person will be a huge asset to my novel. This concludes my report for the first day.
*This field research is part of a pre-production phase for this website’s multimedia project. All analyzed locations are selected based on their socioeconomic relevance to the target market.