RResidents in Japan

Hostile architecture

Spent several hours in Shinjuku and found no place to sit down. Found some benches but those were so narrow?.. It’s like you have no choice but to enter one of the restaurants/bars to take a sit lol..Then at the bus terminal bunch of people are sitting on the floor outside because there were no available seats inside, very crowded..Do you feel the same about other places as well?

8 comments

  2. So there’s seats, but it’s too narrow for you…? And there are no seating available because it’s very crowded…?

  3. I’ve worked with Tokyo Spring, a group that does volunteer work helping the homeless in Tokyo and Shinjuku is one of the major areas we did. Tokyo, and Shinjuku in particular have done everything in their power to try and make the homeless invisible to the public, and the hostile architecture is just one of the many ways they’ve been going on about it.

  6. Once I got sick on the train, felt like I was going to pass out, quickly got off at Shinjuku and could not find any seats in the station platform! I was in a big panic. I kind of kneeled on the floor to drink and calm down, before deciding to exit the station to find a seat.

    I exited to the New South Exit and there was a big outdoor seating area! Super comfortable and not connected to any cafe or shop.

    I was very confused why there weren’t any seats on the platform.

  7. I feel like it’s not just Shinjuku, but a lot of places around Tokyo don’t expect you to hang out outside much: benches are somewhat rare, few parks and outdoor seating space. Miyashita park, despite being a lump of concrete and pipes, is like the most packed place in Shibuya on a sunny day because that’s the only spot you get to sit at for free.

    Same goes with other spaces like parks or kids playgrounds (which are often even more Spartan than what you’d find in [rural Russia](https://varlamov.me/2018/detpl_belgorod/30.jpg)). There are some good spots once you get outside of Tokyo or go towards more residential neighborhoods, but given the amount of taxes we’re required to pay here I would expect something more people-oriented.

  8. I’m actually part of a volunteer program around Shinjuku station. We get on all fours for people to sit on our backs.

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