The architectural forms of Japanese cities are nearly impossible to narrow down to a distinct set of characteristics. Chaotic neon lights and abstract geometry reflect the modernity of the city. They give way to the calm, clean lines of traditional Japanese shrines and buildings in a matter of meters. However, the one characteristic that brings them together is that the collective design is like nowhere else in the world. These photos aim not to present a holistic image of everything that Japan has to offer, but instead — and purely on a subjective level — a few snapshots of the cities that reflect some of this diversity and distinctiveness.

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