Close-up of an abstract modern building with a curved wooden surface and a white angular roof against a blue sky.

Close-up of an abstract modern building with a curved wooden surface and a white angular roof against a blue sky.

Two potted trees supported by wooden stakes on a grassy area near the waterfront, with two people walking in the background and boats on the water.

Two potted trees supported by wooden stakes on a grassy area near the waterfront, with two people walking in the background and boats on the water.

Chained rows of small paper strips tied to strings, possibly at a shrine or festival.

Chained rows of small paper strips tied to strings, possibly at a shrine or festival.

Three pine trees on a wooden deck by a body of water with hills and a small island in the background.

Three pine trees on a wooden deck by a body of water with hills and a small island in the background.

A group of colorful koi fish swimming in a pond, displaying various patterns and hues including white, orange, yellow, and black.

A group of colorful koi fish swimming in a pond, displaying various patterns and hues including white, orange, yellow, and black.

Cityscape with modern buildings and a water fountain in the foreground

Cityscape with modern buildings and a water fountain in the foreground

View of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, also known as the Atomic Bomb Dome, framed through a curved stone structure, with trees and a memorial fountain in the foreground and modern buildings in the background.

View of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, also known as the Atomic Bomb Dome, framed through a curved stone structure, with trees and a memorial fountain in the foreground and modern buildings in the background.

View of a traditional Japanese torii gate at dusk with distant mountains, lanterns, and trees.

View of a traditional Japanese torii gate at dusk with distant mountains, lanterns, and trees.

A large, stylized pumpkin sculpture with black and yellow dotted patterns on a concrete pier extending into a body of water, with mountains and a hazy sky in the background.

A large, stylized pumpkin sculpture with black and yellow dotted patterns on a concrete pier extending into a body of water, with mountains and a hazy sky in the background.

Close-up of a yellow inflatable raft with black polka dot pattern, on a body of water, with a blurred shoreline in the background.

Close-up of a yellow inflatable raft with black polka dot pattern, on a body of water, with a blurred shoreline in the background.

A large, yellow pumpkin sculpture with black polka dots sits on a stone pier by the water, with distant mountains and ships in the background.

A large, yellow pumpkin sculpture with black polka dots sits on a stone pier by the water, with distant mountains and ships in the background.

City street scene in Japan with tall buildings, pedestrians crossing, and cars on the road.

City street scene in Japan with tall buildings, pedestrians crossing, and cars on the road.

City street scene viewed from an underpass during sunset, with silhouettes of two adults and a child standing at the exit as cars and buses move along the street.

City street scene viewed from an underpass during sunset, with silhouettes of two adults and a child standing at the exit as cars and buses move along the street.

Traditional Japanese temple with lit paper lanterns, a wooden roof, decorative gold accents, and a visible full moon in the evening sky.

Traditional Japanese temple with lit paper lanterns, a wooden roof, decorative gold accents, and a visible full moon in the evening sky.

Japanese paper lanterns hanging outside a traditional building under a dark blue night sky with a full moon.

Japanese paper lanterns hanging outside a traditional building under a dark blue night sky with a full moon.

An empty, wet street in Japan at night illuminated by traditional lanterns and streetlights, with muddy reflective paving and wooden buildings.

An empty, wet street in Japan at night illuminated by traditional lanterns and streetlights, with muddy reflective paving and wooden buildings.

Dense bamboo forest with tall green bamboo stalks and sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Dense bamboo forest with tall green bamboo stalks and sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Close-up of dense bamboo stalks in a bamboo forest with sunlight filtering through.

Close-up of dense bamboo stalks in a bamboo forest with sunlight filtering through.

Two women in colorful kimonos walking through a path lined with red torii gates, at a shrine in Japan.

Two women in colorful kimonos walking through a path lined with red torii gates, at a shrine in Japan.

Multiple red torii gates with black Japanese inscriptions on their sides.

Multiple red torii gates with black Japanese inscriptions on their sides.

Japan - Where the hell is everyone?

February 29th, 2020.
At this point, everyone knows this timeline. We were heading into our first lockdown for a virus that only was in the news. And my partner and I were on our way to Japan. We had a mind full of events. Baseball tickets. Sumo Tickets. Giant weird crowds. And none of it was there. But what remained was suprising. Places like Kyoto, which are normally hellscapes of crowds were manageable. The art island of Naoshima was completely dead. And everyone was wearing masks.

It was one of those times on earth that you got the chance to actually see things for how they were and not distracted by the amount of people next to you.

In particular I can’t stand busy tourist destinations. I’ll avoid entire countries to avoid this. Here’s a few of the images from our alone in Japan moment in time.