Townside

The following are a couple of photos taken in the area around Hirakata-shi Station. These do not represent the overall make-up of the area in any way, which is home to a number of popular restaurants and bars, and various shops and department stores. They are biased in that they simply present two things I personally found of interest in the area.




The above photo shows a pair of doormen conversing outside a male entertainment complex. Two more are visible is the background. I found this building of interest because of the nature of the signs. Entertainment consists of a number of available role play scenarios with women, one which is a simulation of a morning commuter train. While this is not presented in the full context of the rest of the Hirakata City station area, the city's red-light districts are popular and frequented, and this is one simply representation of this.

The photo below is of a pachinko slot machine parlour next to a barbershop, opposite a bus stop. I found the attention-grabbing design of each interesting. The woman with her attention caught by the barber's advertisment is almost invisible next her surroundings. Slot machines and pachinko parlours do make up a visible portion of the business in the immediate vicinity of the station.



The following pictures show the other areas around the station. In the one below the station is on the left, with a busy sidewalk. On the right a variety of business fronts including a Tsutaya bookshop and department store, and a bank as well. The Kintetsu department store lies directly ahead beyond the taxi roundabout.





This shows the same area from the opposite direction, taken outside the Kintetsu department store across the taxi roundabout. The walkway stretches over the top and is connected to some of the surrounding buildings on the upper level.
The picture below is of a pedestrian crossing between the Kintetsu store and the multifunctional building ahead.


An interesting thing to note on looking at buildings in this area in particular is the repetition of colour in their exterior. The undertone is very consistent and very definitely one of grey. On top of this is the frenzy of bright colours and advertisements. However, no matter how bright these advertisments are, they never quite seem to escape the grey behind them and surrounding them. Another intersting thing is the visual impact of the highly efficient use of space. The reality of this highly efficient usage manifests itself as a condensing of everything as far as groundspace is concerned. This means that there are casinos, private classrooms, doctors, shops, offices and agencies all directly above one another. The effect of this can be almost claustrophobic as everthing is packed in so tightly.