Photographs from this lovely old and traditional Japanese shopping street appeared on Tokyo Times a couple of years ago. By then, only two businesses remained, and while the tofu seller appeared to do pretty well, the green tea shop seemed more like a museum piece than somewhere to actually make a purchase.

Still, those two stores and all the old signs made it a sight to behold. Returning recently, however, the inevitable had happened. In fact, not only had it been completely demolished, but a new house was already standing on part of the land it once occupied.

Like I mentioned in my July newsletter, I’m trying to be more zen about these kinds of disappearances, and rather than feeling sad, I simply try to be grateful for the chance I had to see, experience and photograph such places. And being fortunate enough to have seen this little street really is something to feel thankful for.