Trends in Japan » Geomapping

Goo geomaps you through Tokyo time and space

Written by: Michael Keferl on May 14, 2008 at 1:15 am | In Technology & Gadget Trends | No Comments

After stumbling across this the other day we simply can’t get enough. Tokyo has indeed come a long way since the war and the massive firebombing campaign via one Curtis Lemay, and the thriving metropolis that emerged from the ruins epitomizes the so-called Japan Miracle. But we all knew that already.

Now we can see it. Goo Maps, the child of NTT Resonant and their geo-mapping software, has now combined historical maps of Tokyo’s 23 wards. Beginning with drawn Edo Era maps, you can click the time tabs at the top and jump to aerials of postwar 1947 (昭和２２年), 1963 (昭和３８年), and to the (slightly dated) present day without ever leaving your digital geographic location. For better mapping without the Edo features, I suggest starting here. Below is the most famous intersection in the world…

shibuya-crossing

Personally, I’ve spent hours with this already, finding my favorite places in Tokyo and jumping back to see what they used to look like. Typically, it means a rice field or neighborhood now covered with office buildings, shops, or newer homes and apartments. There’s also a feature that maps famous historical restaurants and shops that may or may not be still around. Akihabara circa 1947 is below.

akihabara-map-1947

Highlights include:
• Shibuya Station
• The 1963 Olympic Stadium, Harajuku and Yoyogi Park, once home to a military base.
• Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace (also below, circa 1963)
• Roppongi Hills
• Shimokitazawa
• CScout Japan’s present day office in 1947

tokyo-imperial-palace-1963

This is precisely what’s in store for all geomapping as time goes by. Generations to come will not only be able to explore their world from above, but instantly jump back in time to view the past and see how far we’ve come (or fallen). I’m going to assume that these aerial photos came from the U.S. military, so surely the Empire has many more out there from all over the world waiting to be pieced together.

If you find any gems, please link to them in the comment section, and have fun exploring!