One favorite shot from last year showing the ultimate mountains of the extreme Western Tokyo territory. The hues of Autumn were starting to show. Bears, deers and apes are inhabitants of the domain, besides the thin human presence. The Western tip of Tokyo shares the same fate and social issues as any deep countryside territory in Japan. When meeting residents, you hear about schools that were closed years ago. You cross path with elderly people who are mostly self-reliant for food but unable to move as age advances. In more accessible spots in the north-west near Ôme city, you also meet artists in retreat who moved away here from the city grind. I always highlight Western Tokyo as a territory concentrating everything rural and traditional Japanese you can think about. Only crowds and the sea are missing.

Lionel Dersot is a French resident of Tokyo since 1985.

He is the founder of travel design boutique Nextaroma.