Travel Icon Journal: 東京 (Tokyo)
In this series, we’re sharing iconography from places near and far. This week’s Travel Icon Journal is brought to you by Design Director Geremy Mumenthaler.
Japan is one of my favorite places in the world. Tokyo is one of those cities you could spend a lifetime in and there would still be more to explore. While on vacation, I found hundreds of great icons that not only communicated to the global community visiting, but also gave away some of the charming details and deep culture you find in just about everything in Japan. Here are a few of my favorites:
People
From sleek and geometric to kinda lumpy and shadowed figures, the human form is displayed in so many different ways around Japan. One of my personal favorites is the crosswalk sign in blue below on the far right. It shows a person wearing a coat and hat on a squared–off triangle shaped sign. These can be found all over the city. A close second would go to the same man who’s umbrella and hat were blown away from the rushing winds when leaving the Tokyo Dome.
Bicycles
One of the most common modes of transportation around Tokyo is the bicycle. There are bike lanes throughout the city, but make sure to park your bicycle in the appropriate place or you may get a parking ticket.
Cars
I noticed cars from many different eras depicted in the iconography around Tokyo. Some were simple, others complex, but they all had their own personality.
Safety
In a city of over 13 million, there are plenty of dangers to warn people about. Not only did these icons do their job quite well, they did it with style. I noticed them, understood the warning, and remembered because they were so pleasant.
Pay attention to the rules
Many people consider Japan to be one of the most polite places in the world. There are customs that permeate into everyday modern life that can date back hundreds of years if not longer. For foreigners, we sometimes need a reminder to remove our shoes while in the Genkan.
Smoking
These charming no smoking signs really stuck with me. Smoking is still pretty common around town but it’s often seen as impolite to smoke or eat on the sidewalks. These cute little signs are a welcome reminder to keep your butts in the appropriate places.
I hope to spend more time in Nippon in the near future. If you live in Japan, or have visited, what are some examples of delightful iconography you’ve seen? Please send them to me on twitter @Geremygood and tag #IconTravelJournal.
