When we are walking around town, our bodies are part of the town, but when we travel by train or car, we are separated from the town, according to sociologist Shunya Yoshimi. On the latter occasions, we can only enjoy the view from the window as if we are consuming video content, he argues.
Reading Yoshimi’s book “Tokyo Uragaeshi: Shakaigaku teki Machi Aruki Gaido” (Tokyo inside out: A sociological guide for walking around the capital) makes you feel as if you were walking with him while enjoying his erudite lecture about the city.
Take Asukayama, a small hill in Tokyo’s Kita Ward, for instance.