19/07/2025 Ryuki Yamashiro
Asagaya is one of those neighborhoods in Tokyo where the scent of everyday life still lingers.
Although the area around the station is often bustling with people, there’s a curious absence of the usual sense of crowd-induced pressure. The town moves at a pace that feels just right—never too fast, never too slow—and keeps a comfortable distance between people.
On winter nights, the air becomes so clear that stars shine visibly in the sky. Sometimes, a shooting star appears. I saw one in December 2024. It was by chance, just like the one I had seen exactly four years before, around the same time. Both times, the nights were calm, with little wind and a cloudless sky. The sky above Asagaya isn’t vast, but when the conditions are right, it reveals its quiet expression.
In August, the Tanabata Festival is held here. Colorful decorations hang from the arcade, and lanterns line the streets at night. Families and young couples stroll slowly beneath them, and a sense of calm settles over everything. Though the streets are crowded, what lingers is not noise or chaos, but rather a gentle sense of ease. That, in a way, is what makes this town feel like itself.
Just outside the north exit of Asagaya Station lies a shopping street called Star Road. It’s a short alley, narrow and unassuming. But packed into this small stretch are hundreds of tiny establishments—cafés, izakayas, bars, theaters, mini cinemas, and snack bars. Most are no bigger than a room, each with its own group of regulars and its own distinct character shaped by the owner.
As night falls, lights begin to flicker on inside these little shops, gradually illuminating the street. The glow isn’t flashy, but each light leaves an impression. The sight of these scattered lights lining the alley gives Star Road a quiet, starlit atmosphere—true to its name.
Twice a year, something special happens here: during a few days in spring and autumn, the setting sun aligns perfectly with the street, casting a golden light straight down to its far end. If you happen to walk through at just the right time, you’ll catch a glimpse of a scene entirely unlike the everyday. It’s not a tourist attraction, but in these fleeting moments, the quiet beauty of the place becomes visible.
Star Road is part of daily life for the locals, yet it also remains open to outsiders. It doesn’t try to impress with flash or spectacle, but instead offers a kind of familiarity that grows with each visit. There may be nothing obviously “special” about it—but something about the street makes you feel that maybe, just maybe, something is there. And that feeling alone makes it worth the walk.