Call me morbid, but I really love to visit cemeteries when traveling. They are often such a unique marker which reminds of us lives lived in places far from our own homes, but also of the humanity that connects us.

Yanaka Cemetary in north-central Tokyo did just that this morning for me. A walk through the graveyard photographing it and thinking about the people who are remembered there, and even those who are long forgotten, was quite a world away from the hustle and bustle of one of the world’s largest cities.

Many thanks to Shane Sakata of Nihon Sun for showing us around today and tipping us off to this unique excursion.

Headstones & monuments in Tokyo’s Yanaka Cemetary (photo by Kim Mance)

Wooden grave markers called “sotoba” are provided by the Buddhist temple that conducts a funeral (photo by Kim Mance)

Stone lantern in Tokyo’s Yanaka Cemetary (photo by Kim Mance)

Ishidoro stone lanterns in Tokyo’s Yanaka Cemetary (photo by Kim Mance)

Small stone statue on a headstone in Tokyo’s Yanaka Cemetary (photo by Kim Mance)

Headstones & other grave markers in Tokyo’s Yanaka Cemetary (photo by Kim Mance)

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