A lot of Tokyo’s neon signs are gone. Which ones are left?

Many of the iconic neon signs in Tokyo have been replaced with LEDs within the past five years. Which ones still exist though?

Off the top of my head, some remaining neon:

  • Tokyo Station Yaesu exit Hisamitsu Salonpas sign
  • Akihabara Onoden sign
  • Akihabara LAOX sign
  • Okachimachi Sanzenri sign
  • Shinjuku Yodobashi Camera sign
  • Various Karaokekan stores

I know there's more. Which ones are still out there? Which ones that are gone do you remember?

by razorbeamz

12 comments
  1. Same story in HK such a loss. Its a shame they werent recognised as heritage assets before it was too late.

  2. are you guys japanese or foreigners ?

    I saw all the posts in these subs are in english.. But i have heard that not many Japanese people speak english.

    ( i m new to Japanese learning for career purpose so was just exploring this sub)

  3. As sad as the loss of the neon signs is, it unfortunately is a sensible step. Neon is very inefficient in terms of energy consumption.

  4. I found a couple of articles written by an photography artist Osamu Nakamura who published a booklet full of neon signages around Tokyo. And these links has some of it from the book

    1. [https://sign-jp.org/neonneon/](https://sign-jp.org/neonneon/)
    2. [https://www.nippon.com/ja/images/i00060/](https://www.nippon.com/ja/images/i00060/)

    Here’s another one but just around Nakameguro – Daikanyama – Ebisu: [https://www.creativity-ape.com/entry/2022/03/18/230623](https://www.creativity-ape.com/entry/2022/03/18/230623)

    I don’t think much about it but the first thing that comes up to my mind was the one in your list for Yodobashi. It’s interesting how everything is getting torn down and the business doing well yet keeping the original signage like that, for tech-oriented business no less.

  5. I was very sad when the beautiful neon pachinko parlor on the north side of Nippori station was removed. That was one of my favorites.
    I think there might still be a similar one near Merima station, but it might be gone as well.

  6. I live in Nishi Shinjuku and I always say to my GF, that when they take away the yodobashi neon sign… is the time to move

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