What to do when you get lost in Tokyo? If you’re a tourist in Japan, it is often advised that if you need directions, just go to a police station, a kōban 「交番」.
It’s a good advice, but… because the kōban architecture varies greatly (I don’t think I’ve seen two alike), sometimes it can be difficult for a tourist to identify them…
Usually, a kōban is a small two storied building, marked with KOBAN signs (Roman characters) and with a golden star, the Japanese Police logo.

If you explore unknown neighborhoods, it’s a good idea to look for them, they can save you a lot of time. And not only that, but many are small architectural jewels, like this one from Asakusa, with a shape inspired by the architecture of shrines:

Police Box (Koban), Asakusa, Tokyo

EXIF Info:

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Kamakura Buddha