Post-Apocalyptic Images of Japan

By Michael Gakuran | | Japan | 62 Comments |

The ruins and haikyo aficionado in me couldn’t resist making a post about Tokyo Genso‘s fabulous art depicting post-apocalyptic Japan. The illustrations have a breathtaking otherworldly quality that perfectly capture the sort of scenes I regularly come across while exploring ruins, albeit of course, on a much grander and majestic scale.

Some of the scenes really aren’t stretching the truth that much either. Head into the backstreets of Japan and you’ll quickly find dilapidated old buildings and creeping plants reclaiming man-made structures for mother nature. Apply that to the iconic landmarks of central Tokyo and other areas of Japan, and you have some gorgeous concept art for what Tokyo could look like if man were wiped from the planet.

Anyway, enough talk. I scoured the net for the biggest and best pictures. Enjoy.

Shinjuku Skyscapers

Shibuya 109 Department Store

Tokyo Big Sight

Haneda Airport

Rainbow Bridge

Shibuya Sakuraya

Hamamatsucho Station

Shinjuku Station

Osaka Streets

Sofmap Akihabara

Kabuki Theatre in Ginza

Tokyo Skytree

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Tokyo Streets

Ueno

Tokyo Tower

Wako Building in Ginza

Akihabara

Tokyo Monorail

Shinjuku HAL Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower

Shibuya 109 Department Store in Heavy Rain

Shibuya Sakuraya

Saigo Mori Statue in Ueno

Nakano Station

Nakano Station 2

Osaka Tsutenkaku Tower

Osaka Billiken

Moai Statue in Shibuya

McDonalds

Hato Bus

Asakusa Hanayashiki Amusement Park

Akihabara Sofmap

Akihabara

Yoyogi Station

Shibuya Sakuraya

Shibuya 109 Department Store Halloween Edition

Tohoku Save Japan Image

The Walker Poster

Shibuya Station

You can find Tokyo Genso’s website here, and the Deviant Art page here. He works as an animator and concept artist for games, and ‘Tokyo Genso’ is his original artwork. Some interesting shots on him working on a watercolour piece here. Check out his blog with lots of fisheye photography and quirky trips :)!

62 comments on “Post-Apocalyptic Images of Japan
  1. Rooy says:

    Tokyo in 2075

  2. Sora says:

    Looks awesome, it’s like Shin Megami Tensei 4 XD.

  3. Jon says:

    Just saw Godzilla and the overgrown area surrounding the Janjira power plant reminded me of these.

  4. Lana says:

    I wonder if he’s happen to be the artist of the Etrian Odyssey series. Some of these arts are very reminiscent to the background art in the first game (Lost Shinjuku to be exact).

  5. Felix says:

    These are extremely breath taking, if only it were possible to see them in reality.

  6. One_Richard says:

    You, sir, got talent!

  7. Is it just me, or does the Haneda Airport look like that 1 map from the Crysis 3 multiplayer beta?

  8. Ben Beech says:

    Just wow! This is a great collection of artwork! Some of the more peaceful scenes covered in green remind me of the scene in Laputa when they first arrive on the island… If you don’t mind I’ll share this page?

  9. Charlotte says:

    Just… wow! These are so beautiful, and moody. Yet some of them are also very peaceful. I love these. Thank you for sharing!

  10. Yvonne Chin says:

    Amazing pictures. Just returned from Tokyo and completely creeped out looking at this pics…so real..it pulled on heartstrings.

  11. C Ohara says:

    Suuuuuper rad~  I had seen the Nakano one before and really enjoyed just staring into it.  I wish I could walk around his worldjust for a bit.

    But maybe I outta be careful what I wish for!

  12. Shapewear says:

    I’ve always wished that the world would turn to this.

  13. Nativewit says:

    But what happened to all the vending machines?

  14. Vshapewear says:

    please start the apocalypse

  15. Ken Seeroi says:

    Stunning stuff.  I loved the Tokyo Sky Tree.

  16. Appa Hay says:

    Thanks for the pictures, I was there 2 years ago and did not see any of the ones you showed. It is a great country and people are so polite!–Don Hay Sr.

  17. Cicelia Winn says:

    I just love your post apocalyptic images, of what can be….

    Just jaw dropping realism…

  18. Jeffrey says:

    The first one labelled “Shinjuku Skyscrapers” is actually a mash-up of many of the world’s most famous towers. Can’t name them all, but that’s definitely the Empire State Building in the RH foreground and the “Gherkin” in London in the RH background. no?

  19. The pictures are awesome. I love them, great imagination.

  20. Disappear4you says:

    These are amazing and so visually inspiring. My brain is just spinning with stories I want to write around them.

  21. JapanCrazy says:

    That one image of the train station looking out into the ocean reminded me of Hayao Miyazaki’s and Studio Ghibli’s ‘Spirited Away’. That was beautiful. I’ve sent this link to my roleplay friends for inspiration. Thank you for the website. It is beautiful.

  22. Plugged129 says:

    Do you mind if we use these for FB covers for the new timeline format?

  23. Samgoneshoot says:

    wow just wow

  24. J G says:

    Once again, Osaka is nothing but Shinsekai. Really, the entire city isn’t that gross. (Wasn’t that supposed to be a _post_-apocalyptic image?)

  25. Firepaint says:

    I think….Yup, this site just became my favourite.  

  26. Vernon Cheung says:

    The next Fallout game should be based on these designs
     

  27. Most outstanding. Oddly reminds me of the brilliant film Laputa. Thanks for sharing, mate. Bah…this blog post reminds me that I should get back to my age-old hobby of oil painting :)

    So says The Oldenyouth Himself.

  28. Nikito says:

    awesome!

  29. Takisa Dania says:

    These are so fucking amazing. 

  30. Laurenkathleendonald says:

    These are nothing short of brilliant :)

  31. Juna says:

    Really cool pictures. unfortunately the Kabuki theatre in Ginza has already been taken down so I think you should remove that picture.

  32. charlie_13elieves says:

    These are so amazing!

  33. charlie_13elieves says:

    These are so amazing!

  34. Cody buchanon says:

    I think its really cool the way that the city and man made structures just start to blend in with nature, and the way the Skytree actually looks like a giant tree lol

  35. AmandaT says:

    Eerily beautiful, I don’t know whether to be enthralled or creeped out. 

  36. Fionnuala J. says:

    Wow, those are all awesome. I quite like how the water in the Tokyo Tower one spells out “okaeri nasai”.  I will definitely have to check out his deviantART page!

  37. ベーサ says:

    Wow so many beautiful pictures!! Apocalyptic… but awesome!
    Thanks a lot for sharing, I have a new wallpaper desk now :-)

  38. I have tried to communicate with Tokyo Genso but nihongo-no mada kanpeki ja-nai’desu! Do you know if these paintings are for sale?

    • Gakuranman says:

      Perhaps through Deviantart? I guess you’d have to speak Japanese to make an serious offer though, unless he happens to speak English…

      • atodorov says:

        I also tried communicating with the artist but no luck. His Deviantart
        profile doesn’t have all the images I’d like to buy and the few ones
        don’t offer many purchasign options (low res download or small prints
        only). I see you speak Japanese, maybe you could help us orderign what we like.

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