Saturday night I went out with a friend in Shinjuku. We were out looking for an obscure bar that I had heard of. As the minutes ticked by and we wandered around getting a bit more lost, my friend became agitated and asked me if we were even on the right road. I assured him that we were. I told him I had already gotten lost in this area many times over while photo gallery hopping. He looked at me in surprise and said in an incredulous voice, "There's galleries here?"
In fact, the first gallery I came upon was Totem Pole Photo Gallery. The first time I went, it was rainy and dark. The second time I went I could not remember my way. The result? I got lost for 45 minutes, when in fact, it only takes 7 minutes to get there from Shinjuku Gyoenmae exit.
Try finding this gallery with the minimal sketch of a map that they provide on their website! For someone not familiar with Shinjuku or Yotsuya area, this was not a good map! In any case, I was determined to find it, and as it turned out, getting lost for 45 minutes (in my high heels by the way) was not completely useless! At the end, I found five completely unique ways to get to Totem Pole Photo Gallery. I do have a favorite route to get there, but for today, I'll provide you with one of the simpler paths.
When exiting from Shinjuku Gyoenmae exit 2 off the Maronouchi Line, you'll see this sign with an arrow pointing to your left. Take a left and go straight for two blocks.
You'll pass by Maestro Gourmet Bakery Cafe on your left.
Next block, you'll see this. Look closely at the picture, you'll see two people walking and a red sign with white katakana letters on it. That red sign is the sign for Nippon Rent-A-Car shop. Go there!
At the corner with the Nippon Rent-A-Car shop, you'll see the Shinjuku 1-Chome intersection. Anyway, take a left at this corner and go straight. Walk on the right side of the road. At a point, you'll come to a small split in the road, if you are walking on the right side like I mentioned, continue on walking straight along the sidewalk.
Go straight for about three long blocks. It's basically a really calm and empty road. You'll pass by a furniture shop called Sakura on your left. Then, you'll eventually come to see this pink building on the corner of Okidosakashita intersection on your right.
You'll see Okidosakashita intersection. You'll see the temple pictured above across the intersection towards your left. Meanwhile, across the street in front of you, you'll see an empty building with a white sign that says "Ishibashi 5 Building". To the right of "Ishibashi 5 Building" is an AM/PM convenience store. Cross the road towards Ishibashi 5 Building. By this point, if you are lucky, you might spot the Totem Pole Photo Gallery sign board at the corner by Ishibashi 5 Building. Sometimes they have it up, but sometimes they don't.
If they don't have the sign up, no worries, you're nearly there. It's just straight pass, behind Ishibashi 5 Building, less than half a block! At this point, you will definitely see the second Totem Pole Photo Gallery sign board. Follow the arrow, taking a right down the small street.
You'll see this children's playground.
Right behind the children's playground is a nondescript area, maybe you might think it's a garage or nothing is there...but look closely. And, take a left to there.
There, you'll find Totem Pole Photo Gallery!
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