That first photo really pops out. The reds draw the eye, of course, but also how empty it is. Looks similar to here, actually. I've often said that one of the biggest surprises for me upon moving here was how quiet things get at night compared to the US. Okazaki is about 360,000 people but it seems to follow the old US stereotype of small country town of "rolling up the sidewalks at ten o clock". Altho here it is more like 8pm. The only places in town that remain busy are a 3 or 4 block radius to the train station. Otherwise the city is so quiet that it seems deserted at night.