From protests to countdowns, 32 photos show what Tokyo is like as it prepares to host the Olympics

David McElhinneyJul 14, 2021, 20:08 IST

Tokyo is getting ready for the Olympics.David McElhinney for Insider

Tokyo is preparing to host the Olympics while in a state of emergency and dealing with protests.
Many of the venues are eerily quiet and have a lot of COVID-19-related guidelines out front.
The Olympic Village has a lot of security, and advertisements for the games are everywhere.

Tokyo is hosting the postponed 2020 Olympics this year.

Crowds at Shibuya Station. David McElhinney for Insider

Despite the state of emergency, there were plenty of crowds out and about.

Crowds at the famous Shibuya Crossing outside the train station. David McElhinney for Insider

I passed by Olympics-related advertising campaigns.

An Asics advertisement over a bridge outside Yoyogi Park. David McElhinney for Insider

The event is being advertised with a lot of red and white.

Advertising on my way to Yoyogi Park. David McElhinney for Insider

Shibuya is home to Yoyogi National Stadium, which held events in 1964, the most recent time when Tokyo hosted the Olympics.

Yoyogi National Stadium. David McElhinney for Insider

Next I went to Yoyogi Park, which was originally meant to host a public-viewing event during the games.

The sign says "Vaccination Center Entrance Gate." David McElhinney for Insider

A huge section of the usually bustling parkland has been sectioned off for vaccinations.

A vaccination center's entrance gate. David McElhinney for Insider

Yoyogi Park has plenty of signs reminding people to wear a mask and keep their distance from others.

More pandemic-related guidelines. David McElhinney for Insider

The signs were sprinkled throughout Yoyogi Park.

A sign that says "no drinking." David McElhinney for Insider

I also headed to the Nippon Budokan venue, which had a giant list of rules and guidelines out front.

COVID-19 countermeasures and guidelines outside Budokan. David McElhinney for Insider

Before leaving Shibuya, I headed to Harajuku Station.

The new Harajuku Station. David McElhinney for Insider

I swung by Takanawa Gateway, a new train station that was going to open for the original Tokyo Olympics date.

Takanawa Gateway. David McElhinney for Insider

The station, designed to look like folded origami paper, was looking rather vacant on this Wednesday afternoon.

A convenience store controlled by artificial intelligence. David McElhinney for Insider

As I left Tokyo Station, another indirect product of Tokyo 2020 glided past me.

A fuel-cell bus in Tokyo. David McElhinney for Insider

I passed the Olympic countdown clock, which was reset in March 2020 after the games officially got postponed.

The Olympic countdown clock. David McElhinney for Insider

Anti-Olympics protesters were out and about, too.

People protesting against the Olympics. David McElhinney for Insider

Some protest groups have been against the Olympics long before the coronavirus pandemic.

Protests carried out by the activist group Hangorin no Kai. David McElhinney for Insider

A few days later I went to get acquainted with Tokyo's Olympic venues, old and new.

Sendagaya Station. David McElhinney for Insider

Across from the station is Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, another legacy venue from 1964.

Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. David McElhinney for Insider

Around the corner is the star of Tokyo 2020: the Japan National Stadium.

The Japan National Stadium, with entry strictly prohibited on all sides. David McElhinney for Insider

The five rings were just outside.

The five rings outside the Japan National Stadium. David McElhinney for Insider

This side of the stadium leads toward what's known as "Stadium Street."

An empty "Stadium Street." David McElhinney for Insider

Even odder was a crescendo of roars I heard coming out of the adjacent Meiji Jingu Stadium.

Fans lined up to enter the Meiji Jingu Stadium during a game. David McElhinney for Insider

The Budokan, one of the spiritual homes of Japanese martial arts, was also shut to nosy outsiders.

The Budokan's official schedule. David McElhinney for Insider

A guard shuffled me away from the Budokan's entrance, but I got some good views from a few hundred feet away.

Budokan. David McElhinney for Insider

Tokyo Bay is also set to be a focal point of the Olympic Games this summer.

Tokyo Bay. David McElhinney for Insider

The artificial island also houses the newly developed Olympic Village.

Empty streets at the Olympic Village. David McElhinney for Insider

Athletes from abroad already seemed to be arriving en masse.

The Olympic Village complex. David McElhinney for Insider

Just across the Harumi Bridge, I found the Brillia Running Stadium.

The Brillia Running Stadium. David McElhinney for Insider

As I made my way deeper into the bay area, I passed the monorail - another remnant of Tokyo 1964.

A Tokyo monorail. David McElhinney for Insider

My final destination was the Odaiba Marine Park, the host of the triathlon and marathon swimming events.

A walking path underneath the Rainbow Bridge. David McElhinney for Insider

A little further on the five rings appeared again, this time on the water's surface.

The Olympic rings floating in the water. David McElhinney for Insider

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