Location plays a central role in Keita Morimoto's vivid paintings.

The visual artist was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1990 and attended a Canadian high school in Toronto. Living abroad for 15 years, the Canadian city became a place of inspiration for Keita, who studied North American and European art history during his stay. Later, in 2021, he moved to Japan which breathed new life into his practice.

The country is the subject of his rich paintings that blur the fine line between fantasy and modern life. His paintings focus on night time scenes in Tokyo in particular, accentuating its highlights – such as the people, shop windows and vending machines – in warm light. In this way, there's a touch of the Baroque movement and Rembrandt's use of light and shade in Keita's painterly visions of Japan. In adopting a hyperrealist approach but enhancing the light and colours, the paintings feel realistic – as though the characters have stepped off the streets of Japan – and yet cinematic and effervescent all at once; the works giving the feel of one looking into an uncanny multiverse.

As Tokyo is the main subject of Keita's art, we asked him to create a guide to the city. Where are the places within his romanticised visions of modern life in Tokyo? For his guide, Keita highlights the quieter areas in the 24-hour region. He recommends steering away from tourist areas and opting, instead, for more immersive exploration through Tokyo's many neighbourhoods via its stations. Here are the spots to unwind and experience some downtime in amidst the bustling atmosphere of Tokyo.