Dramatic Tokyo Pics Reveal Post-Quake Ghost Town

Before last week 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck the country, Japan's capital city was a bustling international metropolis. But as foreign governments encourage their citizens to leave and local businesses have temporarily closed up shop as residents struggle to cope with devastating losses, Tokyo has become something of an urban ghost town. Business Insider has pulled together an astonishing collection post-quake images.

Here's a pre-quake look at one of Tokyo's busy shopping districts:

(Image: Flickr *yasuhiro)

Here's the same shopping area post-quake:

(Image: AP)

After the quake, the city's underground train system is operating at a fraction of normal capacity:

(Image: Flickr Danny Choo)

Whereas normally, trains are standing room only:

(Image: McClatchy)

Energy-saving rolling blackouts often leave many neighborhoods in the dark:

(Image: AP)

Click over to Business Insider for more startling post-quake images from Tokyo.