The list of reasons to visit Japan is pretty much endless – the unique Japanese culture, centuries-old Japanese traditions, and arts, just to name a few. But one of the best excuses to pack your bags and jump on the next plane to Tokyo is the country’s incredibly diverse and innovative array of modern architecture.
The Japanese have their modern design ideas deeply connected to the traditional architecture, where wood, big screens and decorative but minimal designs where the most prominent. The contemporary take on Japanese architecture favorites such characteristics as multipurpose use, minimalism, and the relationship with nature which is very clear even the big city dwellings.
As you can see from this list compiled by Bored Panda, there seems to be no limit to the unique design ideas and imagination that goes into designing buildings and structures in Japan. And whether you’re into secluded wooden forest hideaways, totally transparent modern design houses, stunning capsule towers or beautiful ribbon-shaped chapels, you’re sure to find something in this Japanese architecture list to amaze you.
#1 Japanese Kindergarten Built Around A Tree
Image source: tezuka architects
#2 Japanese Architect Created An Unique Forest House For 2 Retired Ladies
Image source: Issei Suma
#3 Preschool In Japan Collects Rainwater Into Puddles For Kids To Play In
Image source: Youji No Shiro
#4 Ebisu East Gallery In Shibuya, Tokyo
Image source: ykanazawa1999
#5 Tiny House In Tokyo
Image source: Yasuhiro Yamashita
#6 Namba Parks In Osaka
Image source: osaka-info.jp
#7 Sugamo Shinkin Bank In Kawaguchi
Image source: emmanuellemoureaux
#8 House & Garden, Tokyo
Image source: Ryue Nishizawa
#9 Acros Building In Fukuoka, Japan
Image source: kbob.org
#10 Ribbon Chapel In Hiroshima
Image source: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP
#11 Unusual Slide House In Japan
Image source: Studio LEVEL Architects
#12 Nakagin Capsule Tower, Tokyo, Japan
Image source: interiorator.com, wikipedia.org
#13 Sugamo Shinkin Bank / Shimura Branch Azusawa, Itabashi-ku, Japan
Image source: architizer.com
#14 Tokyo Apartments
Image source: Sou Fujimoto Architects
#15 Nasu Teepee House In Nasu, Japan
Image source: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co.
#16 Omotesando Branches In Tokyo
Image source: Sou Fujimoto
#17 Transparent House In Japan
Image source: Sou Fujimoto Architects
#18 Small House Project In Tokyo
Image source: Unemori Architects
#19 Sayama Forest Chapel
Image source: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP
#20 Dear Ginza Building By Amano Design Office, Tokyo, Japan
Image source: archdaily.com
#21 A Large Shell Shaped Structure In The Middle Of The Woods In Kitasaku District
Image source: ARTechnic architects
#22 Reversible Destiny Lofts In Tokyo
Image source: Shusaku Arakawa
#23 Miyahata Jōmon Museum In Fukushima, Japan
Image source: Furuichi and Associates
#24 Tsuzumimon Gate, Kanazawa Station, Kanazawa
Image source: muza-chan.net
#25 Sunny Hills Japan Dessert Shop In Omotesando, Tokyo
Image source: Kengo Kuma and associates
#26 Apartment – House In Chiba, Japan
Image source: Kochi Architect's Studio
#27 Mikimoto Ginza 2 Building In Tokyo
Image source: openbuildings.com, Ito Toyo
#28 Sunwell Muse By Takato Tamagami And Be-fun Design, Tokyo, Japan
Image source: archello.com, Masaya Yoshimura
#29 Ghost House, Tokyo, Japan
Image source: Takeshi Yamagishi
#30 Grin Grin Building At Island City In Fukuoka City
Image source: Toyo Ito
#31 N Village In Iwate Prefecture, Japan
Image source: Zai Shirakawa Architects
#32 O House In Kyoto, Japan
Image source: Hideyuki Nakayama Architecture
#33 Mirrored Entrance To ‘Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku’ Shopping Complex In Tokyo, Japan
#34 Yakisugi House (charcoal House) In Nagano, Japan
Image source: Terunobu Fujimori
#35 S-House In Oomiya, Saitama, Japan
Image source: Yuusuke Karasawa Architects
#36 Hoki Museum In Midori Ward, Chiba, Japan
Image source: Nikken Sekkei
#37 House In Muko
Image source: FujiwaraMuro Architects
#38 House In Saijo, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Image source: Suppose Design Office
#39 GC Prostho Museum Research Center In Japan
Image source: archdaily.com
#40 Half And Half House
Image source: Akio NAKASA and Teppei AMANO
#41 Cocoon Tower, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Image source: Tange Associates
#42 Za-Koenji Public Theatre In Suginami-Ku, Tokyo
Image source: Toyo Ito
#43 A House Awaiting Death In Ise, Mie Prefecture, Japan
Image source: EASTERN Design Office
#44 Part Of The University Of Tokyo‘s Campus Building With Layered Timber Slats
Image source: Kengo Kuma and associates
#45 House In Kawasaki
Image source: mtytic
#46 Flagpole House In Tokyo
Image source: milligram
#47 Urbanprem Minami Aoyama Commercial Building In Tokyo, Japan
Image source: Yuko Nagayama & Associates
#48 House In Abiko, Japan
Image source: fuse-atelier
#49 Exquisite Tunnel House In Japan
Image source: Makiko Tsukada Architects
#50 K-Museum In Ariake, Tokyo
Image source: Makoto Watanabe
#51 Nanohana-Kan Communication And Recreation Plaza, Ibusuki, Japan
Image source: Takasaki Masaharu
#52 House In Tsurumaki, Tokyo
Image source: Case-real
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