The dichotomy of Japan’s attempt to maintain centuries-old traditions while staying on the cutting edge of the modern world is most striking in its architecture. Tokyo has ancient shrines and historic gardens resting in the shadows of skyscrapers dozens of stories tall. In Ginza, a small shop built over 100 years earlier is literally sandwiched…
Category: Architecture
靖国園 Yasukuni Garden
Many visitors to Japan might choose to skip Yasukuni Shrine as a destination due to its controversial status in the international community. And that would be a shame because Yasukuni is one of the most beautiful places for 花見 cherry blossom viewing in the Spring. Those who do a little exploring might find this hidden gem:…
Tokyo International Forum
Part Death Star and part bowels of a ship, the Tokyo International Forum is certainly an architectural masterpiece not to be missed. Built in 1996, this building houses eight exhibition halls, numerous restaurants and an outdoor antique fair on the third Sunday of the month. It is a few minutes walk from the JR Yurakucho…
Tower of Hermes
Ginza is known for being the home of Japan’s flagship department stores Mitsukoshi and Matsuya as well as dozens of boutique shops and high end restaurants and is a major tourist destination. When it was first built in the late 1800’s, it wasn’t well received by foreigners who saw it as too western for their…
川越 Kawagoe (Saitama)
The city of Kawagoe is barely half an hour from central Tokyo by express train, but it feels like you have traveled back in time when you arrive there. While Tokyo experienced fires and bombings that destroyed many of its ancient buildings, Kawagoe was spared from bombing during WW2 and before that, made some decisions that helped…
南禅寺 Nanzenji (Kyoto)
Nanzenji is one of Kyoto’s most beautiful temples, in the foothills on the eastern side of the city. However, one can’t help but notice the large brick structure that cuts through the temple grounds. The structure is an aqueduct built to carry water and goods to the people of the neighboring Shiga prefecture. Though the…
365 JAPAN 