The Nakagin Capsule Tower is probably what many people envision when they think of modern Tokyo: a sort of space-age but utilitarian building stacked high into the sky. In truth, this building is the one and only of its kind in Tokyo or anywhere else, and unless you consider 1972 the peak of modern Japan,…
Tag: modern
House Vision
Architecture poses a unique puzzle for Japan with the perfect storm of scarcity of natural resources, the premium value of land in urban areas, and a dwindling population. This is why many of Japan’s most prominent architects are on the cutting edge of ideas like using recycled materials for building projects, optimizing space in tiny…
National Art Center
One of Tokyo’s modern architectural masterpieces, the National Art Center in Roppongi is best known for its huge front facade resembling a huge glass wave. To most people’s surprise, it is not a museum, but a space for hosting temporary exhibitions of art. Many important exhibitions of historic artists as well as contemporary designers (like Issey…
Kanazawa
Kanazawa sits on the nearly forgotten west coast of Japan, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture. Kanazawa has a rich history and a strong bond with traditional Japanese culture, so it is no surprise that Kenryokuen, considered one of the three finest Japanese gardens, is in this city. Tsuzumimon, a huge gate built to resemble traditional…
Omotesando Dori
For a taste of unique modern architecture and luxury boutiques, stroll down stately Omotesando Dori. Start or end at Omotesando station at one end and Meiji Jingu-mae station at the other. Weekends, the sidewalks are packed with people but you can also enjoy an excellent used kimono outdoor market at the corner opposite Tokyu Plaza (with…
Tokyo Kawaii Musee
Dressing in kimono and strolling around town is a popular tourist activity for both foreign and domestic young women. In trendy Harajuku, Tokyo Kawaii Musee offers a unique experience on several aspects. Rather than more traditional styles, TKM styles lean toward the modern, cute styles incorporating lace, unusual print patterns and fancy hats and bags. Though at 7,560…
Shinto Wedding
Witnessing a wedding procession through a Shinto shrine is a grand and colorful affair, a parade of beautiful traditional costumes and relatives in fine suits and kimono. Seeing such an event taking place in an ancient shrine would make you believe you are witnessing a custom dating back centuries, even a millennium. But you’d be…
Kimono Reinvented
Though it is not uncommon to see a person wearing kimono in modern Japan, there is a definite downward trend in kimono as fashion. The price of this trend is steep, with many artisans and companies involved in the kimono making process shuttering businesses which have been in their families for centuries. The only way to…
Old vs. New
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…
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…
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