Tokyo, Japan

Visiting Japanese Cities

The most challenging portion of my trip to Japan was the time in Tōhoku’s recovering disaster areas, but I spent the majority of my visit in urban Japan. The first half of my trip was structured around Kobe, where I was exhibiting my Isolated Building Studies, and Tokyo served as the base for the second half of the excursion. Whether in Kobe, Tokyo or Sendai, I was excited to have the opportunity to experience Japan’s distinctive urban character alongside some of the most idealistic examples of mid-century architecture — and some of the boldest contemporary styles. The following photographs feature the most typical and atypical locations.

Yaesu Buildings Akihabara Buildings
Representative buildings in the Yaesu and Akihabara districts of Tokyo

Kisho Kurokawa's Nakagin Capsule Tower Kenz? Tange's Shizuoka Press and Broadcasting Center
Kisho Kurokawa’s Nakagin Capsule Tower and Kenzō Tange’s Shizuoka Press and Broadcasting Center, both in Tokyo

Aoyama Kitamachi Danchi
Aoyama Kitamachi Danchi, a social housing development on the edge of Tokyo’s Omotesando commercial district
[Special thanks go to Luis Mendo, who walked me through this district.]

Dior Herzog & de Meuron's Prada Aoyama
SANAA’s Christian Dior Omotesando and Herzog & de Meuron’s Prada Aoyama, both in Tokyo

Harajuku Protestant Church IMG_6780_1
Ciel Rouge Création’s Harajuku Protestant Church in Tokyo and Toyo Ito’s Sendai Mediatheque in Sendai

At Night
A restaurant just beyond Tokyo Station

From the Playing Field
Looking over Kobe from the Hyogo Prefectural Kobe High School

Tokyo Vending Machines Kobe Vending Machine Vending Machines
Ubiquitous vending machines in Tokyo, Kobe and Tokyo, respectively

Along the Street
A typical commercial street near downtown Kobe

Tokyo Street
A typical mixed-use street near Tokyo’s famous Omotesando shopping district

2 thoughts on “Visiting Japanese Cities”

  1. Thank you, Steven. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and hope to return someday soon. It was exciting to see the distinctive architecture, and I was particularly enamored of the small streets on the edge of major shopping areas.

Comments are closed.