Tokyo Contemporary Architecture

Due to past earthquakes, fires, as well as the bombing during the war, not too many historical buildings have survived in Tokyo. However there's no shortage of contemporary buildings, mostly by Japanese architects but also by some foreign units as well.

Works by a few of the big names are mentioned below in this section of the website. Whenever I go abroad for travel, I am always on the lookout for any projects by Japanese architects, but always encounter difficulty finding information particularly for newer projects. So I have provided addresses wherever I felt there is difficulty for a non-local to locate the exact spot. Note that street names are not provided because in most cases, names don't exist in the first place! Google Maps will prove very handy when searching through the lesser-known areas of the metropolis. 

You'll find many of the architecture introduced here are either in the Omotesando or Ginza district. They are right in the main tourist areas of town, so be on the lookout for some of the buildings featured here.

Note that with a few of the buildings, I was a bit more vague on the location. This is because certain buildings are used as a private residence, and I felt it would be inappropriate to list the full address.

NOTE: Jan '23-Contents in this section were reviewed and updated. Unfortunately some projects such as the Nakagin Capsule Building have recently been torn down and is mentioned accordingly.

Oct '23-Added information about Kiki's Museum of Literature in the section for Kengo Kuma's works