Let “Only One Travel” show you the wealth of avant-garde architecture that Tokyo has to offer.
Tokyo is home to some of the world’s most innovative architecture – but how do you know where to start? Let me take you on a specially curated tour of Tokyo’s most iconic buildings.
Together they will start in Ginza to see the striking facades of the luxury brands: Maison Hermès, Armani, Dior, Gucci and Chanel, each a gift for Ginza’s rejuvenation at the turn of the century. Then we will delve into metabolism, the Japanese fusion of architectural science with organic growth, encapsulated by Kisho Kurokawa’s Nakagin capsule tower, made up of individual cubes.
To the west, you should first see the world’s busiest zebra crossing outside Shibuya Station before heading towards Omotesando Boulevard. Here your Insider will introduce you to the Pritzker Prize winners: first the 1964 Olympic Stadium by Kenzo Tange, then self-taught architect Tadao Ando, whose captivating Omotesando Hills shopping center is located here. You will continue to Roppongi and Aoyama to see one dazzling three-dimensional statement after another. TOD by Toyo Ito, the Prada building by Herzog & de Meuron, and The Jewels of Aoyama by Jun Mitsui & Associates, to name just a few.
The day tour is flexible and can be tailored to your liking. For a more contemporary take on the tradition, WA Space, located on a side street in Akasaka, is worth a visit. Alternatively, let your Insider introduce you to Roppongi, where you will find the Kurokawa-designed National Art Center and the well-known Mori Tower. In Tokyo Midtown, less than a kilometer away, you can see the 21_21 Design Sight by Tadao Ando.
It’s hard to appreciate how vast the urban sprawl of Tokyo is. While there are plenty of gems sprinkled, you could easily spend a week barely scratching the surface. Let our architecture tour tip the scales of time and treasure in your favor. Bring a good pair of walking shoes and have fun!