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The Architectural Review An online and print magazine about international design. Since 1896.

Japan

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Trash into treasure: Zero Waste Centre in Kamikatsu, Japan by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP

Danielle Demetriou

Hiroshi Nakamura and NAP’s Kamikatsu Zero Waste Centre is a new type of recycling facility and an unexpected visitor attraction

Sukugawa Community Centre by Unemori Architects

Sukagawa Community Centre by Unemori Architects

Florence Wright

AR Public awards 2022 shortlisted: Unemori Architects' community centre aims to regenerate public spirit following a catastrophic earthquake

Miyashita Park in Tokyo, Japan, by Nikken Sekkei and Takenaka Corporation

Miyashita Park in Tokyo, Japan by Nikken Sekkei and Takenaka Corporation

Florence Wright

Bench Bomb in Tokyo, Japan by DDAA

Bench Bomb, Japan, DDAA

Florence Wright

Daita2019, a house in Tokyo, Japan by Suzuko Yamada Architects

Inside out: Suzuko Yamada Architects

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House and Restaurant in Yamaguchi, Japan by Junya Ishigami + Associates

More Japanese buildings

Brazilian pavilion, Osaka Expo, by Paulo Mendes da Rocha

Beyond the horizon: Casa Wabi near Oaxaca by Tadao Ando

Rites of passage: Yu Momoeda Architecture Office, Japan

Market in Niigata, Japan, by Takuya Hosokai

Horai Onsen by Kengo Kuma, Atami-shi, Japan, 2003

House of Toilet on Ibukijima Island, Japan by Daigo Ishii + Future-scape Architects

Branching out: Agri Chapel in Nagasaki, Japan by Yu Momoeda Architecture Office

Sunnyhills Cake Shop in Tokyo by Kengo Kuma & Associates

Inagawa Reien and Sayama Lakeside Cemetery, Japan

Making waves: Bath House in Gunma by Kubo Tsushima

Unplan Hostel in Tokyo, Japan, by Aida Atelier

Residential Care Unit, Japan by Sou Fujimoto Architects

Setre Chapel in Kobe by Ryuichi Ashizawa Architects

Fostering growth: Hakusui Nursery by Yamazaki Kentaro Design Workshop in Japan

Bird’s Nest Atami and Sayama Forest Chapel by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP

Aichi Sangyo University Educational Centre in Japan by Studio Velocity

Nursery School in Japan by Takahashi Ippei

Architecture Global Aid’s Origami Houses in Tokyo

Cemetery Hall by Hiroshi Nakamura, Hiroshima

School in Tama, Tokyo by Kengo Kuma

Infinite Landscape Installation, Sapporo, Japan

Kamoi Museum, Kurashiki, Japan

Tokyo Storeys: Tourist Information Tower by Kengo Kuma, Tokyo, Japan

Little Hilltop with Wind View by Shingo Masuda, Yamaguchi, Japan

Sagacho Archives by Masahiro Harada

Kumon School by Takashi Yonezawa, Kyoto, Japan

Hiroshi Nakamura’s art museum reflects the ornamental traditions in Japan

Coming of age in Japan’s lost decades: a season of stalwart seedlings

Cadet Branch: Tezuka Architects’ Offshoot for a Tokyo School

Roku Museum by Hiroshi Nakamura & Nap Architects, Oyama City, Japan

Teshima Art Museum by Ryue Nishizawa, Teshima Island, Japan

Shima Kitchen by Atelier Ryo Abe, Teshima Island, Japan

The Cabins by Atelier Ichiku, various locations

Hoto Fudo by Takeshi Hosaka Architects, Fuji Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan

Musashino Art University Library by Sou Fujimoto Architects, Tokyo, Japan

Nezu Museum by Kengo Kuma & Associates, Tokyo, Japan

Open Architecture by Yoshiaki Oyabu Architects, Tokyo, Japan

Za-Koenji Theatre by Toyo Ito, Tokyo, Japan

Canopy at Hoshakuji Station by Kengo Kuma and Associates, Takanezawa-Machi, Toghigi, Japan

Towada Art Centre by Office of Ryue Nishizawa, Towada, Aomori, Japan

Vegetation Installation Gor Fleg Daikanyama Showroom in Tokyo by Taketo Shimohigoshi

Kindergarten, Tezuka Architects, Tokyo, Japan

Children’s treatment centre, Hokkaido, Japan by Sou Fujimoto Architects

House By Tezuka Architects (Tokyo, Japan)

Museum Of Natural Science, Tezuka Architects (Niigata, Japan)

Up on the roof: House By Tezuka Architects (Hadano, Japan)

The rest hut: pavilion at Kamiichi, Japan by Peter Salter

Tea ceremonial: Tea house, Tokyo, Japan, by Arata Isozaki & Associates

From the archive: children’s museum, Hyogo, Japan by Tadao Ando

Field study centre in Tone-gun, Japan, by Sakakura Associates

Face House in Kyoto, Japan by Kazumasa Yamashita

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Shinminka Villa Tamashiro by ISSHO Architects in Nakijin, Japan

Matthew Maganga

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Group home on hilltop in Tokyo, Japan by Sogo AUD

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Earthen storehouse and extension in Gifu, Japan by Sawadee

Alistair Napier

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Yuka to Tenjo in Tokyo, Japan by Kochi Architect's Studio

More Japanese houses

Light-filled stair hall in Tokyo, Japan by Kiri Architects

LEAP 19C in Tsuyama, Japan by Kaniue Architects

House in Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan by Shota Nakanishi Architects

Yamato House in Nara, Japan by Tadashi Yoshimura Architects

Four Leaves in Karuizawa by Kentaro Ishida Architects Studio

White Hut in Shisui by ADO

Ascending order: Loop Terrace, Kobe, Japan, Tomohiro Hata Architect and Associates

Slice of life: the Cut, Koganecho, Japan, by Persimmon Hills Architects

Level crossings: Nishinakayama-cho Strip House, Aichi, Japan, by Kochi Architect’s Studio

Footprints in time: House in Kamitomii, Kurashiki, Japan, by General Design Co

Building in potential: house in Nobeoka, Japan by Schemata Architects

Inside outing: Inverted House, Japan, by Oslo School of Architecture and Design + Kengo Kuma

AR_EA 2005 Honourable mention: T-House by Sou Fujimoto Architects

‘Reinvigorating the fading holiday culture of Lake Chuzenji’: On the Water by Nikken Sekkei

‘Bold, impressive and immense’: Cosmic by UID Architects

Fukuta House in Seki, Japan by Takashi Yonezawa Architects

Nakanosawagawa House in Sapporo, Japan by Ryo Yamada

Nasu Tepee House in Tochigi, Japan by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Architects

Hiroshima Hut in Hiroshima, Japan by Suppose Design Office

Log H in Tokyo, Japan by Mount Fuji Architects Studio

Rebirth House in Ibaraki, Japan by Ryo Matsui Architects

Boundary Window in Tokyo by Shingo Masuda + Katsuhisa Otsubo

Armadillo by Yuji Tanabe Architects

A House Open to the City by Studio Velocity

Dragon Court Village in Japan by Eureka

House-T, Japan by Tsukano Architect Office

House of Yagi, Japan by Suppose Design Office

Forest House in the city, Japan by Studio Velocity

Split house, China by Neri & Hu Design and Research Office

Small house, Japan by Unemori architects

House in Hokkaido, Japan by Kengo Kuma

Tokyo Garden and House by Ryue Nishizawa

Umbrella Tea House, Japan, Kazuhiro Yajima

Optical Glass House, Hiroshima, Japan

Dig in the Sky House, Osaka, Japan by Alphaville Architects

Toda House in Hiroshima, Japan by Kimihiko Okada

Outside In House in Yamanashi, Japan by Takeshi Hosaka Architects

Nest House, Onomichi City, Japan by UID ARCHITECTS

1990 April: Platform Houses in Katsuura, Japan by Kazuyo Sejima

Raised House in Hiroshima by Kimihiko Okada

Comparing two small houses by Go Hasegawa in Japan

Nebuta House Museum by Molo Design, Japan

Dig in the Sky House by ALPHAville Architects, Osaka, Japan

Inbetween House by Koji Tsutsui Architect & Associates, Karuizawa, Japan

House with Gardens by Tetsuo Kondo Architects, Yokohama, Japan

Daylight House by Takeshi Hosaka Architects, Yokohama, Japan

Distance of Fog House by Studio Green Blue, Tokyo, Japan

Atelier-Bisque Doll by UID Architects, Minoh, Osaka, Japan

Near House by Mount Fuji Architects Studio, Tokyo, Japan

House K by Sekkai-Sha Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan

Passage House by TNA, Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Love House by Takeshi Hosaka Architects, Yokohama, Japan

House H by Sou Fujimoto Architects, Tokyo, Japan

House kn by Kochi Architect’s Studio, Miura City, Kanagawa, Japan

Love House by Takeshi Hosaka Architects, Yokohama, Japan

Square House by TNA, Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan

Crane House by Atelier Bow-Wow, Karuiza, Nagano, Japan

House N by Sou Fujimoto Architects, Oita City, Oita, Japan

See more houses

Photo of the aftermath of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial (A-Bomb Dome) after the devastating nuclear detonation in the Museum

Concrete tombs: the material footprint of nuclear waste and war

Used to contain, memorialise and ward off nuclear disaster, concrete is the primary building material of the atomic age

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Folio: Ryue Nishizawa’s desk

The results of creative processes do not always give away their messy conceptions

Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo, Japan

Nakagin Capsule Tower (1972–2022): demolition postcard

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From doma to daidokoro: Japanese kitchens

Michelle L Hauk

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Folio: Arata Isozaki

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Sceptred isles: the possibility of the archipelago

Stefania Staniscia

More essays about Japan

Reading the city: Roland Barthes in Paris and Tokyo

Floor polish: floor as furniture in Japan

Balancing act: Junya Ishigami’s shifts in scale

Building momentum in Koshirakura

Designing for the moment: on 70 years of Japanese house architecture

Klein Dytham architecture: ‘We don’t need any more grey boxes’

Sou Fujimoto: ‘Foreigners don’t want really crazy things’

AR_EA Japan: Hibino Sekkei and Youji No Shiro

Japan Architects: Curating 60 Years of Architectural Production

Japan after the storm

Interview: Toyo Ito

Pedagogy: University Of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

The unrealised vision for Japan’s future

Innovators interview: Junya Ishigami

View From Sendai, Japan

Okuma, Japan – Catastrophic events in Japan will severely set back efforts to combat future climate change

Another Scale of Architecture, Toyota City, Japan

Eastern Design Office’s latest Japanese bar

Tomoe Shindoh − Kyoto-Seika, Japan

New Architecture in Japan by Yuki Sumner and Naomi Pollock with David Littlefield

Mokuzai Kaikan Office by Tomohiko Yamanashi and Takeyuki Katsuya, Nikken Sekkei, Shinkiba, Tokyo, Japan

Forest of Net Pavilion by Twzuka Architects, Hakone Open-air Museum, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

Restaurant by Nigel Coates (Tokyo, Japan)

Browse the AR by location

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Arakawa (1936-2010) and Gins (1941-2014)

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Tadao Ando (1941-)

More Reputations