Longer Itineraries
Touring Futuristic Architecture in the Retro Towns of Tokyo and Hokuriku
Old and new buildings exist side-by-side in Japan, such as the TOKYO SKYTREE® that towers over its downtown area and retro architecture in high-rise districts, which produces a unique harmony and many fascinating cityscapes. In this journey, you will tour modern architecture in Tokyo and the Hokuriku region, and will feel as if you are stepping through time.
*The times represent the approximate time needed to travel between major spots.
Days 1 to 2
Departing from the TOKYO SKYTREE and Visiting Historic Tokyo Buildings
Tokyo, with both its state-of-the-art skyscrapers and brick retro buildings, is a perfect city for exploring architecture.
You journey starts from Tokyo's new symbol, the TOKYO SKYTREE, where you can look out over the Tokyo metropolis as it spreads across the Kanto plain and you can truly feel Tokyo's size!
Strolling through Asakusa, which still retains its unique downtown atmosphere, is also something you cannot miss. The modern Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, which stands in front of Senso-ji temple, was designed by the famous architect Kengo Kuma.
The highlight of Tokyo's Marunouchi area is the retro architecture that remains in the office district.
The Tokyo Station Building and the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, which have been restored to their original appearance from more than 100 years ago, have classic Western-style designs on both their exteriors and interiors, which still give us a fresh impression.
You journey starts from Tokyo's new symbol, the TOKYO SKYTREE, where you can look out over the Tokyo metropolis as it spreads across the Kanto plain and you can truly feel Tokyo's size!
Strolling through Asakusa, which still retains its unique downtown atmosphere, is also something you cannot miss. The modern Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, which stands in front of Senso-ji temple, was designed by the famous architect Kengo Kuma.
The highlight of Tokyo's Marunouchi area is the retro architecture that remains in the office district.
The Tokyo Station Building and the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, which have been restored to their original appearance from more than 100 years ago, have classic Western-style designs on both their exteriors and interiors, which still give us a fresh impression.
1
TOKYO SKYTREE
TOKYO SKYTREE was listed in the Guinness World Records™ as the tallest tower in the world, standing at a height of 634 m. The Tembo Deck, at an elevation of 350 m, offers 360-degree panoramic views of the Kanto area, and even distant views of Mt. Fuji on a clear day. Tembo Galleria, a further 100 m up at an elevation of 450 m, offers even more expansive 360-degree panoramic views of the Kanto area. Moreover, the tower is bathed in beautiful lighting at night, alternating every day between "Iki" (soft blue), "Miyabi" (Edo purple), and "Nobori" (tangerine). Special lighting is also implemented for every season of the year. At the foot of the tower is TOKYO Solamachi, a commercial facility packed with a wide selection of over 300 shops and restaurants, as well as a planetarium and an aquarium, offering a full day of enjoyment for visitors. The tower is a world-renowned landmark of Tokyo.
15 minutes by foot
2
Asakusa
Asakusa is known for its landmarks that include the red lantern of Kaminari-mon and Sensoji Temple. The Sumida and Oshiage area, home to the Tokyo Sky Tree, is found on the opposite shore of the Sumida River.
10 minutes by train (non-JR lines)
5 minutes by train (JR)
3
Tokyo Station
October 2012 saw completion of the preservation and restoration work on the Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building. The red brick facade long loved as the symbol of Tokyo Station has made a comeback, along with the history and grandeur of the original building dating nearly a hundred years back. The occasion also saw the reopening of Tokyo Station Hotel and Tokyo Station Gallery. The former is the hotel situated within an important cultural property of Japan. The interior is designed in a sophisticated, classical European style to blend with the splendor of the Marunouchi Building exterior.
2 minutes by foot
4
Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum
The Marunouchi district, where the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum is located, is one of Tokyo's premier office districts. In 1894, Mitsubishi Ichigokan was built here as the first office building in the Marunouchi district, and became the address of major companies and banks. Centered around Mitsubishi Ichigokan's modern red brick construction, the surrounding area was unified to a Western-style cityscape, and at the time it was likened to the cityscapes of London and is said to have been called "Iccho London" (a block of London). After Mitsubishi Ichigokan was restored, it was reborn as the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum. Café 1894, the museum's café and bar, utilizes a space that was once a banking office, and the interior has been faithfully reproduced from materials, etc. at the time, making it feel as if you have stepped into the past.
20 minutes by train (JR)
Days 3 to 5
Taking a Look at the Modern Cityscapes of Shibuya and Shinjuku
Shinjuku and Shibuya are Tokyo's premier shopping districts, with rows of high-rise office and shopping buildings, which provides a very different view from Marunouchi.
In Shinjuku it is fun to walk around and observe Hanazono-jinja Shrine, which stands alone amongst the other buildings, as well as the bar streets that still have their old-fashioned atmosphere.
Shibuya is just a short train ride away from Shinjuku, and the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, one of the most famous worldwide images of Japan, is worth seeing when you come to Japan. Why not aim to visit some of the latest spots that have popped up in the area around the station, such as MIYASHITA PARK and the SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE?
If you go from Shibuya to Omotesando you will also find the Nezu Museum, whose sharp, eye-catching design was created by Kengo Kuma. The Nezu Museum is also a location where you can feel harmony between the building and its Japanese garden.
In Shinjuku it is fun to walk around and observe Hanazono-jinja Shrine, which stands alone amongst the other buildings, as well as the bar streets that still have their old-fashioned atmosphere.
Shibuya is just a short train ride away from Shinjuku, and the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, one of the most famous worldwide images of Japan, is worth seeing when you come to Japan. Why not aim to visit some of the latest spots that have popped up in the area around the station, such as MIYASHITA PARK and the SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE?
If you go from Shibuya to Omotesando you will also find the Nezu Museum, whose sharp, eye-catching design was created by Kengo Kuma. The Nezu Museum is also a location where you can feel harmony between the building and its Japanese garden.
5
Shinjuku
Shinjuku is the center of Tokyo culture, and it is continuously developing. One of the district’s landmarks is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the center of Tokyo’s administration. With plenty of spots to see, the area is centered around JR Shinjuku Station, which is the largest terminal station in Japan. The vicinity of the station’s East Exit is full of bustling streets such as Kabuki-cho and Golden-gai, and shopping areas such as department stores and large-scale stores. On the other hand, the business area of the West Exit is where the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building stands, along with an array of high-rise office buildings, hotels and public art installations. For those who are looking for a pleasant place to walk, the terraces among the buildings of the South Exit are perfect. Visitors can also come across more attractions around town including Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, an oasis in the city.
10 minutes by train (JR)
6
Shibuya
Shibuya district is the origin of youth culture. You will find several famous restaurants, bars, night clubs and live music venues flourishing among rows of stylish department stores and shops with a constant vibrant and youthful atmosphere. Shibuya is definitely the place to go to if you want to get the latest kawaii (cute) trends published in magazines. In addition, you can also enjoy dining at fashionable cafés and affordable eateries. Situated in front of Shibuya Station are some of the district’s landmarks such as the bronze statue of the loyal dog, Hachiko, and the “Shibuya Scramble Crossing.”
1 minute by foot
7
SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE
SHIBUYA SKY was built with three zones: SKY GATE, a transitional space on the 14F–45F; SKY STAGE, an outdoor observation area; and SKY GALLERY, an indoor observation corridor on the 46F. Not only can you see 360 degrees of scenery from 229m above Shibuya, but the observation spaces stimulate intellectual curiosity and foster imagination through a series of experiences.
2 minutes by train (non-JR lines)
8
Nezu Museum
The museum was founded in 1940 to preserve and display Japanese and East Asian premodern art collection of Nezu Kaichiro, a prominent businessman whose career included being President of the Tobu Railway Co., Ltd. Current main building was designed by Kengo Kuma. The expanse of this open, relaxing space is an enjoyable place to appreciate art.
The lush 17,000 square meters of Japanese garden behind the museum creates an oasis in the city, where visitors can take pleasure in the passage of the seasons. (Entry to the garden requires museum entrance fee. Online Timed-entry reservation is recommended. )
The lush 17,000 square meters of Japanese garden behind the museum creates an oasis in the city, where visitors can take pleasure in the passage of the seasons. (Entry to the garden requires museum entrance fee. Online Timed-entry reservation is recommended. )
30 minutes by train (non-JR lines)
JR Joetsu Shinkansen
15 minutes by bus
Days 6 to 11
Touring Beautiful Hokuriku Buildings Designed by Famous Architects
The highlights of this architectural journey around the three prefectures of Hokuriku -- Niigata Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Fukui Prefecture -- are the public buildings designed by leading Japanese architects.
This journey will introduce four buildings: (1) the Ryutopia Niigata City Performing Arts Center by Itsuko Hasegawa, (2)the Museum on Echigo-Tsumari, MonET by Hiroshi Hara, (3) the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa by SANAA, an architectural unit by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, and (4) the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum by Kisho Kurokawa.
Each architect used their own ingenuity to design what the building will look like in the city and in nature.
While walking around the actual grounds of the buildings, it is also fun to think about the thoughts and design concepts that the architects had.
This journey to Hokuriku will be a fulfilling journey to experience the aesthetic sense of Japanese architecture!
This journey will introduce four buildings: (1) the Ryutopia Niigata City Performing Arts Center by Itsuko Hasegawa, (2)the Museum on Echigo-Tsumari, MonET by Hiroshi Hara, (3) the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa by SANAA, an architectural unit by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, and (4) the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum by Kisho Kurokawa.
Each architect used their own ingenuity to design what the building will look like in the city and in nature.
While walking around the actual grounds of the buildings, it is also fun to think about the thoughts and design concepts that the architects had.
This journey to Hokuriku will be a fulfilling journey to experience the aesthetic sense of Japanese architecture!
9
Ryutopia Niigata City Performing Arts Center
The Ryutopia Niigata City Performing Arts Center is one of the most popular city landmarks where everyone can experience culture and the arts, and includes a concert hall, a theatre, a Noh theatre, and rental studios. The facility was designed by Itsuko Hasegawa, who has worked on numerous public buildings with the theme of "integrating architecture and the surrounding environment." There are six outdoor aerial gardens that are full of greenery, and the promenade is designed to connect them with the facility. It is not just a place where culture and the arts originate, but is also a base for creating once-in-a-lifetime meetings between people.
15 minutes by bus
JR Joetsu Shinkansen
10 minutes by train (JR)
15 minutes by train (non-JR lines)
10
Museum on Echigo-Tsumari, MonET
This museum plays a central role in the Echigo Tsumari Art Field. Exposed concrete and lavish use of glass give a quiet appearance to the building, separating the peaceful interior from the noisy outside. Inside, rooms are nested inside each other, a traditional form of Japanese architecture, found in sacred places such as temples and shrines.
55 minutes by train (non-JR lines)
JR Hokuriku Shinkansen
15 minutes by bus
11
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
The museum exhibits contemporary art from all over the world as a museum that moves in step with contemporary society. Visitors can enjoy works of art on display inside and outside that blend in with the museum building, with all of their five senses. The circular building with no "front" was designed on the concept of being a "museum open to the city like a park." It was designed by the duo, Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA who won a Pritzker Architecture Prize for it, said to be the Nobel Prize in the world of architecture.
15 minutes by bus
45 minutes by train (JR)
60 minutes by train (non-JR lines)
15 minutes by bus
12
Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum
Located in Katsuyama City, Fukui Prefecture, it is one of the world's largest museums, and is known nationwide as a treasure trove of dinosaur fossils. The vast astylar space is overflowing with exhibits of dinosaur skeletons, fossils and specimens, and dioramas and reconstruction models, that brings you up close to the power of dinosaurs and can be enjoyed by the young and old.
This journey takes you on a tour of modern architecture in Tokyo and Hokuriku across 11 days and 10 nights.
Example transportation have been provided for reference, but walking around and exploring in the areas near the spots introduced in this journey as the mood takes you is also recommended.
*The information provided here is as of March 2022.
*Transportation information does not include the number of transfers or transfer time.
*Admission fees may be charged depending on the spot/facility. For the latest information on business hours, days when spots/facilities are regularly closed, prices, etc., please check the official website for each spot/facility or check directly with the spot/facility.
Example transportation have been provided for reference, but walking around and exploring in the areas near the spots introduced in this journey as the mood takes you is also recommended.
*The information provided here is as of March 2022.
*Transportation information does not include the number of transfers or transfer time.
*Admission fees may be charged depending on the spot/facility. For the latest information on business hours, days when spots/facilities are regularly closed, prices, etc., please check the official website for each spot/facility or check directly with the spot/facility.