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The list of reasons to visit Japan is pretty much endless - the unique Japanese culture, centuries-old Japanese traditions, and arts, just to name a few. But one of the best excuses to pack your bags and jump on the next plane to Tokyo is the country's incredibly diverse and innovative array of modern architecture.

The Japanese have their modern design ideas deeply connected to the traditional architecture, where wood, big screens and decorative but minimal designs where the most prominent. The contemporary take on Japanese architecture favorites such characteristics as multipurpose use, minimalism, and the relationship with nature which is very clear even the big city dwellings.

As you can see from this list compiled by Bored Panda, there seems to be no limit to the unique design ideas and imagination that goes into designing buildings and structures in Japan. And whether you're into secluded wooden forest hideaways, totally transparent modern design houses, stunning capsule towers or beautiful ribbon-shaped chapels, you're sure to find something in this Japanese architecture list to amaze you.

#1

Japanese Kindergarten Built Around A Tree

Japanese Kindergarten Built Around A Tree

tezuka architects Report

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Yvonne Bernal
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe this can teach the children to appreciate nature more... instead of the traditional concrete playground.

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#2

Japanese Architect Created An Unique Forest House For 2 Retired Ladies

Japanese Architect Created An Unique Forest House For 2 Retired Ladies

Issei Suma Report

#3

Preschool In Japan Collects Rainwater Into Puddles For Kids To Play In

Preschool In Japan Collects Rainwater Into Puddles For Kids To Play In

Youji No Shiro Report

#4

Ebisu East Gallery In Shibuya, Tokyo

Ebisu East Gallery In Shibuya, Tokyo

ykanazawa1999 Report

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#5

Tiny House In Tokyo

Tiny House In Tokyo

Yasuhiro Yamashita Report

#7

Sugamo Shinkin Bank In Kawaguchi

Sugamo Shinkin Bank In Kawaguchi

emmanuellemoureaux Report

#8

House & Garden, Tokyo

House & Garden, Tokyo

Ryue Nishizawa Report

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#9

Acros Building In Fukuoka, Japan

Acros Building In Fukuoka, Japan

kbob.org Report

#10

Ribbon Chapel In Hiroshima

Ribbon Chapel In Hiroshima

Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Report

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#13

Sugamo Shinkin Bank / Shimura Branch Azusawa, Itabashi-ku, Japan

Sugamo Shinkin Bank / Shimura Branch Azusawa, Itabashi-ku, Japan

architizer.com Report

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Cassie
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apparently, Sugamo Shinkin Bank likes to stand out in every location.

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#16

Omotesando Branches In Tokyo

Omotesando Branches In Tokyo

Sou Fujimoto Report

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Misty Pal
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey great way to add greenery..should be the future of all houses in cities

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#18

Small House Project In Tokyo

Small House Project In Tokyo

Unemori Architects Report

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#20

Dear Ginza Building By Amano Design Office, Tokyo, Japan

Dear Ginza Building By Amano Design Office, Tokyo, Japan

archdaily.com Report

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Cassie
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The architect drew the building, wasn't happy with the drawing, crumpled it, and tossed it aside. Then somebody opened the crumpled paper and saw awesomeness.

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#21

A Large Shell Shaped Structure In The Middle Of The Woods In Kitasaku District

A Large Shell Shaped Structure In The Middle Of The Woods In Kitasaku District

ARTechnic architects Report

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#23

Miyahata Jōmon Museum In Fukushima, Japan

Miyahata Jōmon Museum In Fukushima, Japan

Furuichi and Associates Report

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Owen Lutwyche
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The brutalist concrete contrasts very nicely with the sterile, modern wooden ceiling

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#24

Tsuzumimon Gate, Kanazawa Station, Kanazawa

Tsuzumimon Gate, Kanazawa Station, Kanazawa

muza-chan.net Report

#25

Sunny Hills Japan Dessert Shop In Omotesando, Tokyo

Sunny Hills Japan Dessert Shop In Omotesando, Tokyo

Kengo Kuma and associates Report

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Fluttergirl
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It kind of looks like a bunch of baby gates stacked on top of one another.

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#26

Apartment – House In Chiba, Japan

Apartment – House In Chiba, Japan

Kochi Architect's Studio Report

#27

Mikimoto Ginza 2 Building In Tokyo

Mikimoto Ginza 2 Building In Tokyo

openbuildings.com , Ito Toyo Report

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Ann Ros'a
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like it should be in Swisterland with all those oddly shaped holes!

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#28

Sunwell Muse By Takato Tamagami And Be-fun Design, Tokyo, Japan

Sunwell Muse By Takato Tamagami And Be-fun Design, Tokyo, Japan

archello.com , Masaya Yoshimura Report

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#30

Grin Grin Building At Island City In Fukuoka City

Grin Grin Building At Island City In Fukuoka City

Toyo Ito Report

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#31

N Village In Iwate Prefecture, Japan

N Village In Iwate Prefecture, Japan

Zai Shirakawa Architects Report

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Robert Herczeg
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

interesting, this is something that I'd expect in a nordic country rather than Japan.

#33

Mirrored Entrance To 'Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku' Shopping Complex In Tokyo, Japan

Mirrored Entrance To 'Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku' Shopping Complex In Tokyo, Japan

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#34

Yakisugi House (charcoal House) In Nagano, Japan

Yakisugi House (charcoal House) In Nagano, Japan

Terunobu Fujimori Report

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Cassie
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like something you might spot in a Studio Ghibli film.

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#36

Hoki Museum In Midori Ward, Chiba, Japan

Hoki Museum In Midori Ward, Chiba, Japan

Nikken Sekkei Report

#37

House In Muko

House In Muko

FujiwaraMuro Architects Report

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Cassie
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shame this was taken on a cloudy day. I'm curious as to the relationship of the path of the sun to those slat windows.

#39

GC Prostho Museum Research Center In Japan

GC Prostho Museum Research Center In Japan

archdaily.com Report

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#40

Half And Half House

Half And Half House

Akio NAKASA and Teppei AMANO Report

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#42

Za-Koenji Public Theatre In Suginami-Ku, Tokyo

Za-Koenji Public Theatre In Suginami-Ku, Tokyo

Toyo Ito Report

#44

Part Of The University Of Tokyo‘s Campus Building With Layered Timber Slats

Part Of The University Of Tokyo‘s Campus Building With Layered Timber Slats

Kengo Kuma and associates Report

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#45

House In Kawasaki

House In Kawasaki

mtytic Report

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#46

Flagpole House In Tokyo

Flagpole House In Tokyo

milligram Report

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#47

Urbanprem Minami Aoyama Commercial Building In Tokyo, Japan

Urbanprem Minami Aoyama Commercial Building In Tokyo, Japan

Yuko Nagayama & Associates Report

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Nikita Jagora
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you don't like your neighbors, you can just roll your house somewhere else.

#48

House In Abiko, Japan

House In Abiko, Japan

fuse-atelier Report

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#49

Exquisite Tunnel House In Japan

Exquisite Tunnel House In Japan

Makiko Tsukada Architects Report

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#50

K-Museum In Ariake, Tokyo

K-Museum In Ariake, Tokyo

Makoto Watanabe Report

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#51

Nanohana-Kan Communication And Recreation Plaza, Ibusuki, Japan

Nanohana-Kan Communication And Recreation Plaza, Ibusuki, Japan

Takasaki Masaharu Report

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#52

House In Tsurumaki, Tokyo

House In Tsurumaki, Tokyo

Case-real Report

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