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

Yvonne Bernal
Community Member
6 years ago Created 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

Terrel Bush
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These ideas are why I want to be an architect!

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#4

Ebisu East Gallery In Shibuya, Tokyo

Ebisu East Gallery In Shibuya, Tokyo

ykanazawa1999 Report

Notchimine Mette
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is how to fix a building after the Avengers were in town...

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#5

Tiny House In Tokyo

Tiny House In Tokyo

Yasuhiro Yamashita Report

Emily Rose
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If they sell it, the new owner better not have a bigger car...

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#7

Sugamo Shinkin Bank In Kawaguchi

Sugamo Shinkin Bank In Kawaguchi

emmanuellemoureaux Report

#8

House & Garden, Tokyo

House & Garden, Tokyo

Ryue Nishizawa Report

Wombat34
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Building regulations must be very different in Japan.

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#9

Acros Building In Fukuoka, Japan

Acros Building In Fukuoka, Japan

kbob.org Report

Kjorn
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this is where Jumaji 2 will be filmed

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#10

Ribbon Chapel In Hiroshima

Ribbon Chapel In Hiroshima

Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Report

#11

Unusual Slide House In Japan

Unusual Slide House In Japan

Studio LEVEL Architects Report

#12

Nakagin Capsule Tower, Tokyo, Japan

Nakagin Capsule Tower, Tokyo, Japan

interiorator.com , wikipedia.org Report

#13

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

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

architizer.com Report

Cassie
Community Member
6 years ago Created 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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#14

Tokyo Apartments

Tokyo Apartments

Sou Fujimoto Architects Report

#15

Nasu Teepee House In Nasu, Japan

Nasu Teepee House In Nasu, Japan

Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co. Report

#16

Omotesando Branches In Tokyo

Omotesando Branches In Tokyo

Sou Fujimoto Report

Misty Pal
Community Member
6 years ago Created 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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#17

Transparent House In Japan

Transparent House In Japan

Sou Fujimoto Architects Report

#18

Small House Project In Tokyo

Small House Project In Tokyo

Unemori Architects Report

#19

Sayama Forest Chapel

Sayama Forest Chapel

Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Report

#20

Dear Ginza Building By Amano Design Office, Tokyo, Japan

Dear Ginza Building By Amano Design Office, Tokyo, Japan

archdaily.com Report

Cassie
Community Member
6 years ago Created 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

#22

Reversible Destiny Lofts In Tokyo

Reversible Destiny Lofts In Tokyo

Shusaku Arakawa Report

#23

Miyahata Jōmon Museum In Fukushima, Japan

Miyahata Jōmon Museum In Fukushima, Japan

Furuichi and Associates Report

Owen Lutwyche
Community Member
2 years ago Created 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

Fluttergirl
Community Member
6 years ago Created 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

Ann Ros'a
Community Member
6 years ago Created 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

#29

Ghost House, Tokyo, Japan

Ghost House, Tokyo, Japan

Takeshi Yamagishi Report

#30

Grin Grin Building At Island City In Fukuoka City

Grin Grin Building At Island City In Fukuoka City

Toyo Ito Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#31

N Village In Iwate Prefecture, Japan

N Village In Iwate Prefecture, Japan

Zai Shirakawa Architects Report

Robert Herczeg
Community Member
6 years ago Created 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.

#32

O House In Kyoto, Japan

O House In Kyoto, Japan

Hideyuki Nakayama Architecture Report

#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

Report

#34

Yakisugi House (charcoal House) In Nagano, Japan

Yakisugi House (charcoal House) In Nagano, Japan

Terunobu Fujimori Report

Cassie
Community Member
6 years ago Created 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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#35

S-House In Oomiya, Saitama, Japan

S-House In Oomiya, Saitama, Japan

Yuusuke Karasawa Architects Report

#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

Cassie
Community Member
6 years ago Created 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.

#38

House In Saijo, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

House In Saijo, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

Suppose Design Office Report

#39

GC Prostho Museum Research Center In Japan

GC Prostho Museum Research Center In Japan

archdaily.com Report

#40

Half And Half House

Half And Half House

Akio NAKASA and Teppei AMANO Report

Snarkygal
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd love to see how the inside is laid out in this one.

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#41

Cocoon Tower, Shinjuku, Tokyo

Cocoon Tower, Shinjuku, Tokyo

Tange Associates Report

#42

Za-Koenji Public Theatre In Suginami-Ku, Tokyo

Za-Koenji Public Theatre In Suginami-Ku, Tokyo

Toyo Ito Report

JustRoz
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope. Looks like it just landed.

#43

A House Awaiting Death In Ise, Mie Prefecture, Japan

A House Awaiting Death In Ise, Mie Prefecture, Japan

EASTERN Design Office 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

#45

House In Kawasaki

House In Kawasaki

mtytic Report

#46

Flagpole House In Tokyo

Flagpole House In Tokyo

milligram Report

#47

Urbanprem Minami Aoyama Commercial Building In Tokyo, Japan

Urbanprem Minami Aoyama Commercial Building In Tokyo, Japan

Yuko Nagayama & Associates Report

Nikita Jagora
Community Member
6 years ago Created 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

#49

Exquisite Tunnel House In Japan

Exquisite Tunnel House In Japan

Makiko Tsukada Architects Report

#50

K-Museum In Ariake, Tokyo

K-Museum In Ariake, Tokyo

Makoto Watanabe Report

Kjorn
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

looks like they messed up the assembly. damn ikea

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#51

Nanohana-Kan Communication And Recreation Plaza, Ibusuki, Japan

Nanohana-Kan Communication And Recreation Plaza, Ibusuki, Japan

Takasaki Masaharu Report

Shoeb Ahmad
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Airship ready to leave from underground bunker.

#52

House In Tsurumaki, Tokyo

House In Tsurumaki, Tokyo

Case-real Report