Tadao Ando's Library in Osaka Is Off the Wall
You simply have to check out Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest in Osaka, designed and built by master architect Tadao Ando, who donated it to the city's children.
New Osaka Louis Vuitton Resembles Sailing Ship
On February 1, 2020, Louis Vuitton opened its new Osaka Midosuji store. Although not necessarily a flagship, it certainly resembles a sailing ship!
Bringing Natural Harmony to a Nursery School
A nursery school in Tottori is connecting children to nature with its award-winning design.
The Quirkiest Shaved Ice in Tokyo
Yelo in Roppongi is not just any normal shaved ice store, especially once you see their toppings list!
Photography Shows Life in Japan 100 Years Ago
Thanks to Eliza Scidmore, we can see images of everyday life in Japan, with some photographs over 100 years old.
Kyushu Bank Redesigned Using Local Wood
The power of design was on full display when Higo Bank, a regional bank in Kyushu, opened its newest branch and completely transformed all our preconceptions of how a bank can make us feel.
Miniature Model of Shinjuku Made Only of Paper
Toshi is a Japanese office worker in his 20s who has a unique hobby: building miniature paper models of cities at a 1/2200 scale. And he has completed his most ambitious project to date: a mini model of Tokyo's sprawling area of Shinjuku.
Nihonbashi's Neighborhood Noren Gallery
Over 30 Nihonbashi-based businesses came together to create noren (the curtains that hang in shopfronts) that symbolize their own identity.
Marvel at Remarkable Single-Stroke Paintings
Daigoro Yonekura is a Japanese artist who creates abstract paintings that resemble billowing plumes of smoke or ink. At once both mysterious and beautiful, they pull the viewer in, offering familiar shapes and forms, leaving us with a particular question.
Tourists Can Finally Buy JR Rail Passes Online
After years of complicated and added-expense hoops to jump through, JR will start letting international travelers buy their passes online and inside their home countries.
Hako in Hiroshima: Thinking Outside the Box
Take a look at this innovative home of stacked boxes, designed to overcome the challenges of building on the side of a cliff.
Find Your Next Best Pal at the Mameshiba Cafe
Unfortunately, there aren't that many chances to meet a Shiba dog in Japan for tourists—until now. At the Mameshiba Cafe located in Takeshita Street in Harajuku, for 880 yen for 30 minutes, you can play with the 12 friendly canine staff members.
Drawing out the Japanese Spirit of Epidemics
The people of Kumamoto have a legendary spirit that comes in time of epidemics. All you have to do is draw a picture of it.
Pop-up Shop Interior Made of Ziploc Containers
It was back in 2018 when Beams first announced a series of haute couture items with bag and storage maker Ziploc, but the brand is doubling down on the intriguing collaboration.
Shohei Otomo's Hyper Realistic Pen Drawings
The artist Shohei creates dauntingly dense and bold ballpoint pen drawings. He also happens to be the son of Katsuhiro Otomo, the creator of Akira.
Yusuke Asai's New Exhibit Uses Wild Materials
Tokyo-born artist Yusuke Asai travela the world, creating wild and unrestrained art with whatever canvas and materials are available to him locally: soil, water, dust, flour, tape, and pens.
Official 2020 Summer Olympics Posters Unveiled
As 2020 kicks off, the real countdown to Tokyo’s Summer Olympics begin and the organizing committee isn’t wasting any time. The series of official Olympics and Paralympics posters have been released, designed by renowned artists from Japan and abroad.
Travel to Toyama to Peek the Japanese Alps
Who knew Japan had its very own Alps? And they are right in the heart of the nation.
Unique Home Design Takes Steps Into the Future
When Akihiro Ito, half of the design team Nendo, wanted to build a home for his family and in-laws, he turned to his business partner to design it for him. And it features a set of stairs that appears to extend from the sidewalk through the house.
Student Merges Metal & Traditional Woodwork
Japanese student and bicycle enthusiast Hiroto has merged traditional Japanese craftwork with bicycle-making to create what he calls a "wa-modern" bicycle.
