(Post) Modern architecture in Japan

Hello,

I am an architecture student visiting Japan for the first time in March this year. I am very much looking forward to this trip and want to make the most of it. Thatfs why - apart from the beautiful traditional architecture - I would also like to see/ visit the (post) modern architecture!

Does anyone have any recommendations or tips? (exhibitions rec are also very welcome!)

The main cities I will be visiting are Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Himeji, Kanazawa and Fuji (maybe Hiroshima).

Thanks in advance!
Have a great day :)

Postmodern architecture in Tokyo
https://www.renovation-soup.com/architecture/7893/
I've been to M passenger terminal 2 when it was a Mazda showroom, but I may not be able to go inside now.
The Edo-Tokyo Museum is also under renovation, so you can't see inside.
https://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/
I think Kengo Kuma's style changed along the way. Other attractions include Sunny Hills and the National Stadium.
https://shop.sunnyhills.co.jp/
https://www.jpnsport.go.jp/kokuritu/Default.aspx
Kenzo Tange is also famous for Tokyo Cathedral Maria Cathedral other than Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/63791
Metabolistic architecture
Kiyonori Kikutake
Besides the Edo-Tokyo National Museum, there seems to be the Showa Museum.
https://kenchiku-pers.com/photo/national_showa_memorial_museum.html
Kisho Kurokawa
The National Art Center is famous.
https://www.nact.jp/
Among Japanese, Tadao Ando is also famous.
This building and so on.
https://kodomohonnomori.osaka/en/
Famous buildings around Omotesando
https://www.gotokyo.org/en/story/walks-and-tours/tokyo-architecture-ha...
The National Museum of Western Art by Le Corbusier, a World Heritage Site
https://www.nmwa.go.jp/jp/
This is the EDO-TOKYO OPEN AIR ARCHITECTURAL MUSEUM where the house of Kunio Maekawa who was a disciple of Le Corbusier is located.
https://www.tatemonoen.jp/
Takamasa Yoshizaka, who designed the University Seminar House, is also a disciple of Le Corbusier (there are three Japanese disciples).
https://iush.jp/
Jiyu Gakuen Myonichikan to Frank Lloyd Wright
https://jiyu.jp/
Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, part of the former Imperial Hotel is located in Meiji Mura, Gifu.
https://www.meijimura.com/

I went to this modernist classic in December, superb:

https://www.archdaily.com/403543/ad-classics-the-kyoto-international-c...

You can only visit on the open day they have once a month.

https://www.icckyoto.or.jp/about_us/csr/icc-kyoto-open-day/

Start by walking up Omotesando

If you get to Yokohama (not far from Tokyo at all), the Yokohama Museum of Art (Tange Kenzo) is interesting. But note that it is currently being renovated (not sure what they are doing) and will be closed until March 15. I really liked the indoor spaces in particular, so if you canft go inside I donft think it is worth a trip to Yokohama in itself. But the Minato Mirai skyline is pretty spectacular as well. If you go out to the Osanbashi Pier you can get a good look at it from a bit of a distance. I like to stay at the Minato Mirai hotels, and you can often get good prices on rooms if you go on a weeknight. (Not convenient as a base for visiting Tokyo, though.)
https://yokohama.art.museum/eng/architecture/
https://www.yokohamajapan.com/article/yokohama-skyline/

If you want to not just see but actually gliveh for a night or so in an interesting building (Tadao Ando) with great views, I recommend Harmonie Embrassee hotel in Osaka. It is a boutique wedding hotel, of all things, but anyone can stay there. It isnft the most conveniently situated Osaka hotel, but it isnft bad (around a 10-minute walk from Osaka Station). Since you are interested in architecture you might want to see if you can visit their wedding chapel, if you stay at the hotel. They donft seem to have an English web site, but if you click on their Menu button it will take you to a page that has some English headings you can click to see photos (click gConcepth and the five gStayh headings). (No English on those pages, though!) The jacuzzi rooms are the best, but for a less-expensive option I recommend the Black Tea rooms as far as views go. Originally, it was basically impossible to book this hotel online in English, but some years ago they started to offer rooms through English-language booking sites.
https://www.tgn.co.jp/hotel/osaka/harmonie/

In Kyoto, be sure to make some time to explore the Kyoto Station building (Hiroshi Hara). Too many people just pass through it as fast as they can and donft bother to take in all of its interesting details and views.

Apparently it is soon to have a major renovation, which I dread (it will go on for years) but hopefully it wonft be too disruptive. It wonft start until later in 2024, though.

Kyoto Station is a good call in terms of post-modernism. I visited again in December, it really is massive!

I like 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, but it is closed for a while due to the earthquake. (SANAA design)
https://www.kanazawa21.jp/data_list.php?g=61&d=429
The DT Suzuki Museum designed by Taniguchi Yoshio is also closed until mid-March.
https://www.kanazawa-museum.jp/daisetz/index.html

The Hiroshi Senju Museum in Karuizawa is excellent piece of architecture (and the art is great as well
https://visitkaruizawa.com/en/spot/hiroshi-senju-museu-karuizawa/

Not sure if anyone mentioned the gislandsh yet.
Inujima
Teshima
Naoshima
All have exzellent architecture
And Awaji has also some really large piece of architecture. HAVNT been there but saw some pictures. Maybe Tadao Ando?

An other area with modern art and architecture is the Echigo Tsumari Triennale area. Specially the
Tunnel of light
House of light
The museum of modern art in Tokamachi. I LOVED their inner courtyard with a shallow pool you can walk through in the heat.
http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/2022/09/sw-d2-echigo-tsumari-tr...

Did anyone mention the Hokusai museum in Tokyo?

And then there is Miho museum in Shiga prefecture. A bit hard to reach but very nice.

http://bicycletraveljapan.blogspot.com/2019/04/miho-museum-perfect-day...

If you do go to Kanazawa I found the castle there interesting. It is a rebuild castle as so many others but here they tried to rebuild it using old building techniques and there is a section where they explain it. This isnft modern architecture but it is newly build.