Japanese architecture news, buildings designs

Japanese Architecture News: Buildings

post updated 6 November 2026

Japanese Architecture Design – chronological list

For our full selection of Japanese homes please see Japanese Houses

Japanese Architectural News 2026, chronological:

27 October 2026
Kenya Restaurant in Kyoto
Architecture: Fumihiko Sano Studio

photo : Makoto Ito

25 July 2026
Funamoto Dental Clinic, Uchinada, Kahoku District, Ishikawa Prefecture
Architecture: STUDIO ALUC with 2321 Architects

photo : Kenta Hasegawa

19 October 2026
Announcement Regarding the DOCOMOMO Japan 2026 Selection Plaque

Presentation Ceremony for “Buildings of the Modern Movement in Japan”

In June 2026, DOCOMOMO Japan*¹,*² selected Suntory Hall (the SUNTORY FOUNDATION for the Arts) to be recognised as a “Building of the Modern Movement in Japan.” We are pleased to announce that a selection plaque presentation ceremony was held on September 30, 2026.

*1 DOCOMOMO: Documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighborhoods of the Modern Movement (an international organisation dedicated to researching, documenting, and preserving buildings and environments associated with the Modern Movement)

*2 DOCOMOMO Japan: Officially established in 2000 as a chapter of DOCOMOMO International. DOCOMOMO Japan’s core activities involve collaborating with the Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ) to identify buildings associated with the Modern Movement in Japan, to determine their historical and cultural value, and to make proposals for preserving and reusing them.

Presentation Ceremony Overview

Date and time: Wednesday, 30 September 2026, 10:55 – 11:10
Location: Suntory Hall (1-31-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Attendees: DOCOMOMO Japan; Mori Building Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo); YASUI ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS, INC (Osaka); Nagata Acoustics (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo); KAJIMA CORPORATION (Minato-ku, Tokyo); Suntory Hall

(Reference)

▽ DOCOMOMO Japan Registered Building No. 311: Suntory Hall

https://docomomojapan.com/structure/311/?lang=en

Suntory Foundation for the Arts (for Suntory Hall), 1-13-1, Akasaka

1 September 2026
Cross House Sapporo, Hokkaido
Architect / Practice: Yosuke Tomiya Architectural Design

photo : Koji Sakai / Graytone Photography

25 July 2026
Hashima Office, Hashima City, southern Gifu Prefecture (1051 Sugasakai, Hirakata, Fukuju-cho), Chūbu region
Architecture: PERMANENT Co., Ltd. and Atelier Nagara Architects (Joint Design)

photo : Kenta Hasegawa (OFP Inc.)

13 July 2026
PALETTE Ishikawa apartment complex, Chūbu region
Architects: KELUN

photo : Yasuhito Inamori

23 April 2026
NOT A HOTEL Shikoku, Matsuyama, Ehime, Shikoku, southeast Japan
Design: Estudio Mazara

photo : Studio D121

4 April 2026
NOT A HOTEL Setouchi villas, Sagishima Island, Seto Inland Sea
Design: BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group

photo : Kenta Hasegawa

20 March 2026
Voco Osaka Central, Osaka
Design: NAO Taniyama & Associates

photo : Kentaro Kumon

9 January 2026
Tojiro Knife Gallery, Osaka
Design: Katata Yoshihito Design (L/O)

photo : Masaaki Inoue

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Japanese Building News 2025

Contemporary East Asian architectural developments. New building designs / built environment updates.

Japanese Architectural News 2025: Key New Property Designs in 2025, chronological:

17 December 2025
vertex by NOT A HOTEL, island of Okinawa
Design: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)

render : Negativ

12 December 2025
CCD Tokyo Creative Center, Hirakawachō, Chiyoda-ku
Architecture: Cheng Chung Design

photos : Wang Ting, Boris Shiu

5 November 2025
Epsom College Tokyo
Architect: PLP Architecture

images courtesy of architects practice

27 August 2025
Yumenomori House, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Architects: Yodezeen

photo : Dariusz Sosinka

12 August 2025
Tanuki Noboru Building, Hokkaido
Design: MOTIVE Inc.

photo : Ikuya SASAKI, MOTIVE Inc.

23 July 2025
OND Sauna, Nagashima, Takeo-cho, Takeo City, Saga Prefecture
Architects: AMANE ARCHI

photo : Akinobu Kawabe (helico)

21 July 2025
VECTORS Office Building, Fukuoka City, Kyushu Island
Design: SAKO Architects

photo : Misae Hiromatsu

30 June 2025
Forest Within, Kitakaruizawa, Gunma Prefecture, Japan
Architects: Inspatia

render : inspatia

27 April 2025
Czech Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan building
Design: Apropos Architects

photo : BoysPlayNice

22 April 2025
Qatar Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan
Design: Kengo Kuma and Associates

photo : Iwan Baan

19 April 2025
KSA Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka Building
Design: Foster + Partners

image : Foster + Partners

26 March 2025
The Matter of Facts, Minato City
Architect: PAN- PROJECTS

20 February 2025
Earthboat V1 Mobile Cabins
Architect: PAN- PROJECTS

photo : Earthboat

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Japanese Building News 2024

Japanese Architectural News in 2024

14 December 2024
Otaru International Information Center, Hokkaido
Design: waiwai

photo : Takehiro Kawamura
The Otaru International Information Center is situated in the historic harbor area of Otaru in Hokkaido, an area that once thrived as the epicenter of Japan’s herring fishing industry.

10 December 2024
Suetomi AoQ Cafe Stand, Kyoto
Architecture: G ARCHITECTS STUDIO

photo : Daisuke Shima
Designed by Japanese architectural firm G ARCHITECTS STUDIO, the Suetomi AoQ Cafe Stand belongs to AoQ, a new brand established by SUETOMI, the renowned confectionery shop in Kyoto.

13 June 2024
Apartments with Dialogues, Shinjuku City, Tokyo
Architects Ryuichi Sasaki/Ryuichi Sasaki Architecture

photo : Takumi Ota Photography
Apartments With Dialogues rests atop one of the hill expansions in Tokyo, specifically the geographically elevated Ichigayadaimachi area located in the Shinjuku ward, is the site of this architectural project.

16 May 2024
NOT A HOTEL Setouchi, Sagi Island, Seto Inland Sea
Design: BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group

render : MIR
The design for luxury hotelier NOT A HOTEL’s newest resort on Japan’s Sagi Island – NOT A HOTEL Setouchi – builds on the longstanding dialogue between Scandinavian and Japanese design values. The hotel weaves naturally throughout the island’s mountains, incorporating natural and local materials while promoting a connection to nature.

2 March 2024
VERTICAL RAINBOW in Tokyo building
Design: SAKO Architects

photo : Koji Fujii

23 January 2024
MORI no KAISHO, Meeting Place of Forest, Nara, Japan
Architect: Tetsuo Kobori Architects

photo © Tomoyuki Kusunose
Tetsuo Kobori Architects, Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd., and Fujita Corporation proudly announce that they have won the Best of Best in the Institutional Architecture category at Architecture MasterPrize (AMP) 2023, one of the most prestigious international architecture awards in the world.

21 January 2024
See Sea Park, Ohi-town, Ohi-gun, Fukui Prefecture
Architecture: Osamu Morishita Architect and Associates

photo : Tomoki Hahakura
Osamu Morishita Architect and Associates present See Sea Park, a project selected in a competition held by Ohi-town in the Fukui prefecture, Japan, at the end of Summer 2019 completed in 2022. The main requirement for the proposal was to develop a location where people can innovate and develop new businesses.

more contemporary Japanese Architecture News on e-architect soon.

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Japanese Architecture News 2023

20 November 2023
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s pavilion – KSA Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Yumeshima waterfront, Osaka
Design: Foster + Partners

image : Foster + Partners
Designs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka revealed. The pavilion building creates a spatial experience that echoes the exploration of Saudi Arabian towns and cities, provides a setting for immersive audio-visual engagement and connects visitors with the undiscovered wonders of Saudi Arabia.

8 September 2023
Layered Office, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Design: NoMaDoS

photo : Ito Takamune Photo Office

6 July 2023
Sumu Yakushima, Kagoshima Prefecture
Design: tono Inc.

photo : Rui Nishi

12 June 2023
Ohori Terrace, Fukuoka
Design: rhythmdesign.Ltd.

photo © Koichi Torimura
The Ohori Terrace is a wooden building that harmonizes with Ohori park’s abundant nature so you can enjoy its view. In our minds, realizing this vision would require a clean structure.

7 June 2023
Yamaikarashi Nursery School, Niigata, Nishi-ku niigata-city
Design: Takeru Shoji Architects Co

photo © Koji Fujii（toreal)
Located at the end of a winding pathway, atop of a sand dune, this single-story wooden building filled with characterful rooms and recesses provides a diverse base for children. The construction of a large childcare environment extends beyond the nursery rooms, the building, and the nursery yard, to the surrounding area as a single continuum.

5 June 2023
Dogo Hakuro Hotel, Matsuyama
Architects: CHIASMA FACTORY

photos by Shingo Tsuji and Ryuji Shiraishi
Located on the hilltop of the renowned Dogo hot spring area, DOGO HAKURO opened as a captivating hot spring lifestyle hotel in July 2020, following the client’s vision to revitalize his three hotels in the neighborhood.

24 Apr 2023
Tsuchinao Shikki in Fukui
Architects: Baum

photo : Naoki Myo
An old warehouse has been renovated into a directly managed store of a company Tsuchinao Shikki that produces and sells Echizen lacquerware. Echizen lacquerware is a traditional craft made by coating lacquer over mainly in Fukui, the old name “Echizen”, Japan.

9 Jan 2023
Santo Shop, Hiroshima, Numakuma-cho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture
Architecture: UID Architects

photo : Koji Fujii / TOREAL
Architectural project that resembles the products manufactured by the client that encourages public participation in an industrial area. An ironworks factory, SANGYO Corporation, was established in 1951 in Kaji-cho, which translates to “blacksmith town”. Kaji-cho is in Tomonoura, Fukuyama city in Hiroshima prefecture.

More Japanese Architecture News on e-architect soon.

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Japanese Architecture News 2022

4 Nov 2022
TAKENAKA Clinic, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
Design: TSC Architects

photo : Hiroshi Tanigawa / ToLoLo studio
Conventionally, a hospital tends to be a space that has poor natural color or material due to artificial structure material to improve the functionally and efficiency. From our experience in designing medical facilities, the architects office strongly feel the need to provide more comfortable architectural spaces where patients can spend their time without stress.

25 Apr 2022
Kozakai Kifukan Community Center, Kozakai district of Toyokawa, Aichi
Design: Yasuyuki ITO / C+A Coelacanth and Associates

photo : ToLoLo studio
This core community building in the Kozakai district of Toyokawa contains a community center, library, children’s center, and city hall branch office. The design was selected in a 2017 architecture competition.

22 Mar 2022
Zenbo Seinei, Awaji Island Retreat & Restaurant, Awaji Island
Architect: Shigeru Ban

image courtesy of architects practice
In recent years, the spread of Covid-19 and the resulting restrictions on various activities, as well as rapid changes in the business landscape, have led to major shifts in people’s attitudes and values towards life and work. Amidst this, there has been a growing interest in opportunities to reassess one’s own contentment in environments rich in nature, and in lifestyles that promote physical and mental well-being.

More contemporary Japanese Architecture News online here at e-architect soon.

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Japanese Architecture News 2021

30 Nov 2021

Koji Saryo Produced by Uonuma Jozo, Taki District, Mie Prefecture, Kansai region, Honshu
Design: Transit Branding Studio

photograph : Hitomi Matsuno
Located inside a luxury resort and shopping center in Mie Prefecture, this café operated by rice-koji maker Uonuma Jozo offers amazake, a sweet fermented koji drink, and other koji products.

30 Aug 2021
Sukagawa Community Center Fukushima
Design: Unemori Architects

24 Mar 2021
W Hotel Osaka
Design: Concrete

photograph : marriott international

20 Mar 2021
The Clearwater Building in Hokkaido, Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan
Design: Seshimo Architects + Peter Hahn Associates

photography : Junji Kojima / 45gPhotography, Aaron Jamieson

More current Japanese Architecture News online here soon.

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Japanese Buildings News 2020

post updated 9 Dec 2020
Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art – exhibition news

image courtesy of architects
Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art
The Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art building renovation project won a number of architecture and design awards, and was lauded in art and architecture journals as well as travel magazines. It has also become a popular film backdrop and its light-filled public spaces are attracting many visitors.

7 Oct 2020
Housing Complex Niigata III, Chūbu

26 Aug 2020
WORK x ation Site, Karuizawa
WORK x ation Site Karuizawa

7 Aug 2020
ACROS Centre Fukuoka

8 Jan 2020
Toyota Woven City, Susono City, Shizuoka
Architect: BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group

image : Squint Opera
Toyota Woven City, Susono, Shizuoka

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Japanese Buildings News 2019

6 Dec 2019
Kasho Gyoen Hotel in Hokkaido
Architects: Hiramoto Design Studio

photography: Koji Fujii / Nacása&Partners Inc

18 Nov 2019
New House in Kyoto City
Architect: Eastern Design Office

7 Jul 2019
Hotel Ninja Black in Kyoto City
Architect: Eastern Design Office

photography : Koichi Torimura, Jeffrey Friedl, Takashi Inaizumi
The site is located in just west of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The area is populated with houses, small shops, apartment buildings, and hotels.

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Japanese Buildings News 2018

11 Aug 2018
Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel Restoration, Niigata Prefecture, northwest Japan

photo : Nacasa & Partners Inc.
Tunnel of Light 2018 Echigo-Tsumari Triennale
MAD Architects, led by Ma Yansong, has completed the restoration of the Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel in Japan’s Niigata prefecture. The revitalization project sees the installation of several permanent artistic spaces along the historic lookout tunnel, with the intention of bringing back the cultural energy that once empowered the region.

30 Apr 2018
Archasm Tokyo (Anti) Library Architecture Contest

image courtesy of architecture contest organisers
Japanese Architecture Design Competition 2018
Japan and its people have been at the forefront of a digital revolution since the past four or five decades. The country has long existed between two realms. On the one hand, we have the traditional “old world” of temples, tea ceremonies and calligraphic cherry blossoms.

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Japan Architectural Updates 2017

30 Oct 2017
Private Resort XIV Toba Bettei, Ise-Shima
Design: NIKKEN SPACE DESIGN LTD

photo : Nacása & Partners Inc.
Private Resort XIV Toba Bettei in Ise-Shima
These guest rooms were designed as part of an annex to a membership resort hotel in Toba in Ise-Shima, where the 2016 G7 Summit was held. Arranged in an authentic Japanese style, the building is situated in a prime location overlooking the waters of Ise-Shima, with a traditional Japanese-style garden and a large pond that lends an impression of continuity to the sea.

24 Oct 2017
WADA Sports Shop, Himeji-shi, Kansai region
Architect: KTX archiLAB

photo © Stirling Elmendorf
WADA Sports Shop in Himeji-shi
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, WADA Sports is moving to a newly built headquarter and main retail shop. The new building is also a studio for Wada Bari technology, the brand’s original racket stringing technology.

19 Oct 2017
Contemporary University Classroom, Ishikawa, Chūbu region, Honshū island
Design: KELUN

photo : Yasuhito Inamori
Blackboard Classroom in Ishikawa by Kelun
The existing classroom is a large classroom where 100 people in a space of length 16.8 m × width 10.5 m can study, a place many students use. The architects inserted a “blackboard wall” shaped like an egg into an existing classroom. Just paint the walls of the blackboard and provide a palette of beautiful colors. The renovation is achieved with simple operation.

4 Sep 2017
Gallery in Kiyosato Villa With Exhibition Space, Kiyosato, Hokuto, Yamanashi
Architect: Satoshi Okada Architects

photographer: Koichi Torimura ; Copyrights belong to Satoshi Okada architects Inc., 2006
Gallery in Kiyosato Villa With Exhibition Space
A newly conceived structural system, named Container Structure System, bears the loads of the gallery: it consists of a ship-shaped core in which small spaces encased. This monocoque is realized with inexpensive timber members and veneer panels and assembled with a software. The outcome is a solid and easily expandable shell.

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Japan Architectural Updates 2015

8 Apr 2015
Harumi Residential Tower in Tokyo
Design: Richard Meier & Partners

photo courtesy of architects office

Gyomin Syokudo Restaurant in Okinawa

ReForm of Garden in Nara

Ring Around a Tree, Fuji
Tezuka Architects
Ring Around a Tree

PABLO Himeji, Japan
Design: Design Atelier RONDO
PABLO Himeji Store

D-Apartment in Osaka
Architect: SPACESPACE

photograph : Koichi Torimura
D-Apartment in Osaka

Miyagawa Bagel Shop in Miura

Mirrors Cafe in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, central Honshu, Japan
Design: Hisanori Ban of bandesign, Architects

picture : Shigetomo Mizuno
Mirrors Cafe in Gifu