AKASAKA PRINCE HOTEL, Tokyo.

Designed by Kenzo Tange and completed in 1982, this sparkling tower is one of Tokyo's many outstanding hotels. Situated near the grounds of the Akasaka Detached Palace, the hotel's top floor cocktail lounge offers panoramic views of the city. The sweeping wings of the crystalline tower are best seen contrasted with the surrounding blossoming cherry trees.

Download PCX Akasakap.zip (size 10938).
Download Akasakap.GIF (size 3605).

CENTURY TOWER, Tokyo.

Designed by high-tech architect Sir Norman Foster, this building actually has two towers connected by a central atrium. The bridge-like structural members are an important expressive feature of the facade. The tower is located in Tokyo's Ochanomizu district.

Download PCX Century.zip (size 7253).
Download Century.GIF (size 2679).

GREEN TOWER BUILDING, Tokyo.

The Green Tower Building is located directly across from Tokyo's Shinjuku Central Park. An example of slick, modern box architecture, the building is kept from total anonymity by its curving penthouse.

Download PCX Greentow.zip (size 8322).
Download Greentow.GIF (size 2376).

K-1 IIKURA PROJECT, Tokyo.

Designed by Sir Richard Rogers for Tokyo's Minato ward, this fascinating office building was to feature an external steel seismic frame. Not surprisingly, Nippon Steel wanted to use this building to promote their fire rated steelwork. Unfortunately, Japan's economy soured before it could be constructed.

Download PCX K1iikura.zip (size 7916).
Download K1iikura.GIF (size 3205).

KABUKIZA THEATER (Kabuki-za), Tokyo.

Tokyo's famous theater for Kabuki. I'm not sure of the true arrangement of the roof, so I have tentatively placed a metal skylight.

Download PCX Kabukiza.zip (size 6009).
Download Kabukiza.GIF (size 2726).

KASUMIGASEKI BUILDING, Tokyo.

Built in 1968, this 36-story building gains significance as Japan's first modern high-rise. It is located in Tokyo's Kasumigaseki district, where many national government ministries and departments are centered.

Download PCX Kasumiga.zip (size 13328).
Download Kasumiga.GIF (size 3564).

LANDMARK TOWER, Yokohama.

Japan's tallest skyscraper was completed in 1993 and is the centerpiece of Yokohama's huge Minato Mirai 21 development program. With this vast project Yokohama hopes to construct a second downtown district on land reclaimed from the city's harbor. Designed by Hugh Stubbins as a futuristic symbol for cities of the 21st century, the 296 meter tall tower houses a shopping mall, commercial offices, and a hotel block. The building, situated on the harborfront, is stunning when seen with Fuji-yama (Mount Fuji) in the background.

Download PCX Landyoko.zip (size 19000).
Download Landyoko.GIF (size 6561).

NEC SUPERTOWER, Tokyo.

Headquarters for NEC, one of Japan's largest electronics corporations, the NEC Supertower is a marvel of high-tech architecture. Designed by Nikken Sekkei, Ltd., its many innovations include a large opening midway up the building which reduces wind annoyance, allows for cross ventilation, and provides natural light and air for the tower's internal atrium, thus aiding in energy conservation. The high-tech executive boardrooms feature 21st-century style computer consoles for each director. Because of its strong profile, the tower is sometimes referred to as "The Rocket."

Download PCX Nec.zip (size 15387).
Download Nec.GIF (size 5076).

NEW TOKYO METROPOLITAN CITY HALL (Tower 1), Tokyo.

Built in 1991, this award-winning design by Kenzo Tange houses offices of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and is Tokyo's tallest building. Center piece of the high-rise Shinjuku district, the twin towers of this 48-story (243m, 797ft) building create a striking profile. The reflective gray/brown marble clad facade was detailed to be reminiscent of electronic circuitry, thus expressing the high-tech, information-oriented nature of modern Tokyo.

Download PCX Tokyo-H1.zip (size 14793).
Download Tokyo-H1.GIF (size 6483).

SHIBUYA HIGASHI T BUILDING, Tokyo.

Designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa in 1987, this eight-story retail and office building stands not far from Shibuya Station. Its most prominent feature is a dynamic angled split down the main facade. The rooftop curved monument lights up the skyline at night.

Download PCX Shibuyat.zip (size 5538).
Download Shibuyat.GIF (size 2489).

SHIN-KOBE ORIENTAL CITY - C3, Kobe.

Also known as the Kobe Central Building, this distinctive tower is located adjacent to Shin-Kobe Station on a sloping site at the foot of Kobe's Rokko-sanchi mountain range. It commands an impressive view of Kobe and is striking when seen with the mountains Maya-zan and Futatabi-zan as a backdrop. Built in 1988, this 37-story building houses a hotel, a shopping center, and an auditorium.

Download PCX Kobecen.zip (size 11444).
Download Kobecen.GIF (size 4424).

SHINJUKU MITSUI BUILDING, Tokyo.

This building is headquarters for the Mitsui group, one of Japan's largest and most powerful business entities. Located in Tokyo's high-rise Shinjuku district, this is one of the city's most easily recognizable buildings.

Download PCX Mitsui.zip (size 10023).
Download Mitsui.GIF (size 3010).

SHINJUKU PARK TOWER, Tokyo.

Completed in 1994 by Kenzo Tange Associates, this building is a premier example of ultra-modern corporate architecture. Located in Tokyo's Shinjuku ward, it extends the powerful skyline formed by the nearby towers of Kenzo Tange's New Tokyo Metropolitan City Hall. The 52 story tower itself houses offices, showrooms, and hotel accommodations.

Download PCX Shinpark.zip (size 24002).
Download Shinpark.GIF (size 6293).

SHIROKIYA DEPARTMENT STORE, Tokyo.

A whimsically designed store built in 1911 during the Late Meiji Era. Once located in Tokyo's Nihombashi business district, the Shirokiya helped introduce innovative shopping experiences for the city's consumers. The Shirokiya, however, was unable the match the advertising prowess of its now famous rival, the Mitsukoshi. Unfortunately, this building, and many other similar period buildings, no longer exist.

Download PCX Shirokiy.zip (size 6136).
Download Shirokiy.GIF (size 2712).

SONY TOWER, OSAKA. Osaka.

Designed by famed Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa and built in 1975, this building is a fascinating high-tech landmark in Osaka's Shinsaibashi commercial district. The building houses retail show rooms of Sony's electronics products. Noteworthy are the stainless-steel restroom "capsules," which are clung onto the exterior (an idea of the Japanese Metabolist architectural movement).

Download PCX Sony.zip (size 5198).
Download Sony.GIF (size 2630).

STUDIO ALTA, Tokyo.

This fascinating cubical building in Tokyo's Shinjuku ward is a showplace for Seiko electronics products. Noteworthy is the huge Jumbo-Tron screen above its main entrance. Crowding either side of the building are smaller shops.

Download PCX Studioal.zip (size 5237).
Download Studioal.GIF (size 2445).

TOKYO TOWER (Tokyo Tawa), Tokyo.

Built in 1958 for Tokyo's Minato Ward. At 1,093 ft (333 meters), this is the tallest structure in Tokyo. There are two observation decks. It broadcasts throughout Japan's Kanto region and has a major recording and broadcasting studio at its base. This graphic comes from the SimCity 2000 Special CD Edition.

Download PCX TokyoT.zip (size 11176).
Download TokyoT.GIF (size 5458).

TOKYU 109, Tokyo.

This building is a landmark of Tokyo's Shibuya district, one of the city's busiest downtown areas. Designed by Minoru Takeyama and completed in 1978, this multi-commercial building houses boutiques, small stores, restaurants, coffee stores, and a small theatre.

Download PCX Tokyu109.zip (size 4626).
Download Tokyu109.GIF (size 2111).

YASUDA FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE BUILDING, Tokyo.

Completed in 1976 by the Taisei Corporation, this 193 meter building is one of the many high-rise landmarks of Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward. The Yasuda Fire & Marine Insurance Company, established in 1888, was Japan's first fire insurance company and still remains today one of the world's largest property and casualty insurers.

Download PCX Yasuda.zip (size 9507).
Download Yasuda.GIF (size 3049).

YEBISU GARDEN PLACE TOWER, Tokyo.

Comprised of several commercial towers, housing blocks, and shopping centers, Yebisu Garden Place is a new development built over a demolished factory. Designed by Kume Sekkei, the main 40 story tower is a distinctive landmark in Tokyo's Meguro Ward.

Download PCX Yebisu.zip (size 10993).
Download Yebisu.GIF (size 3760).

YOSHIMOTO BUILDING, Osaka.

Built in 1986 in Osaka's Kita ward by Takenaka Komuten Co., Ltd. This building is comprised of a 553 guest room hotel tower with a large shopping section connected by a curved glass atrium. This is another example of the sleek, high-tech, modern architecture favored in Japan. Note that in this graphic the curvature of the glass atrium was increased so that the building would fit on a 3x3 tilebase. In reality, the shopping block extends from the building at a more obtuse angle.

Download PCX Yoshimot.zip (size 9185).
Download Yoshimot.GIF (size 3116).