LOCAL CONNECTIONS

Learn more about Japanese design and architecture at these venues

DINE: YASUYO HALL

This nine-storey building

(seen above) was designed by architect Nobumichi Akashi to reflect the bustling nature of modern life. Though constructed in 1969, its look remains timeless; its most notable tenant is Kakiden, a well-regarded kaiseki restaurant with serene interiors by Yoshiro Taniguchi.

SEE: GA Gallery

Tokyo’s varied and experimental architecture is widely celebrated. The Global Architecture (GA) Gallery—a brutalist concrete box designed by Makoto Suzuki and Yukio Futagawa—provides a deeper insight into the making of these structures through its exhibitions and a bookshop.

SHOP: Kagure

Every part of this atelier engages the senses. Established in 2008, clothing, ceramics and everyday tools from around Japan are displayed like artworks in a shell of timber and stone. Exhibitions and workshops further the message of sustainability and respect for the local culture and environment.