Makoto Shinkai’s Tokyo

Kishō Jinja, or the Weather Shrine, is distinguished by the unique wooden votive tablets hanging near its altar that are shaped like geta, the traditional Japanese wooden sandals. While most shrines feature rectangular wooden plaques,…

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is defined by the stark contrast between its vast, tree-lined lawns and the high-rise buildings of Tokyo that loom just beyond its boundary. This fifty-eight-hectare space encompasses three distinct…

Café La Bohème Shinjuku Gyoen is recognized by its expansive, two-story glass facade and an interior defined by high ceilings and a central chandelier. Located directly beside the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, the restaurant occupies the…

The National Art Center, Tokyo, reveals itself through a massive, undulating glass curtain wall that ripples across the landscape like a wave. Opened in two thousand seven, the building is defined by this translucent facade, which stands…

The Shinanomachi Footbridge spans Gaien-Higashi-dori, a short walk from the south exit of Shinanomachi Station. It is a simple, functional pedestrian overpass that offers a clear view of the area toward the NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building,…

Suga Shrine is recognizable by the steep stone staircase leading up to it, which is bordered by distinctive red railings. This staircase gained international attention as the setting for the final, climactic reunion scene in the two…

Hijiri Bridge is a distinctive reinforced concrete arch bridge spanning the Kanda River, recognizable by its elegant, parabolic curves and unique three-dimensional piers. Completed in nineteen twenty-seven as part of the reconstruction…

Tabata Station sits on a sharp geological ridge that divides the high ground of the Yamanote district to the west from the low basin of the Shitamachi area to the east. The land falls away abruptly from the station, forcing the railway…