Best Architecture Spot List

The orderly lineup of 1001 thousand-armed Kannon is superb

A shrine to the beautiful Mount Miwa, worshiped since ancient times

The oldest surviving building of Todaiji Temple. All the Buddhist statues stored here are national treasures

It is a stone statue of an owl that was made into a landmark in the yard of the Ikebukuro Station when the JR (Japan Railways) was launched.

A soaring five-story pagoda at Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa with magnificent nighttime illumination.

A meeting place in Nishi-Shinjuku. A symbol of Shinjuku i-LAND and its message of love.

This is a cable-stayed bridge over the Sumida River. Its 32 cables stage the presence of this beautiful bridge.

It was build at the former school building of Jiyugakuen. It was designated as a National Important Cultural Property in May of 1997.

Kyu Asakura House, or the former residence of the Asakura family, is a Taisho-roman style house, which stands in the middle of the metropolis. (Taisho-roman is the cultural style of the Taisho period from1912 to 1926.) You will also enjoy the seasonal view in the garden, which features azaleas and maples.

Purported to be the most beautiful of all bridges on the Sumida River. Characterized by its elegant silhouette.

For people seeking beautiful hair

The bridge carrying traffic from Kasuga-dori Street over the Sumida River. One of the viewing areas for the fireworks festival is near this bridge.

A Western-style residence commissioned by former Prime Minister Ichiro Hatoyama. Various flowers such as roses bloom beautifully from season to season.

Hikawa Maru, an ocean liner of Nippon Yusen (NYK Line or Japan Mail Shipping Line), is one of the historical cargo-passenger ships and was built in 1930 for the purpose of running a regular route to Seattle. Today, the liner is open to the public and the visitors can enter the guestroom, the dining room, wheelhouse, the engine room, and other areas.

It is the Buddhist temple which is said to be the origin of maneki-neko or a luck-inviting cat figurine, beckoning with its right front paw. In its temple grounds, a number of historical assets still remain.

Built in the Gongen-zukuri style, this shrine was founded by the lord of the Kishu domain, Yorinobu Tokugawa, in 1621 to enshrine his father Ieyasu. Similar to Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine, the magnificent shrine pavilion is surrounded by sculptures by Jingoro Hidari and wall paintings by Tanyu Kano. Seven shrine structures including the Haiden, the Honden, and the vermillion Romon Gate, are designated as national Important Cultural Properties. At the shrine, Mikoshitogyo, which is one of the great festivals called Wakamatsuri, takes place where men carry mikoshi (portable shrine carried in festivals) and courageously descend 108 steps, followed by a parade of 1,000 people.

During the Nara Period, the guardian deity of the hiike (pond where ice used in the Imperial court was made) and the himuro (storeroom for ice), which were built in the Kasugano field beside Yoshiki-gawa River, was enshrined in the shrine. It was later moved to the current location. On May 1 every year, a festival called Kenpyosai takes place in which workers at companies that make and sell ice pray for success in business. The current shrine pavilion is said to have been reconstructed in the Edo Period. Also, the weeping cherry trees in the shrine grounds are very beautiful.

This huge 12-meter tall model of ”Godzilla” was established as the symbol of Kabukicho, Shinjuku.

This attraction features a half-size replica of a Viking ship and exhibits related to the children's book author Hans Christian Andersen. Delightful goods made in Denmark are also for sale.