Japanese Architecture

Japan Atlas: Architecture
A clickable map leads visitors to choose profiles on 27 structures, including bridges, shrines and castles throughout Japan.

Architecture: A harmonious coexistence of tradition and innovation
Japan Access touches on the architecture of the various historic periods, the design concept of Japanese architecture and the influences of Shinto and Buddhism as well as trends in modern architecture.

Japanese Tradition
JGC Corporation, a Japanese engineering company, presents a series of articles on ancient architecture and gardens. Many of the articles are written from a designer or builder's point of view. Includes pictures.

Great Buildings: Architecture of Japan
This site provides details and descriptions of specific Japanese buildings and profiles on the architects who designed them. The site highlights historic buildings such as Himeji Castle and more modern buildings such as Kansai Airport Terminal Several temples, shrines and a modern cathedral are also featured.

Oriental Architecture
This site provides a photographic survey of Asia's architectural heritage with over 6100 photos of 433 sites in sixteen countries, including Japan. Background information and 'virtual tours' are included. Thumbnail pictures

Architect Tadao Ando
Tadao Ando is one of Japan's most world-renown modern architects. This page, available at the Great Buildings site, gives a biography of the self-taught architect, a list of his works featured at the website as well as links to further resources.

Traditional Architecture

Japanese Architecture in Kansai
From the Kansai Window Web site. This feature explores the history and present of Kansai architecture through articles on Tea Rooms, modern minka (farmhouses), castles, Kyoto townhouses, and the measuring system used in Japanese architecture. Consideration is also given to the relationship between climate and architectural styles.

The Mystique of Japanese Castles
Part of the online magazine Nipponia, a quarterly magazine about modern Japan. This multi-part feature on Japanese castles includes the following articles: Castle Builders and Admirers; Himeji Castle, a World Heritage Site; Famous Castles in Japan; Their Hobby Is Castles; and Feudal Atmosphere for Modern Cities. The articles explore form and function and touch on history as well as some individuals' modern-day interaction with castles. Includes photographs and a map of Himeji Castle.

Life in a Japanese House

Staying in a Japanese House
Part of the "Japanese Resources at Dartmouth," this web page presents the interior of a Japanese home and explains the proper etiquette of visiting a Japanese home.

Kid's Life in Chichibu: Japanese House
Chichibu is a small Japanese city near Tokyo and Kid's Life in Chichibu attempts to help visitors "understand the 'real' Japan and Japanese people" through pictures and short descriptions. The page Japanese House describes a house and its contents.

Japanese Gardens

Japanese Gardens
Part of the online magazine Nipponia, a quarterly magazine about modern Japan. Japanese Gardens is a multi-part feature on Japanese landscape gardening with articles titled: Restraint and Refinement - Beauty in the Japanese Garden, Creating Gardens, Small Oases in Big City. The feature explores the history and philosophy of landscape gardening in Japan as well as gardening in contemporary Japan.

JGuide: Architecture/Gardening
JGuide (The Stanford Guide to Japan Information Resources) provides links to useful sites featuring Japanese gardening. No links to architectural sites are currently available.

Japanese Architecture in the United States

Architecture, Carpentry, and Landscaping
The Consulate of Japan in Boston lists and describes several examples of Japanese gardens and architecture in New England that are open to the public.

Frank Lloyd Wright Looks to Japan
Wright worked in Japan and some people believe his Prairie style buildings are influenced by Japanese architecture. The Library of Congress kid-friendly page introduces students to the American architect and discusses Wright's interest in Japan.

The Western Adaptation of Shoji
This article discusses how characteristics of Japanese architecture have been popularly adopted in the United States and other Western countries. The article especially focuses on one functional element: Shoji. The shoji screen has been adapted for sliding panels, doors, windows, dividers and space enclosures.