Tadao Ando, Japan's Famous Architect - Ten Works In Japan

Tadao Ando's Architecture in Tokyo

Picture from Shopping in Omotesando Hills, Where Japanese Trends Are Born

The works of the prominent Japanese architect Tadao Ando are known worldwide for their characteristic unique space created using bare concrete walls and geometric shapes.

Mr. Ando is highly regarded not only in Japan but in international circles as well. In 1995, he received the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which is regarded as "the Nobel Prize" in the world of architecture.

Out of the 41 buildings in Tokyo that were designed by Tadao Ando, 35 are still standing. However, please note that many of them are private residences, schools, hospitals, and company buildings.

Let us introduce to you four selected works by Tadao Ando in Tokyo that are publicly available for viewing.

1. Shibuya Station Building (Tokyu Toyoko Line)

Picture courtesy of Tokyu Cooperation

The design concept of the Tokyu Shibuya Station is that of an "underground spaceship". It was created to be not just a train station, but a place that leaves a strong impression in the minds of everyone passing through it.

Picture courtesy of Tokyu Cooperation

There is a large opening at the center of the station, which reaches down to 30 meters below the ground level, where the trains are running. This design feature adds spaciousness to the underground station.

2. Kaminoge Station (Tokyu Oimachi Line)

From Shinjuku Station, it takes about 40 minutes by train to reach the Kaminoge Station on the Tokyu Oimachi line. A large roof unites the two station buildings, with the road running between them. The roof has a round opening in the center, to shed light on the road.

The glass-covered station building is also filled with light.

Kaminoge Station
Address: Tokyo, Setagaya, Kaminoge 1-26-6 Google Map

3. 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT

21_21 DESIGN SIGHT is an exhibition hall inside Tokyo Midtown, located in Roppongi. This work is based on the idea of "a single piece of fabric", suggested by fashion designer Issey Miyake, who is also one of the directors of the hall. The roof, which looks as if it were made by folding a single sheet of metal, really stands out.

Most of the interior was created using bare concrete, which is a characteristic of Ando's works.

21_21 DESIGN SIGHT
Address: Tokyo, Minato, Akasaka 9-7-6 (within the Tokyo Midtown Garden) Google Map

4. Omotesando Hills

Many people visit Omotesando for shopping or relaxing in a cozy cafe. Omotesando Hills, a multi-purpose commercial facility designed by Tadao Ando, is located here.

There is an atrium at the center of the building, connecting the three underground floors and the three aboveground floors, with a glass ceiling that illuminates the interior space.
The streets in Omotesando form a gentle slope, and the building floors are connected by slopes, with the same gradient as Omotesando's streets, which surrounds the atrium like a spiral. The total length of the interior slopes, believe it or not, adds up to 700 meters.

Omotesando Hills
Address: Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 4-12-10 Google Map

5. The Hill of the Buddha (Atama Daibutsu or Buddha’s head) (Sapporo, Hokkaido）

The Hill of the Buddha is a serene, mysterious place surrounding the Buddhist statue at Makomanai Takino Cemetery in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Designed by Tadao Ando, the giant Buddha statue measuring approximately 13.5 meters, is surrounded by a hill of grass, giving a majestic impression to visitors. The path through the hill is especially meditative, while the vast sky you see once you reach and look up to the statue further enhances the environment.

The Hill of the Buddha (Atama Daibutsu or Buddha’s head)
Address: 2 Takino, Minami-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Access: Approximately 1 hour by subway and bus from Sapporo Station.

6. Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art (Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture)

The Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art is a modern art museum located along the coast of Kobe and designed by Tadao Ando. It features an open space filled with natural light, displaying local culture and art. As a Museum of Art and the Sea, it houses art from Japan and abroad, attracting visitors to its spacious architecture in harmony with the sea. Each exhibition room offers a diverse artistic experience while you can also enjoy Ando’s architectural aesthetic.

Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art
Address: 1-1-1 Wakihamakaigan-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture
Access: 8-minute walk from Iwaya station on the Hanshin line or 10-minute walk from Nada station on the JR.

7.Awaji Yumebutai (Awaji, Hyogo Prefecture)

Awaji Yumebutai is a complex facility located on Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture, which includes a hotel, a botanical garden, and a concert hall. Designed by Tadao Ando, this facility has a unique design that brings together lush nature and modern concrete structure. Featuring numerous flower beds and a panoramic view of the sea, it is a relaxing space where you can enjoy both nature and art.

Awaji Yumebutai
Address: Yumebutai 2, Awaji, Hyogo Prefecture
Access: Express bus from JR Sannomiya station to Yumebutai-mae bus stop

8. The Church of the Light (Ibaraki City, Osaka)

The Church of the Light is a Protestant church located in Ibaraki City, Osaka. It is characterized by the simple concrete structure designed by Tadao Ando, where natural light streams through a cross-shaped opening cut into the wall, creating a serene, sacred atmosphere. Visitors can spend time in the quietude in a space that blends nature and architecture. Open to the public by reservation.

The Church of the Light
Address: 4-3-50 Kitakasugaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture
Access: Bus from JR Ibaraki station or from Hankyu Ibaraki-shi Station to Kasugaoka shogakko-mae bus stop. 5-minute walk.

9. Seawind Awaji (Awaji, Hyogo Prefecture)

TOTO Seawind Awaji is a resort hotel designed by Tadao Ando which coexists with the nature of Awaji Island. Overlooking the ocean, the modern architecture of concrete and glass offers a relaxing space for visitors, a resort where the hustle and bustle of the city are forgotten in a simple, serene environment.

Seawind Awaji
Address: 65-1 Nojimaokawa, Awaji, Hyogo Prefecture
Access: Express bus from JR Sannomiya station to Seawind Awaji-mae bus stop. Five-minute walk.

10. Garden of Fine Arts (Kyoto)

The Garden of Fine Arts, Kyoto is an open-air art museum with famous paintings recreated on large ceramic tiles in a beautiful concrete architecture and garden designed by Tadao Ando. Renown paintings from around the world are transferred onto ceramic tiles, inviting visitors to freely enjoy the works of art in the garden. The space is designed to let in an abundance of natural light, allowing you to appreciate the artwork even more.

Garden of Fine Arts
Address: Shimogamohangicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
Access: 1 minute walk from Kitayama station on the Karasuma Line

Tadao Ando's Works in Tokyo

Out of the other many works of architecture by Tadao Ando in Tokyo, we could also mention the Fukutake Hall of the University of Tokyo (Hongo Campus), the building of the International Library of Children's Literature (National Diet Library), or Sengawa Theater in Chofu City.

Even those who aren't especially interested in architecture will be amazed by these buildings. Take a look at his works, and you will feel the power of their innovative design.

Pictures from Pixta