Historic Kudan Kaikan to be replaced with high-rise building
There are plans to convert the historic Kudan Kaikan building near the Imperial Palace in Tokyo into a 75-meter tall office building. Tenders will soon be open to developers, with the requirements that proposals include retaining parts of the historic facade or at least attempting to recreate the facade, and for a new building with a height of no more than 75 meters.Read more
Historic school building in Kyoto to be converted into boutique hotel
A 83-year old former elementary school building in Kyoto will be renovated and converted into a luxury, 40-room boutique hotel. On May 20, Kyoto City announced that they will sign a 60-year lease with NTT Urban Development Corporation. NTT will pay an annual rent of 65 million Yen (590,000 USD) for the building and land.Read more
Shiba Daimon Gate returned to original owner after 138 years
After 138 years, the Shiba Daimon Gate in downtown Tokyo has been returned to its rightful owner - Zojo-ji Temple.
The temple has been requesting that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government return the gate since 1974. However, the city was unable to find any records showing that they were the current owners of the property, which meant that they could not legally transfer the property. As a result, the issue stood at a standstill for almost four decades.Read more
116-year old building in Kobe to be razed by developer
One of Kobe’s earliest western-style buildings has been sold to a developer and will be demolished to make way for a high-rise apartment building. The property, which was sold along with an adjoining block of land, had a price tag of several billion Yen.
Yoshimura Junzo house in Nishiazabu demolished
A house designed by modernist architect Yoshimura Junzo (1907-1997) in central Tokyo’s Nishiazabu neighbourhood has been demolished.
The ‘Tagakicho House’ was built in 1968 and was a 2-storey reinforced concrete house with a basement. The total size of the house was 624 sqm (6,714 sq.ft). It was constructed by Takenaka Corporation - one of Japan’s biggest construction companies.Read more
Historic residence in Ichigaya to be partially demolished
A 88-year old traditional Japanese residence in the Ichigaya neighbourhood in Shinjuku will be partially demolished. The house was built in 1928 as a residence for a wealthy shipping industry magnate from Toyama Prefecture. It was designed by architect Tetsuro Yoshida, an architect for the Ministry of Communications.
The 2-storey, 582 sqm house sits on a 3,837 sqm landscaped block of land. It includes a blend of both traditional Japanese and western styles, and is one of the few remaining large pre-war homes in Tokyo.Read more
Prefab holiday home in Karuizawa to receive heritage listing
A 53-year old holiday home in Karuizawa is to be the first prefab home in Japan to receive a heritage listing.
The Yamasaki-Usui Villa was built in 1963 in Karuizawa - a popular mountain resort area in Nagano Prefecture. The single-storey house is part of Sekisui House’s ‘A-Type’ of prefab homes. These homes revolutionised Japan’s home-building industry in the 1960s. The house remains in largely original condition and is said to be the oldest surviving A-type model in the country.Read more