This three-hour tour is designed to provide a perfect introduction to Tokyo for first-timers or to reorient returning travelers to the aesthetics of the Japanese capital. Join a local architect or design writer to explore the districts of Harajuku and Omotesando, looking not only at buildings and architectural design but also at the underlying aesthetic principles that inform Japanese design. Through our examination, we'll develop a more nuanced appreciation of Japanese art, architecture, and culture as a whole.

Meiji Jingu presents an ideal starting point for our tour of Tokyo, both for the time period it represents and as an example of traditional Japanese design. At this Shinto shrine, dedicated to 19th-century ruler Emperor Meiji, we’ll discuss how traditional aesthetics are the foundation for the modern and contemporary design that followed. (For a more detailed look at the Meiji, take a look at our Tokyo National Museum Tour).

Next, we’ll travel to Harajuku and Omotesando, two closely situated areas that represent quite different manifestations of what modernity in Japan means. Our time in Harajuku will allow us to delve into some of the colorful subcultures that Tokyo is known for and to see how one’s exterior reflects principles tied to hobbies, values, and social roles. (We provide a deeper look at Anime and Manga, which will no doubt be on display in Harajuku, on our Otaku Culture Tour). Afterwards, we’ll move through Omotesando, an architectural feast for the eyes, where the main luxury merchants, from Prada to Dior, have used architecture as an extension of their brands’ aesthetic principles.

Depending on the time and our interests we may finish at Kengo Kuma's Nezu Museum, the 21 21 Design Site, Nogizaka’s National Art Center of Tokyo, or even Roppongi Hills, an integrated urban development. By the end of our architecture walking tour of Tokyo, we’ll understand how a distinct design sensibility, aesthetics, and style are displayed across the city, reflecting Japanese history and a unique understanding of what constitutes good design.