Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Day of Architecture
Morning
After exiting Omotesando
subway, stroll down
Aoyama-dori until you see
the open plaza outside the
United Nations University
building on your right. The
stately building was crea-
ted by Kenzo Tange. Turn
back the way you came
until you glimpse
Spiral
(see p95)
on the right.
Return to the intersection
at the subway, and follow
the road on the right until
you see the triangular out-
line of
Prada Aoyama
,
designed by a famous
Swiss firm. A little farther
on,
Collezione
is the work
of the self-taught architect,
Tadao Ando. Return to the
subway area and the
Hanai
Mori Building
, another
Kenzo Tange design, on
Omotesando-dori. Cross
the road and head to
Maisen
restaurant
(see
p99)
. This former traditional
bathhouse now specializes
in
tonkatsu
(pork cutlets).
The main gate leading to Meiji Shrine
current 1958 building is a
faithful reproduction of the
original shrine dedicated to
the Meiji Emperor, who died
in 1912
(see pp24-5)
.
(
Parco Museum of Art
and Beyond
Bold pop-culture exhibitions run
throughout the year at this gal-
lery, which contains three main
spaces: the Logos Gallery, Parco
Factory, and The Other Space.
Renowned, unknown, and
notorious Japanese and foreign
artists, photographers, and print
and graphic designers are pre-
sented in the shows here.
d
Map
R5 • Parco Part 3, 7F, 15-1 Udagawacho,
Shibuya-ku • 3496-1287 • Open 10am-
9pm • Adm • www.parco-art.com
Afternoon
Back on Omotesando-dori,
heading toward Harajuku,
the leather goods store
Tods
, designed by Toyo
Ito, is a fine example of
retail architecture. Across
the road, the
Omotesando
Hills
is a fashion brand
complex with cool lines
and angles. Continue along
the road until you reach
Meiji-dori, then take a left.
A little farther on, you can
see the glass sections and
counter-angles of the 2008
Audi Forum Tokyo
. Walk
on to Shibuya station and
the area south of the
tracks, where Makoto Sei
Watanabe's
Aoyama
Technical College
looms
like a malignant sci-fi
machine. Recover from the
shock at
Segafredo
, an
excellent Italian-style café.
)
Tepco Electric
Energy Museum
A big hit with kids, this
seven-story museum dedicated
to electricity has plenty for
adults too. There are several
hands-on displays here. The
fourth floor takes visitors into
the home of a typical Japanese
family, examining the electrical
circuitry. There is an English-
language pamphlet at the
entrance.
d
Map R4 • 1-12-10 Jinnan,
Shibuya-ku • 3477-1191 • Open 10am-
6pm Mon, Tue, Thu-Sun
97
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