Bookings are now open for the April 2012 Japan Architecture Tour.

Japan is a country of great contrast with architecture that is an eclectic mix of ancient and modern, east and west.

Tokyo is a dynamic metropolis where you will find some of the worlds most unique and fascinating architecture. Kyoto is a city steeped in tradition with an abundance of ancient temples, shrines and gardens scattered throughout a bustling modern city.

This is not just the typical sight seeing tour, but a definitive display of Japanese architectural expression that also affords the opportunity to meet with local Japanese architects and to visit some of Tokyo’s newest contemporary masterpieces, famous classic buildings, art and architecture exhibitions, famous temples and gardens of Kyoto and other interesting tourist spots during the Spring Cherry Blossom season.

A truly unique architectural experience, this fully guided 9 Day tour will be conducted and guided by Architect, former Tokyo resident, Licensed Travel Agent and Japan expert, Robert Day. The tour will visit fascinating buildings in Tokyo, famous temples in Kyoto and the three remaining Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in Japan.

Architectural highlights include buildings by Tadao Ando, Kisho Kurokawa, Le Corbusier and Kenzo Tange such as 21-21 Design Site, Prada Boutique, National Art Center Tokyo,  Mikimoto 2, Omotesando Hills, National Museum of Western Art, Olympic Gymnasium & Nakagin Capsule Building.

To book your place on the tour or to find out more details, contact Robert on robert@rdayarch.com.au or leave a comment for Robert in the Comments box above.

Check out http://japanarchitecturetours.wordpress.com/ for all of the latest news, past tour highlights and other useful information about:

• Japan Architecture Tours
• Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings in Japan
• Traditional Japanese Architecture
• Contemporary Japanese Architecture
• Architecture of Tokyo
• and Much More

Frank Lloyd Wright designed a number of buildings in Japan during the early part of the 20^th Century. Of these, 6 of them were built and today only the Yamamura House, the Jiyu Gakuen School, The Imperial Hotel and the Hayashi House remain.

The Yamamura House was completed in 1918 and is located in Ashiya near Kobe. We visit the Yodoko Geihinkan, as it is know in Japanese, as a side trip from our base in Kyoto.

It has been restored and is now open to the public.

It was designated by the Japanese Government as an Important Cultural Asset in 1974. It is always a great place to visit.

If you want to know more about Frank Lloyd Wright’s Yamamura House, then visit the website. http://www.yodoko.co.jp/geihinkan/index_e.html

Another Frank Lloyd Wright building we visit from our Kyoto base is The Imperial Hotel. It is now located at Meiji Mura, a large open-air architectural museum at Inuyama, near Nagoya.

The Imperial Hotel was originally built in Tokyo near the Imperial Palace. It was completed in 1923, and the day of it’s official opening coincided with the Great Kanto Earthquake and to Frank Lloyd Wright’s delight, did not suffer any major structural damage.

Eventually, it was demolished 1968 during the rapid post-war economic expansion of Japan.

Fortunately, the front entrance, foyer and lobby areas of The Imperial Hotel were salvaged, dismantled and

eventually rebuilt at Museum Meiji Mura in 1985.

Whilst it may take a long time to get to Meiji Mura, the chance to experience Frank Lloyd Wright’s Imperial Hotel make the trip worth it. Despite being only a fraction of the original building, it is still a thrill to be inside this space.

If you want to know more about Frank Lloyd Wright’s Imperial Hotel and Meiji Mura, then visit the website. http://www.meijimura.com/english/index.html

Another of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Japanese projects the Jiyu Gakuen School in Tokyo. It was built in 1921 and is also an Important Cultural Asset.

Over the years the school has been restored and now open to the public.

As part of the October 2010 Japan Architecture Tour, we will visit this building for the first time. We are looking forward to it very much and it also too might become a regular feature of Robert Day’s Japan Architecture Tours.

If you want to know more about Frank Lloyd Wright’s Jiyu Gakuen School, then visit the website. http://www.jiyu.jp/tatemono/index-e.html

We have not visited the Hayashi House and it is my understanding that it is not open to the public. It is also my understanding that only one room of the Hayashi House remains in it’s original state.