Harajuku’s Architectural Marvels: 10 Must-See Buildings

I’ve often found Tokyo’s architecture to be dominated by concrete, steel, and glass boxes. However, Harajuku is leading a change, with a wave of interesting and innovative designs. Here are ten buildings along or near Omotesando that showcase this architectural evolution.

Omotesando Keyaki Building

Opened in 2012

This might be my favorite piece of Harajuku architecture. Concrete and grey are the themes. It stands out thanks to being reminiscent of a tower from The Lord of the Rings. This building is the perfect home for the Boss store, brutal, stunning, and stylish.

Prada Tokyo Aoyama

Opened in 2003

The building’s fluid interior creates the illusion of a single, continuous space, with visible connections between each floor. At night, the interior lights transform it into a glowing tower thanks to it being covered by convex, bubble-like diamonds.

The Iceberg

Opened in 2006

A standout piece of Harajuku architecture. Blue-tinted glass combined with its angular facade gives the building a three-dimensional feel. A fantasy writer created this crystal tower.

Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Omokado

Opened in 2012

This building is on the main intersection of Harajuku. Trendy people crowd its mega fashion shop, The Shel’tter Tokyo. Others head to its restaurants like Bill’s Omotesando and Urth Caffe. Many photograph its wall-of-mirrors entrance.

Hulic Aoyama No. 2 Building

Completed in 2008

Seven types of windows ranging from 1.5 to 2.2 meters in size punctuate this nine-floor office building’s facade. The ceilings are a luxurious 4.9 meters in height.

Strangely, it reminds me of the Derinkuyu underground city in Turkey. Of course, this is vertical! By the way, this building was formerly known as Sia Aoyama. A long time ago, Red Bull occupied it. I used to teach English to their staff!

Spiral Building

Completed in 1985

Spiral is an arts complex in Tokyo’s Aoyama that fuses culture and business. It has spaces for various activities. An art gallery, a cafe, a multipurpose hall, restaurants, gift shops, and a beauty salon occupy it.

The name derives from the building’s exterior and interior design. They express the image of an ascending spiral. Walk inside and you’ll see exactly that.

Miumiu Omotesando

Completed in 2015

Miu Miu is a sister brand of Prada across the road. Herzog and de Meuron built both. The building is different from many in the area.

The architects didn’t want another glass tower. They made this one see-through. The interior is visible from all sides. This transparency creates a unique and voyeuristic experience, blurring the lines between the public street and the private retail space.

Dior Omotesando

Completed in 2003

Dior Omotesando is a trapezoid box. Due to building laws, it couldn’t be higher than 30 meters. The architects used floors of different heights to maximize space. Isn’t that innovative?

The building’s showpiece is the exterior glass. It has two skins. A clean, square, outer one of clear glass with the inner one of translucent acrylic. The external facade gives a hint at what is inside while revealing nothing. When lit at night it’s spectacular.

Yoyogi National Gymnasium

Opened in 1964

The Yoyogi National Gymnasium is iconic and modern with its sweeping profile. Completed in time for Tokyo’s 1964 Summer Olympic Games, this building belongs in the twenty-first century. It was probably the first great piece of Harajuku architecture.

Ao - Omotesando

Completed in 2009

With its striking silhouette, this shopping and office complex stands out in Aoyama. Apparently, from the rooftop, you can see Mount Fuji. I need to check that out!

Building locations

Click the image below to see the buildings on Google Maps:

Is Harajuku's architecture worth visiting?

In the past, I’ve often complained about Tokyo’s post-war buildings. Many of the skyscrapers are just metal and glass boxes, reminiscent of the international style of architecture. They lack style and beauty. But when Japan was rebuilding itself in the 1960s and 70s, that might have been what was needed.

Trends are changing though. As these ten examples show, the creativity of a new generation of architects (including those from overseas) is pushing the limits. Sustainability, innovation, and new materials allow new designs. The future is looking pretty good.