I got my first impression of Japanese culture through real-time strategy games, where choosing to play with the civilization meant getting disciplined units and sleek pagodas, and I’ve been a fan of them ever since.

Maybe it’s my European tendency to romanticize far away places, but if you’re anything like me, the subreddit r/JapaneseArchitecture is a perfect stepping stone into that world, serving up everything from old temples to modern homes that feel very human, in the best sense of that word.

#1 Meigetsu-In (1394) By Uesugi Norikata

© Photo: nakatoe

#2 Todoroki House In Valley By Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane

© Photo: archineering

#3 House N By Sou Fujimoto

© Photo: reddit.com

#4 The Five-Story Pagoda Built In 1688 At Koushoji Temple In Nagoya, Aichi, Japan

© Photo: LargePurpleShoe

#5 House In Nishinanaku, Okayama By Artbox

© Photo: nakatoe

#6 Loop By Uid Architects

© Photo: reddit.com

#7 House In Shirakawa

© Photo: nakatoe

#8 Rental Space Tower By Sou Fujimoto

© Photo: nakatoe

#9 Nago City Hall (1981) By Elephant Design Group

© Photo: archineering

#10 Extend To Forest By Kengo Kuma

© Photo: nakatoe

#11 Nishimuraya Honkan In Kinosaki Onsen

© Photo: nakatoe

#12 Tsubo House – Arte-1 Architects

© Photo: Otherwise_Wrangler11

#13 Maekawa House (1942) By Kunio Maekawa

© Photo: archineering

#14 The Miyako Hotel (1959) In Kyoto By Togo Murano

© Photo: nakatoe

#15 Plaza Of Kanagawa Institute Of Technology By Junya Ishigami

© Photo: nakatoe

#16 Amami House – Sakai Architects

© Photo: Otherwise_Wrangler11

#17 Sayama Cemetery Community Hall By Hiroshi Nakamura & Nap

© Photo: archineering

#18 Sunwell Muse Kitasando By Takato Tamagami And Tsutomu Hasegawa

© Photo: archineering

#19 Department Of Art Science At Osaka University Of Arts By Kazuyo Sejima

© Photo: reddit.com

#20 Tea Square Morihan In Kyoto, By Kentaro Takeguchi + Asako Yamamoto

© Photo: nakatoe

#21 Arai Ryokan In Shuzenji

© Photo: nakatoe

#22 Cloud Of Luster By Ktx Archilab

© Photo: nakatoe

#23 House In Muko By Fujiwarramuro Architects

© Photo: reddit.com

#24 This House Feels Luxurious Without Looking Expensive

© Photo: Otherwise_Wrangler11

#25 House In Nakano – Hiroyuki Oinuma Architect & Associates

© Photo: Otherwise_Wrangler11

#26 Cooperative House In Midorigaoka, Tokyo By Hitoshi Wakamatsu

© Photo: nakatoe

#27 Photo Studio By Hiroki Tominaga-Atelier + Yae Fujima

© Photo: nakatoe

#28 House In Karuizawa By Case Design Studio

© Photo: nakatoe

#29 House Om By Studio Monaka

© Photo: nakatoe

#30 House In Gakuenmae By Fujiwaramaro Architects

© Photo: archineering

#31 Chichu Art Museum By Tadao Ando

© Photo: archineering

#32 Kyoto International Conference Center

© Photo: dingwings_

#33 Kumamoto Prefectural Museum Of Art (1977) By Kunio Maekawa

© Photo: archineering

#34 Shikatebukuro Annex, Saitama By Ikimono Architects

© Photo: nakatoe

#35 Omoken Park By Yabashi Architects

© Photo: reddit.com

#36 House In Maitamon By Tomohiro Hata

© Photo: nakatoe

#37 Weekend House Alley By Manabu Chiba

© Photo: reddit.com

#38 Tanimura Art Museum By Togo Murano

© Photo: reddit.com

#39 This One Looks Like A “Gem”

© Photo: Otherwise_Wrangler11

#40 Glass Temple By Takashi Yamaguchi

© Photo: reddit.com

#41 Tree House By Mount Fuji Architects

© Photo: reddit.com

#42 Mountain House, Sisono (1991) By Toshiaki Ishida

© Photo: archineering

#43 Kurasako Nursery School By Katsufumi Kubota

© Photo: nakatoe

#44 A-Shaped Lodge, Karuizawa (1960) By Kazumasa Yamashita

© Photo: archineering

#45 Some Pictures I Took In Kyoto

© Photo: Calm_Passenger_5326

#46 Musashino Art University Library By Sou Fujimoto

© Photo: reddit.com

#47 Poetic And Functional Minimalism In Modern Japanese House Design

© Photo: DerekL1963

#48 Zig House/Zag House In Tokyo By Studio Nasca

© Photo: nakatoe

#49 Curtain Wall House By Shigeru Ban

© Photo: reddit.com

#50 Ya-House By Kubota Architect Atelier

© Photo: nakatoe

#51 Tato House By Tato Architects

© Photo: reddit.com

#52 House In Takamatsu, Japan

© Photo: TX908

#53 Shin-Hakushima Station By Coelacanth And Associates

© Photo: reddit.com

#54 21st Century Museum Of Contemporary Art By Sanaa

© Photo: archineering

#55 Jihoin Temple By Yukio Asari

© Photo: reddit.com

#56 Mukaitaki Ryokan In Higashiyama Onsen

© Photo: nakatoe

#57 Ovaless House By Shigeru Ban

© Photo: reddit.com

#58 Japan Guide Dog Center By Chiba Manabu

© Photo: nakatoe

#59 Nagano Olympic Stadium By Yuichi Saito And Rui Sekkei-Shitsu (1998)

© Photo: archineering

#60 Wacoal Building, Tokyo, By Kisho Kurokawa (1984)

© Photo: Imipolex42

#61 House In Koyoen By Tomohiro Hata

© Photo: nakatoe

#62 Oita Prefectural Art Museum By Shigeru Ban Architects

© Photo: archineering

#63 Vault Roof House – Keisuke Kawaguchi + K2-Design

© Photo: Otherwise_Wrangler11

#64 Dear Jingumae Building By Amano Design Office

© Photo: reddit.com

#65 Museum Of Architecture By Toyo Ito

© Photo: reddit.com

#66 Sunnyhills At Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan. Architect: Kengo Kuma And Associates

© Photo: missyagogo

#67 House Tokyo – Junichi Sampei/ A.l.x

© Photo: Otherwise_Wrangler11

#68 House In Himeji By Fujiwaramuro Architects

© Photo: archineering

#69 Above The Wall By Masafumi Harigai

© Photo: nakatoe

#70 Chanoma Cafe (2020), Tokyo, By Tsuyoshi Sudo

© Photo: nakatoe

#71 Oblomov Bar, Fukuoka (1989) By Shiro Kuramata

© Photo: archineering

#72 Airspace Tokyo By Faulders Architecture

© Photo: reddit.com

#73 I-Mango By Takuro Yamamoto Architects

© Photo: reddit.com

#74 Elevated House In Rokko By Tato Architects

© Photo: archineering

#75 Aichi Prefectural University Of Fine Arts (1966) By Junzo Yoshimura

© Photo: archineering

#76 Week Building (1986) By Shin Takamatsu

© Photo: archineering

#77 Yoyogi National Gymnasium (1964) By Kenzo Tange

© Photo: archineering

#78 Miyakonojo Civic Center, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, By Kiyonori Kikutake (1966)

© Photo: Imipolex42

#79 Crystal Brick House By Atelier Tekuto

© Photo: reddit.com

#80 Okinawa Prefectural Museum By Ishimoto

© Photo: reddit.com