For over a decade Tokyo Fox has focused on the modern architecture of Tokyo with a long-running ten part series featuring over 100 interesting-looking buildings. During that time I have also taken photos of some unique structures outside of the capital city but had no place to showcase them until now. This is Volume 5 which includes some weird and wonderful buildings in the Shizuoka region.

1. Former Minesaki Clinic @ 1480-2 Usami, Ito – The layout concept of this abandoned clinic was designed by Yoji Watanabe who is famed for his unique architecture. The design was reported to have been inspired by Gunkanjima (Battleship Island) and is supposedly based on part of a dragon face with the eyes and mouth represented by windows! The clinic was completed in 1968 and known locally as Monster Hospital. More details here

2. Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan @ 1524-4 Hiekawa, Izu-shi – State-of-the-art technology supports the heavy roof of this impressive five-tiered titanium gable roof which is made to look the same whether being viewed from the north, south, east or west. This independent organisation, translating as the World Divine Light Organisation, was founded by Yoshikazu Okada in 1959 and nearly three decades later it established this main shrine in Mount Amagi on the Izu Peninsula. More details here

3. Ito City Hall @ 2-1-1 Ohara, Ito-Shi – The design is supposedly based on a sailing ship but there is sadly very little information online about this building in English or Japanese. There is a cafe available to the public on the 8th floor and the views of the surrounding area are quite impressive.

4. Shizuoka Taisei Junior & Senior School @ 2-4-18 Takajo, Aoi-ku – Completed in 2004, this dynamic-looking school is supposedly a six-story building but it’s quite difficult to count the floors due to the countless small windows arranged in an irregular fashion on a bumpy exterior covered with bundles of perforated metal.

5. Mikuni Izukogen @ 1172-2 Yawatano, Ito – A stylish building on top of a hill right outside of Izukogen station that was designed by Kengo Kuma and features his trademark use of wood whilst incorporating the surrounding nature. It is home to a stylish but fairly expensive Mediterranean restaurant which opened in 2019.

Click here to read ‘Modern Architecture Outside of Tokyo #1 – Hokkaido & Tōhoku’

Click here to read ‘Modern Architecture Outside of Tokyo #2 – Tōhoku & Tochigi’

Click here to read ‘Modern Architecture Outside of Tokyo #3 – Saitama, Chiba & Ibaraki’

Click here to read ‘Modern Architecture Outside of Tokyo #4 – Kanagawa & Yamanashi’

Click on the following links to see previous Tokyo Modern Architecture posts…

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