Day 4 — Tokyo & Karuizawa^JP

Ueno Park originated as a temple garden and was turned into a public park by the Western-oriented Meiji government in the 19th century. It is where all the major cultural institutions are located, such as Tokyo National Museum and Kunio Maekawa’s Tokyo Bunka Kaikan . There, we visit the Hall of Horyuji Treasures by Yoshio Taniguchi and the Western Art Museum by Le Corbusier. But as befits any park, there are also quiet places, Hiroshi Nakamura ‘s Toshogu Shrine offering a moment of reflection in the bustle.

For lunch, we combine two uniquely Japanese experiences, travelling by shinkansen and enjoying culinary gems, especially the bento box. We disembark in Karuizawa, known as a holiday resort for Tokyo residents. A bus takes us to Ryue Nishizawa’s Hiroshi Senju Museum , where a magnificent synergy has been created between art, architecture and nature. We then take a stroll through Karuizawa where we see smaller projects by Kengo Kuma, Hiroshi Nakamura, Antonin Raymond and Kendrick Bangs Kellogg. Our bus will take us to Matsumoto in the Hida Mountains in the evening.