Kyoto Station

Kyoto Station is one of Japan's largest and most impressive buildings, incorporating a shopping centre, hotel, movie theatre department store and offices, all housed under one 15 storey roof.

It was completed in 1997 and designed by Japanese architect Hiroshi Hara. From the outside it resembles a cruise liner docked in a port, and the inside is a futuristic design using steel and glass.

The station's completion paved the way for a series of new high rise modern buildings in Kyoto, culminating in the 20 floor Kyocera building (see earlier post this week). Some people criticise the building for triggering the breakdown in the traditional city-scape of Kyoto.