Private Tour of the Modernist Architecture and Japanese Garden Landscaping of Sachio Otani, Protege of Kenzo Tange

First International Conference Hall in Japan, Host to VIP Visits

Sitting adjacent to the lush greenery and beautiful reservoir of Takaragaike Park in the northeast corner of the city, ICC Kyoto opened its doors in 1966 in response to a groundswell of enthusiasm for developing such a venue in Japan. The vast structure houses an expansive open lobby and over 70 conference rooms of various sizes. Its grounds also encompass a tea room and a Japanese garden offering gorgeous sightlines of the natural landscape merging seamlessly with the large reservoir for which Takaragaike Park is named. The building’s unique design, incorporating large upright and inverted trapezoidal shapes, harmonizes striking lines with the surrounding natural environment, and has been hailed as a masterpiece of modern architecture.

Harmony with the surrounding nature is a central theme of the design

The center’s architect Sachio Otani, protege of the legendary Kenzo Tange, designed it around the concept of “Gatherings and conversations in nature.” Japan at the time had virtually no facilities at all suitable for international conferences. In the late 1950s, a cabinet minister returning from a tour abroad proposed to remedy this, and the project began to take shape. In 1963, the first architectural design contest in Japan to take a truly designer-led approach culminated in a victory for Otani’s proposal.

The building exterior’s striking upright and inverted trapezoidal motif

In his notes, Otani wrote: “I found Takaragaike’s rolling terrain and picturesque views of Mount Hiei quite atmospheric and evocative of Kyoto’s history as the ancient capital. I wanted to trust that evocative natural atmosphere and incorporate it into the building rather than try to compete with it.” The design this resulted in has been lauded in Japan and abroad for its unique exterior combining modernist sensibilities with lines reminiscent of a Japanese shrine building, and its exceptionally functional interior.

An Art Tour of Outstanding Form and Function

ICC Kyoto is typically closed to the general public except for certain days like special tour events. It usually acts as a venue for industrial and academic conferences. This Wabunka tour allows you to explore the standout details of Otani’s design with commentary from a private guide. Beginning with the approximately 40-meter-long main lobby, filled with natural light through the asymmetrical lines of its ceiling, long cylindrical light stands inspired by bamboo evince the attention to detail in evoking Japanese tradition.

The front entrance features reception desks by interior designer Isamu Kenmochi and light stands by lighting designer Motoko Ishii

The lobby occupies a split-level floor just before the main hall and offers impressive views of the differing floor designs. Its distinctive hexagonal chairs, designed by progenitor of the “Japanese Modern” design sensibility Isamu Kenmochi, meld traditional and modern sensibilities. Not only are these designs beautiful, but they allow for modular rearrangement depending on the number of people.

The public space with its striking V-shaped pillars

The main hall is also chock full of interesting details, beginning with the silver disc adorning the ceiling, which lends gravity to the room and evokes the image of the earth floating in space. The large work of art behind the stage, composed of thousands of cast aluminum pieces in a variety of designs, symbolizes people gathering in large numbers from all different parts of the world. Your guide will shed light with details and industry stories about the history of Kyoto International Conference Center, from its conception to construction, while you peruse the other proposals submitted during the design competition.

The dramatically large disk hanging over the main hall seats is sometimes described as resembling a flying saucer

At this point, your guide will leave you to peruse and enjoy at your leisure without distraction. Soak up the experience in private detail, such as by taking a seat on the UN-style chairs.

VIP Room and Japanese Garden Tour

This Wabunka tour also provides access to a VIP room not usually open for public viewing. This room offers a spectacular view overlooking the Japanese garden, and has hosted dignitaries from all across the world. It is decorated with works by artist Taro Okamoto and calligrapher Shiryu Morita, enhancing an already inspiring space with the aura of famous artwork.

The VIP room with its lush garden views

The Japanese-style garden can be accessed directly from the lobby before the main hall. With space to accommodate gatherings of up to 2,000, it has been a stage for important international connections in its own right. It is designed for strolling, designed to meld with the surrounding nature, and designed to highlight the atmospherics of the four seasons: spring cherry blossoms, early summer’s fresh greens, the russet foliage of autumn, and winter snow. It also hosts firework events during the summer festival season.

The Japanese garden melds seamlessly with the surrounding natural scenery

The garden is centered around “Lake Sachigaike,” a large pond built with a traditional-style Yatsuhashi bridge crisscrossing its surface for uninterrupted strolling. It also offers a new angle from which to enjoy the striking presence of the hall building and take in its trapezoidal lines, sloping reinforced concrete walls and pillars overlapping with horizontal beams. This view also highlights the way the trapezoidal design reduces the building’s profile and visual impact, putting it in harmony rather than competition with the nearby mountaintops.

Relaxation and Conversation in Cafe Seats Overlooking the Garden

The tour concludes with refreshments served at the cafe on the first floor. The cafe, like the rest of the building, is a place for connection and communication.

Relax at the cafe terrace when the tour is over

Seasonally optimal, comfortable seats with a pleasant view will be reserved for Wabunka tour participants. This is a great chance to relax and discuss your impressions from the experience while taking in the gorgeous seasonal tranquility of Takaragaike.

The Beauty of Top Level Japanese Architecture, at a Venue for International Exchange

ICC Kyoto has for more than 50 years carved out its place as an important center for welcoming international visitors and facilitating communication and exchange across diverse cultures. This tour offers the opportunity to experience the facility’s charms, such as its impressive harmony with the natural surroundings and the artwork displayed within, highlighted with commentary from a private guide. As an active conference center, it is rare for visitors to enjoy this level of access, including insider information on its development process and off-limits VIP room admission. See what makes Japanese modern architecture so widely acclaimed around the world.

The site is famous for the ratification of the famous “Kyoto Protocols” at the Kyoto Conference on the Prevention of Global Warming (COP3) in 1997