Tokyo National Museum

The Tokyo National Museum is defined by the Honkan building, a concrete structure crowned with a steeply pitched, tile-covered roof in the traditional Japanese style. This architectural blend was the result of a nineteen thirty-seven competition won by Jin Watanabe, who aimed to evoke a sense of Japanese identity during a period of intense Westernization. The museum holds the largest collection of Japanese art in the world, ranging from ancient clay figurines to samurai armor, all housed within these massive, heavy walls.