Kengo Kuma’s anti-monument monument—layered timber eaves that make a mega-stadium feel oddly humane.
Stadium in Kasumigaoka, Tokyo, Japan.
Featured in Kengo Kuma's definitive monograph, Kengo Kuma: Complete Works.
Visitor Guide
Do the stadium tour: the concourse walks and material details are the point. If there’s no tour slot, walk the perimeter and look closely at the eave layers—Kuma hides craft in repetition.
From the outer concourse/viewpoints on a tour, late afternoon for warm light on the timber eaves; outside, shoot from the Sendagaya-side approach around golden hour for the strongest shadow lines.
Yes—via stadium tours on scheduled days with ticket purchase; opening times vary by date. On event days, access is controlled by event ticketing.
The ‘wood’ reads like tradition, but the real story is logistics: standardization and layering at stadium scale—craft aesthetics achieved through industrial repeatability.
1–2 hours
Design & Structure
Layered modularity: repeated eave elements and a rational stadium bowl wrapped in a material narrative (timber + greenery). The ‘parametric’ aspect is the controlled repetition and variation across a massive perimeter condition.
Timber and greenery as a public-facing skin over a steel stadium reality—important because it reframes a megastructure as something textured and local.
Long-span roof and stadium bowl engineering, disguised by a soft outer language—big steel doing the work while the timber layers handle perception.
See Together
Buildings that pair well with Japan National Stadium — they're nearby or share a compelling architectural conversation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Japan National Stadium?+
Japan National Stadium was designed by Kengo Kuma. It is located in Kasumigaoka, Japan.
Where is Japan National Stadium located?+
Japan National Stadium is located in Kasumigaoka, Japan. Its coordinates are 35.6778°, 139.7145°.
Can I visit Japan National Stadium?+
Japan National Stadium is a real building in Kasumigaoka that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.