Sky Way in Kyoto

See how glass panels are effectively equipped

Kyoto offers countless tour destination to travelers. Well, add the JR Kyoto Station building designed by HARA Hiroshi to your destination list. It's too good to consider just as a railway station where you arrive and leave. 


The building appears to be more open to the public compared with other urban railway stations. More spaces are accessible and it's fun to explore them. Allow at least one hour or take another hour to see every nook and corner.


My favorite is Kuchu-kei-ro or Sky Way, an aerial corridor about 400 meters long and 45 meters high from the ground floor. Free of charge of course.


The glass panels making up the north facade are also impressive. Here's what the architect said in the design concept submitted to the JR Kyoto Station Reconstruction Competition committee:

The northern facade practically consists of glass to realize a bright elevation surface. As a result the structure may look alternately lost or floating with the northern skies in the backdrop. The same scenery would not be reproduced ever again.

See more photos in my picasa album.