Nakagin Capsule Tower Tour in Tokyo

5 / 5

15 Reviews

Nakagin Capsule Tower Tour in Tokyo

5.0

15 Reviews

From US$ 50 per person

Discover Kisho Kurokawa's Nakagin Capsule Tower and experience what the future looked like back in 1972. Now it's facing the risk of demolition and special arrangement is necessary to observe the capsules, therefore this is a chance not to be missed.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Small group
Limited to 10 participants
Mobile ticketing
Use your phone or print your voucher
Duration 1 hour
Starting time 12:00 PM
Instant confirmation
Live tour guide
English

Experience

Highlights
  • Get to see an interior design of the Capsule Tower Building and stimulate the senses
  • Understand the background of “Metabolism”, a post-war Japanese architectural movement.
  • Photograph inside the capsules and freely post them on SNS
  • Support the Nakagin Capsule Tower Preservation & Restoration Project by being a part of the tour
Full description
Among all the modern and contemporary works by world-renowned designers in Tokyo, Kisho Kurokawa’s Nakagin Capsule Tower constructed in 1972 is probably the most iconic architecture of the 20th-century. It's most striking feature is the prime example of the "metabolism architecture movement" advocated by a group of young, avant-garde Japanese architects, including Kurokawa during the high economic growth period in Japan. However, the Capsule Tower building is now facing the risk of demolition, as it is showing signs of dilapidation. On this tour, you will also learn of the various activities to save the Nakagin Capsule Tower. You will visit a couple of beautifully-renovated capsules with the original amenities, such as a 45-year-old Sony TV and open-reel tape deck attached. Since the capsule appeared in the "Heroes Reborn" TV mini-series in 2015, many intrigued fans from all over the world started visiting this building to experience what the future looked like back in 1972. 
Includes
  • English-speaking licensed guide

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    Participants

    Date

    Prepare for the activity

    Meeting point

    In front of the Nakagin Capsule Tower building entrance.

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    Important information

    Know before you go

    • This tour is supported by the Nakagin Capsule Tower Preservation & Restoration Project and part of the tour fee will be donated to support the project
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    5 / 5

    based on 15 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      5.0 / 5
    • Value for money
      4.7 / 5
    • Service
      5.0 / 5
    • Organization
      5 / 5
    Sort by

    a building to discover, symbol of a forgotten architectural movement while modularity is in fashion. It is a heritage to be preserved and once in the building, you can imagine yourself in a bowler hat and leather boots. Yoshi, the guide, answers all questions with generosity and knowledge. Architecture is also history and that of the building follows economic growth, culture and crisis

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    October 24, 2019

    E
    Reviewed by Eléonore – France

    Helpful?

    Wonderful tour! I highly recommend!

    I have been looking forward to visiting the Nakagin Capsule Tower for years and this tour did not disappoint. Having studied this building in architecture school I thought I knew a lot about this building but on the tour we heard about the social history of the building and about interesting design idiosyncrasies that have caused the building to age as it has. I highly recommend this tour for the architect, the historian, and for the curious!

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    May 10, 2019

    C
    Reviewed by Clara – United States

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    Unbelievably worth the tour!

    As an architecture fan, the Nakagin Capsule Tower tour was one of the few things I made sure to book before my trip to Tokyo — and it was SO worth it. It was an intimate group of great people, and the tour was led by a knowleagble preservation architect who took us through the history and context of the building, as well as the current state of the preservation efforts (all in perfect English). She even has original brochures from the 1970s to show how it was marketed and for whom. We had a brief but thorough talk, then had plenty of time for each group of us to take a lot of photos in the space (as it’s very photogenic). For design and architecture lovers, this tour is a MUST.

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    March 1, 2019

    J
    Reviewed by Jeffrey – United States

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    Organized by
    Showcase Tokyo Architecture Tours

    Product ID: 121689