Release of 'Traveling through Architecture: A Recommendation for Architectural Tourism to Enjoy History and Regions' by Architectural Historian Shunsuke Kurakata

Ikaros Publications Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Akihiro Yamate), which handles media business in aviation, railways, and other fields within the Impress Group, released the adult single-theme book 'Traveling through Architecture: A Recommendation for Architectural Tourism to Enjoy History and Regions' on April 15, 2026. ■ 60 "Buildings" You Should Visit, from Hokkaido to Okinawa Architectural historian Shunsuke Kurakata, well-known for "Architecture and Town Walking," has carefully selected 60 buildings from across Japan that you would want to visit as a travel destination. From the end of the Edo period to modern times, he unravels the diverse appeal of architecture such as museums, libraries, and government buildings from multiple perspectives. For each spot, in addition to the historical background, he carefully explains viewing points that invite you to walk around the surrounding town and highlights of details such as decorations. This is a book for traveling while enjoying architecture, and is also recommended as a catalyst to touch upon a new "architectural hobby." Why was that building built here, and what kind of time has it marked? Knowing the background also leads to a deeper appreciation of the land. If you turn your eyes to the buildings, the thoughts of the people of the past and the breath of the times should arise. With this book in hand, please visit the actual sites. Placing yourself in the space and feeling it on your skin is what it means to "travel through architecture." Please enjoy the connections that expand from a single piece of architecture to the "era," "designer," and "region" as your own unique journey. ■ This book is recommended for the following people: - Those who are interested in buildings - Those who are interested in land, climate, and history - Those who are interested in people's interactions and town building ■ Page Image Exterior/interior and decorations of each facility are shown in photos "60 Architecture You Should Visit First" selected from all over the country ■ Structure of this book ◎ National Architecture Map / How to use this book Sapporo City Archives (Former Sapporo Court of Appeal Building) / Kushiro City Marsh Observatory / Aomori Museum of Art / Kimura Industrial Laboratory / Iwate Bank Red Brick Building / Sendai Mediatheque / Korakukan / Yamagata City Local History Museum (Former Saiseikan Main Building) / Koriyama City Koriyama Public Hall Tochigi Meiji no Mori Memorial Hall (Former Aoki Family Nasu Villa) / Tsukuba Center Building / Shiroiya Hotel / Seishido / Makuhari Messe / Naritasan Shinshoji Temple Great Main Hall / Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple / Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History (Former Yokohama Specie Bank Head Office Main Building) / Yokosuka Museum of Art Fuefukigawa Fruit Park / Former Kaichi School Building / Yatsugatake Museum of Art (Haramura Historical and Folk Custom Museum) / Northern Culture Museum / Aore Nagaoka / Hotel Tateyama / 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa / Former Ukon Family Residence Western-style Building Nawa Insect Museum Memorial Insect Hall / Former Hyuga Family Atami Villa / Aichi Prefectural Government Office Main Building / Tokoname Tou no Mori Ceramic Art Institute / Rokkaen (Former Seiroku Moroto Residence) / Biwako Otsukan (Former Biwako Hotel) / Former Hachiman Post Office / Kyoto International Conference Center / Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library / Weathercock House (Former Thomas Residence) / Yodoko Guest House / Nara National Museum, Buddhist Art Research Center (Former Nara Prefectural Product Display Center) / Hotel Kawakyu Jinpukaku / Kounkaku / Former Senkyo Ordinary Elementary School / Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Main Building / Iwakuni Chokokan / Former Akita Company Building / Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center "WHY" / Seto Inland Sea Folk History Museum / Chichu Art Museum / Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art / Ehime Prefectural Government Main Building / Kochi Prefectural Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum / Tosashimizu City Tatsukushi Shell Gallery Mojiko Station / Former Takatori Residence / Twenty-Six Martyrs Museum St. Philip's Church / Kumamoto University Fifth High School Memorial Hall / Oita Prefectural Art Museum / Hyugashi Station / Former Kagoshima Spinning Mill Engineer's Residence / Nago City Hall 《column》 Architecture Festivals Open Up the Town / How to Walk the Tokyo Architecture Festival / The Starting Point Called Ikenchiku Festival Osaka / What the Kyoto Modern Architecture Festival Changed / Architecture Festivals Expanding into the Future ■ Author Profile Shunsuke Kurakata Born in Tokyo in 1971. Graduated from the Department of Architecture, School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University in 1994, and completed graduate school at the same university in 1996. Ph.D. (Engineering). After working as an associate professor at Osaka City University, he has been a professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Metropolitan University since 2023. In parallel with his research on the history of modern and contemporary Japanese architecture, he is actively engaged in conveying the value of architecture widely to society, such as serving as the executive committee chair of one of Japan's largest architectural events, the "Tokyo Architecture Festival," and as an executive committee member of "Ikenchiku Festival Osaka" and "Kyoto Modern Architecture Festival." His publications include "The Story of Modern and Contemporary Architecture in Kyoto" (Heibonsha Shinsho), "A Stroll Through Retro Architecture in Kobe, Osaka, and Kyoto," "A Stroll Through Modern Architecture in Tokyo," "A Stroll Through Retro Architecture in Tokyo" (all from X-Knowledge), and "Takamasa Yoshizaka and Le Corbusier" (Okokusha). He has received the Architectural Institute of Japan Prize (Achievement), the Architectural Institute of Japan Education Prize (Educational Contribution), and the Good Design Award Good Design Best 100.