Tod's Tokyo (Aoyama): This is the flagship store of the Italian luxury shoemaker Tod's. The building was designed by Toyo Ito, whose challenge was to make a statement with little access to the street-front. He used cement "trees" to encase the glass building and make it stand out in Omotesando's boulevard.

Tokyo international forum (Tokyo Station): The Tokyo International Forum is one of Japan's largest convention and cultural centers. The biggest hall can seat 5,000 people, and there are also restaurants, concert venues, theaters, convention space, etc. The building was designed by Uruguayan architect Rafael Vinoly. The atrium is one of the most distinctive features, letting a lot of sunlight in. Some people have compared walking through the atrium to being inside the skeleton of a whale.

Aoyama Technical College (Shibuya): The Aoyama Technical College was designed by Watanabe Sei and is a great example of post-modern architecture. The building features sharp angles, red and silver color contrasts and shapes that make it look like a metallic insect. A lot of people think it looks like one of the robots of gundam, the popular science fiction anime and video game.

Tokyo mode gakuen (Shinjuku): Tokyo Mode Gakuen is immediately visible from the west exit of Shinjuku station. The building will be completed in 2009, and houses three technical colleges. The shape is supposed to look like a cocoon, but people have also compared it to an ear of corn or a sleek speaker.

Prada (Aoyama): Prada needs little introduction given its iconic status around the world. They have various locations around Tokyo, but the one in Omotesando stands out because the building was designed by Herzog & De Meuron, one of the world's most famous architect firms and a recipient of the Pritzker prize (aka, the nobel for architecture). Their Prada building not only showcase the clothes but also the brand itself. Undulating glass and oblique lines are the key characteristics of the building.

Asahi Beer Hall (Asakusa): The Asahi Super Dry Hall was conceived by French designer Philippe Starck. The golden object on top of the building has been compared to many things, but the consensus suggests that it is a golden turd. There's a bar inside with the same quirky design as the building, and the shape of the golden object appears in unexpected places as well.

National Art Center (Roppongi): The National Art Center opened in 2007 and has 14,000 square meters of floor space for the numerous exhibitions by Japanese and global artists. The building was designed by world-famous architect Kisho Kurokawa, who is known for designing the first capsule building among other things. The swirling design is particularly beautiful.

Omotesando Hills (Aoyama): Tadao Ando is the architect of Omotesando Hills. He is best known for his use of natural light and because the buildings adapt to the landscape seamlessly. Local residents were first concerned that his style was too modern for the area, but the shopping center is now a landmark of Omotesando. He is a recipient of the Pritzker prize.

St. Mary's Cathedral (Ikebukuro): St. Mary's Cathedral is run by the Tokyo Korean Catholic Church. The church dates back to 1899, but was destroyed and replaced in 1964 with the current structure. It is designed by Kenzo Tange, who is one of the most important architects of the 20th century and a recipient of the Pritzker award. The building takes the form of a cross if seen from above.

Fuji TV Odaiba (Odaiba): Fuji TV is one Japan's biggest TV broadcasters and this is their home location in the Kanto area. The eccentric building was designed by world-famous architect Kenzo Tange, and features a giant ball that had to be lifted with special equipment into place. Tours of the studios and inside the ball are available.

Roppongi Hills / Tokyo Midtown / Shiodome SIO-Site (Roppongi / Shimbashi): Tokyo has seen several mixed-use developments come to fruition in the last decade. The concept behind these buildings is to incorporate work, living and entertainment spaces to reduce commuting times. Typically they include a main tower with adjoining buildings that house cinemas, restaurants, museums, residential areas, design centers as well as open spaces and gardens. Shiodome SIO-Site is not one development, but rather a cluster of buildings including Carreta Shiodome and Shiodome City Center that are behind the renewal of the area.