So rich and unique is traditional Japanese architecture that its nearly impossible to improve upon. Yet contemporary Japanese designers and architects keep finding fresh approaches to refurbish and take inspiration from the ways of old. Whether its a pristinely preserved traditional house or a sleek modern apartment, the best Japanese homes share a love of cleverly designed spaces and warm materials like wood, brick, and bamboo.From a thatched roof farmhouse occupied by a Zen priest to Tadao Andos experimental 4x4 House, from Shigeru Bans conceptual Shutter House to a beautiful domestic homage to bamboo, this elegant compendium traverses the multifaceted landscape of Japanese living today.Enriched by 170 brand new, unpublished photographs, this edition takes you on breathtaking journey through the Land of the Rising Suncomplete with a list of addresses, should you wish to undertake this journey to Japans most fascinating inns and homes yourself. An insightful glossary of key terms, such as tatami, shoji, and noren, will also help you come to grips with all elements of Japans unique aesthetic of Eastern minimalism.