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Best architecture destinations in Asia

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Singapore
Tropical city-state of hawker food and gardens
9.5
Marina Bay Sands in Singapore opened in 2010 and was designed by the architect Moshe Safdie. Three towers stand about 200 meters tall. A long boat shaped SkyPark rests on top of the towers. It has a rooftop pool with a view of the city.
Highlights:
  • 🏮 Wander through Chinatown’s temples and traditional shophouses
  • 🌳 Visit Gardens by the Bay and its iconic Supertree Grove
  • 🌆 Admire the futuristic skyline from Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
Tokyo
Japan's capital of temples, towers and food
9.7
The Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo was designed by Kenzo Tange for the 1964 Olympics. A suspended roof hangs from two huge steel cables. The curved shape looks like a wave or a shrine. Its main hall holds thousands of people without any interior columns.
Highlights:
  • 🖼️ Visit the teamLab digital art museum
  • 🌆 Enjoy panoramic city views from observation decks
  • 🍣 Savor sushi at a local eatery
Kyoto
Temples, geisha districts and kaiseki dining
9.2
Kinkaku ji in Kyoto is a three story pavilion covered in gold leaf. It was built in 1397 as a villa for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. The pavilion stands beside a pond that reflects it. Each floor has a different style of architecture and roof.
Highlights:
  • ⛩️ Climb the vermillion torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine
  • 🍱 Experience Japan’s beautifully presented Kaiseki dining at a traditional restaurant
  • 🎋 Stroll through the magical Arashiyama bamboo forest early in the morning
Himeji
Famed white castle and samurai gardens
8.4
Himeji Castle is called the White Heron for its white plastered walls and graceful roofs. The main keep was completed in the early 17th century. About 80 buildings stand within its maze of walls and gates. It survived war and earthquakes and remains largely original.
Highlights:
  • ⛰️ Hike Mount Shosha and visit Engyoji Temple
  • 🌸 Stroll through the tranquil Koko-en Japanese Garden
  • 🏯 Explore the majestic and historic Himeji Castle
Kamakura
Great Buddha, Zen temples and surf beaches
8.5
The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a bronze statue cast in 1252 and stands about 13 meters tall. It sits in the open air after a tsunami destroyed the hall around it in the 15th century. Visitors can enter the hollow interior. Forested hills rise behind the statue.
Highlights:
  • 🎋 Walk the bamboo groves of Hokokuji Zen Temple
  • 🌸 Explore Hasedera Temple’s gardens and sea views
  • 🗿 Visit the Great Buddha statue at Kotoku-in Temple
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