by Shigekazu Ohno

Why limit your visits in Japan to Tokyo and Kyoto, when there are 47 prefectures altogether from north to south? If you only frequent the largest cities, you are skimming the surface and missing some of the goodies.

Here in Japan, the gems are spread broadly throughout the country. For example, if you leave the crowd of the cities and take Shihkansen — the world-famous bullet train — to Kyushu Island to the south, you'll find popular hot springs, castles of the 14th century, and thousand-year-old temples.

You'll also find great contemporary architecture such as Jon A. Jerde's Canal City Hakata in Fukuoka, Workstation's Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Hall in Kochi, and Arata Isozaki's Art Plaza in Oita.

But the new Oita Stadium by Kisho Kurokawa, Hon. FAIA, Hon. FRIBA is the newest and hottest architectural attraction.

More Than a Soccer Stadium

Better known as the "Big Eye," the one-million-square foot (93,000-square-meter) stadium houses a soccer field and two multipurpose athletic fields.

Future facilities on the site will include a general fitness center, a training and lodging center, a botanical pool, two soccer and rugby training fields, a softball field, a public baseball field, 11 tennis courts, a throwing event practice field, a large open field, and more. Needless to say, this will be the biggest sport park in the region.

Aerial view of the new Oita Stadium by Kisho Kurokawa, Hon. FAIA, Hon. FRIBA. Photo: Ken Terasaki/ SS Kyushu Co. Ltd. The "Big Eye" with its retractable roof in the closed position. Photo: Ken Terasaki/ SS Kyushu Co. Ltd.   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.