The description of this day sounds like the remake of the John Candy/ Steve Martin classic “Planes, Trains + Automobiles.”
That is, I ask, how obsessed would you have to be to take the time to ride a train 30 minutes (Shinkansen from Kyoto to Nagoya), then a local train (50 more) and finally take a 30 minute bus ride to see a structure in the pouring rain?
Yes, that obsessed.
Here is why..
[Ed. Note- now those of you that personally know rex and his FLLW obsession understand the travel.]
The architect Frank Lloyd Wright spent the years 1918–1922, living in Japan and overseeing the construction of The Imperial Hotel.
He was paid $220,000 for this work. That is the equivalent of $3.5 million in today’s dollars. The money was well spent because on the day the hotel opened a massive earthquake levelled almost all buildings in Tokyo except the hotel. Apparently his cantilevered design withstood the quake.
Unfortunately the hotel complex was torn down in 1968.
[Ed. Note- If only rex’s architectural preservationist daughter Meghan had been around then the hotel may still be standing. 😆]
In what was still a brilliant bit of preservation action, some had the forethought to preserve the front entrance and lobby of the hotel.
It has been relocated to this amazing outdoor architecture museum called the Meiji- Mura.
The museum consists of nearly 100 buildings in a remarkable, hilly setting.
The centrepiece of the museum is the Imperial Hotel. We were stunned with how much of the interior of the hotel lobby had been preserved.
Here are a few (of the many) photos I took.
There was a guide at the building. Meet Seiko.
Once she realized we were Wright freaks she spent over an hour with us explaining all of the details of the property. She is keen to receive pictures of our home as she is all- Wright too.
We explored some of the vast property in the rain…
Time for a tune…
SUFJAN STEVENS 🇺🇸 is an American performer who I collected. He intended to record an LP for each state but so far only two have been released- “Michigan” and “Illinois”.
Since Wright started his career in Illinois, there is a track that references the 1894 Columbian Exhibition that inspired Wright and mentions the architect. Here is “Come On Feel The Illinoise! Part 1: The World’s Columbian Exposition etc”
SPOTIFY-
https://open.spotify.com/track/3vbxQpZdIXJ3oALBd8OyQ6?si=waiOnLErQW6QHodO1TOnNw
(SONG 1645)
Play Loud Or Perish
And, because I am continuously swept away by Frank Lloyd Wright, here is an audio of a talk Wright gave that will share some insight into his views. I will leave the interpretation of these comments to you.
https://open.spotify.com/show/1Svul1ce7mR2SwbAHo0y7a?si=rNUPetW4TEC8bhq3h-tlvw
(AUDIO 01)
Listen Loud Or Perish
April 5, 2026 here
April 4, 2026 home
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