Taketa Castle Town Plaza
This structure in the center of Taketa was designed by Kuma Kengo, the architect of buildings such as the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo and the V&A Dundee design museum in Scotland. The exterior of Taketa Castle Town Plaza is decorated with bamboo poles, a material chosen in reference to the name of the city, which means “bamboo field.”
The Plaza is primarily a community center. Its outdoor deck is often used for concerts, while festivals with food trucks and stalls as well as events such as temporary “beer gardens” are held in the parking lot. A bus stop is also part of the complex.
The Plaza was built in 2020 as part of a project that also included the renovation of the Taketa History and Culture Museum, also designed by Kuma Kengo. The eye-catching use of bamboo creates a visual harmony between the two buildings.