Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower: A New Type of Tokyo Skyscraper

The Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower is a 204 meter skyscraper located in the Nishi-Shinjuku district of Tokyo. Completed in 2008 by Tange Associates, this 50 story educational building is famous for its curved shape and aluminum diagrid exterior. It is a premier destination for architectural photography in Japan.

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Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower and its spherical dome base rise above a Shinjuku street against a cloudy sky.

I love Tokyo, but I have one minor complaint. Many buildings, especially the skyscrapers, lack imagination. Whenever I think of fantastic architecture, places overseas come to mind. I’m sure you know London’s Shard. Spain’s Torre Glòries and Australia’s Adobe318. They are also outstanding. We could make a huge list if we tried. What about Tokyo candidates?

Abstract close-up of the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower showing its white diagonal lattice and dark reflective glass.

Beyond the glass boxes of Shinjuku

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying Tokyo isn’t a modern city, because it is. But if you look at a lot of the architecture here, it’s old. Take Nishi-Shinjuku, for example. The Keio Plaza Hotel was completed in 1974. Two newer ones, I-Land Tower and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, opened in the nineties. Other parts of the city are the same: look at Center Gai in Shibuya.

Symmetrical upward view of the white lattice Cocoon Tower reflecting surrounding skyscrapers in its curved glass.

Tokyo’s bold architectural standouts

It’s not a loss though. New buildings that push the envelope have gone up in the 21st century. We can look at Ao in Harajuku. It is wedge-shaped with a large glass-paneled structure. Its LED-covered exterior puts it into the “something unique” category when it lights up at night.

Dramatic worm's-eye view of modern skyscrapers converging toward a cloudy sky, featuring a white lattice-wrapped tower.

Tokyo International Forum near Tokyo Station is another. Another glass-covered structure that looks like a ship. Inside, look up at the ceiling; the beams across it make it look like the rib bones of an enormous whale.

Take Roppongi Hills and the Iceberg. Both were completed in the twenty-first century. These aren’t your typical oversized glass boxes. They are breaking away from older types of architecture and leading Tokyo into the future.

The iconic Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower

While more and more great designs are coming through, my favorite remains Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower in Nishi-Shinjuku. It’s a unique design in this city. The tower looks modern and futuristic! It was something completely different for the area that only seemed to contain glass boxes.

Architectural detail of the white triangular lattice dome and Cocoon Tower in Tokyo against a cloudy sky.

A design that defies the norm

The owners stated they wanted something new when they asked for tenders. They didn’t want another rectangular box. The winners, Tange Associates, got it right. They created a cocoon-type structure that is very pleasing to the eye!

Cocoons symbolize nurturing. Insects use it to protect the young. That is what students need. It was an inspired choice.

Low-angle view of the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower's white lattice and curved glass facade against a soft, cloudy sky.

What did the architects do? They curved the structure out in the middle and tapered it at both ends. Then they crisscrossed the dark blue windows with an external diagrid of white aluminum strips. Cocoonish is a good word to describe the results! The design was good enough to win the Emporis Skyscraper Award for 2008.

As for the building itself, Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower is 204 meters (50 stories) high. It is in Nishi-Shinjuku, a short walk from JR Shinjuku Station. Completed in October 2008, the tower is one of the tallest buildings in Tokyo and the second-tallest educational building in the world. What’s it for, though?

Dramatic low-angle view of Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower’s white lattice facade and glass under a cloudy sky.

What’s inside the Cocoon Tower?

Tokyo Mode Gakuen (a fashion vocational school)
HAL Tokyo (a special technology and design college)
Shuto Ikō (a medical college)

Now, you know. It houses three vocational schools which accomodate around 4,500 students. Some of the things they study include fashion, business, graphics, makeup, and hairdressing! The full list is quite extensive. Read more on Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower’s official website.

Ground-level view of a white triangular lattice dome beside a matching skyscraper, bordered by trees and stone steps.

Is Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower worth it?

If you are into architectural photography, it is absolutely worth it. The curves and the diagrid pattern offer endless composition opportunities for wide-angle shots. Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower is the trailblazer in new skyscraper designs that will hopefully come to Shinjuku. To see more buildings in Tokyo see [Harajuku’s Architectural Marvels: 10 Must-See Buildings].

Full street-level view of the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower rising above trees and a city bus under a bright, cloudy sky.

Plan your visit

Please note the general public cannot enter the building.
Address: 1 Chome-7-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo
Closest train station: JR Shinjuku: served by many trains and Tokyo Metro lines.
Here it is on a Google map: