A fashion mall entrance? No, the subway.

At the headquarters of a Japanese television and communications conglomerate in Shiodome, Tokyo, this area is fascinating. It's an interesting architecture for the entire building, however the first few floors are the most striking with exterior pods that act as sound, radio, and television studios, and bridges that connect the different areas on the first floor. As I walked through it, it appears to be a modern architectural play off of Rockefeller Center’s area around the ice skating forum.

However, the most impressive part of this project is the Shiodome subway stop, which as you walk down the stairs you enter into what appears to be more like a high end Taubman mall than a subway station! It may just be because it is so new, but I don’t know if any subway in the US or many of the other countries I’ve visited have ever been this clean and extravagant. I am sure that at least a portion of this has to do with the fact that the Japanese culture, their respect and care for things personal and public seems much more intense than the increasingly self-entitled American culture. Regardless of the reasons, this is something to see, and an entryway to admire for any subway rider!