Most visitors to Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, in Kyoto, are there to see the gilded roof of the landmark’s namesake. But we were just as interested in the green roofs that cover many of the outdoor waiting areas, keeping them nice and cool in a town notorious for its horribly muggy summers.
Topped with one of the most spectacular green roofs in the world today, the ACROS building in Fukuoka, Japan is even more impressive when you’re standing right next to it (or on top of it for that matter!). The stepped design and planted surface keeps the building cool and acts as a climbable park for the office’s lucky employees.
A green-roofed sign we spotted within the walls of Nijo Castle, the former home of the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. In this case, the roof works to absorb rainwater to protect the sign below.
