There was also a bumpy sloped corridor which, after a moment of thinking about it, we realized was a ramp for people to walk their bikes down.

Located on a busy street behind the Ritz Carlton Hotel Osaka, the facility acts as a place for people commuting to the city to store their bikes. While typical multi-level bike parking structures are drab amalgams of concrete and steel, this iteration is a breath of fresh air – literally. Each level is planted with several rows of planters flush with ivy, wrapping the entire building with a thick layer of vegetation.

While we were certainly enticed by the green facade of the bike parking lot, we were tickled pink when we discovered that we could explore the interior as well (trespassing schmesspassing). Inside, the air was nice and cool despite the muggy outdoor temperature. Neat rows of bikes lined each floor, which could be accessed via a central staircase or a bumpy sloped corridor which, after a moment of thinking about it, we realized was a ramp for people to walk their bikes down. Needless to say, we really wish someone would build something like this greenery-clad bike storage facility in New York too!

Photos copyright Yuka Yoneda for Inhabitat.com