5 Cool and Surprising Japanese Houses

Thanks to a fleet of wildly creative architects producing out-of-the-box houses for brave, non-conformist clients, Japan's architecture scene is one of the most exciting in the world. Here are five of the coolest and most surprising Japanese houses we've spotted recently. Slideshow

The black facade of the Yatabes’ house may turn a darkly futuristic face to its suburban block, but behind it the house is full of light. In Saitama, a tightly packed neighborhood near Tokyo, the black metal screen affords the family privacy without sacrificing outdoor space. Photo by Dean Kaufman.