After promising three new retail store in Japan, Apple is set to open its first store in Kyoto Japan this Saturday, August 25. Ahead of its grand opening, Apple has shared some photos of the multi-floor store.
Last week Apple removed the construction barriers outside of Kyoto’s Zero Gate shopping complex and replaced them with window coverings featuring a woven bamboo design. These window coverings were short lived and were removed today finally giving everybody a look inside the four-store building.
Apple says the building’s architecture “takes inspiration from local design and materials”:
Apple Kyoto’s architecture takes inspiration from local design and materials, with the upper levels clad in a translucent envelope inspired by Japanese lanterns. The use of lightweight timber frame and special paper on the upper facade also draw reference to the country’s traditional houses.
Japan was home to Apple’s first store outside the US, opening in Tokyo in 2003. Their store in Kyoto will be the company’s ninth store open in Japan and 504th worldwide. As previously stated Apple is bringing three new stores to the region. The first was Apple Shinjuku that opened in April. Kyoto will mark the second, opening Saturday. And late last year Apple’s store in Shibuya closed for renovations which are set to wrap up before the end of the year.