3.2 Kyoto Station#

After our visit to teamLab, we walked back to Kyoto Station. Connecting the main station building to the 10th floor of the Isetan Department Store (right next to the “Kyoto Ramen Koji”) is a high-altitude walkway known as the “Skyway.” It turns out to be the perfect vantage point for admiring the Kyoto Tower.

Strolling along the Skyway, the Kyoto Tower was not the only attraction; the digital art installations flanking the station were equally captivating. On one side lies the magnificent “Grand Staircase.” Countless LED lights are embedded into the hundreds of steps, shifting constantly to display various patterns and messages. The true brilliance of this installation lies in its openness—it is not a sealed-off exhibit. Visitors are free to climb the stairs. Against the backdrop of this massive cascade of light and shadow, pedestrians look tiny, yet they naturally become a living component of this flowing artwork.

On the opposite side (toward the East Square), we found a large-scale outdoor projection. While the technology itself might not be considered cutting-edge by today’s standards, the artistic direction was undeniably elegant. The imagery featured traditional Kyoto architecture as a backdrop, with flocks of cranes taking flight—resembling a moving classical scroll painting that perfectly harmonized with the atmosphere of the ancient capital.