In Japan beauty is seen in the ephemeral, and the transience of life is embraced. During the brief “hanami” season when the cherry blossoms bloom, spirits are high, and the usually quiet shopping street along the Meguro River in Tokyo becomes a bustling, festival-like atmosphere. The concept for this visitor’s center recognizes the transformation of the seasons and street space through an exploration of the uniquely Japanese notion of “oku,” a depth or feeling of inwardness in space. In traditional Japanese villas the “oku” is the deepest, darkest, and innermost space. It is reached by an irregular winding path, rich with outward views to the garden. Working in a confined urban context, however, the garden must be moved to the center. Therefore, the moments of “oku” or most intimate spaces are pushed to the periphery, flipping the typical Japanese spatial relationship.