Just look at it. Wow.

Apple is in bind when it comes to it’s own retail stores. Having set the benchmark for design with their own products for so long, consumers expect a little more from your typical Apple Store than your local Dollar General.

Their latest Japanese store opening in Kyoto, 250 miles west of Tokyo, is one of the most beautiful retail spaces we think we’ve ever seen.

It’s going to open on Shijō Dori street which is the main shopping avenue in the city and as you might expect for Japan, is surrounded by many famous temples and shrines with the store taking inspiration and paying homage to these cultural influences.

Turning Japanese

Apple says that the top levels of the building are going to be “clad in a translucent envelope inspired by Japanese lanterns” with the company using a mix of lightweight timber frames and special paper as a tribute to traditional Japanese homes.

The store itself is based around a central multi level atrium where there will be several “Today at Apple” interactive customer sessions on photography, music and coding that will take place daily.

The inside of the store will feature a Genius Grove where customers can go to get help with their Apple products and The Avenue where the full range of iPhones, iPads, Macs and other Apple devices are displayed and are available for purchase alongside a range of quality third party accessories approved by Apple.

Japanarama

The store is due to open at 10am local time on Saturday 25 August and will become Apple’s ninth retail store in Japan. The other locations are in Osaka, Aichi, Miyagi, Fukuoka and the rest in Tokyo itself.

We won’t be able to get a flight to the grand opening to celebrate and explore the space but in it’s honor we will read Manga and dream of walking in its pristine corridors with Yen burning a hole in our pockets.

The post The new Kyoto Apple store is the most stunning thing we’ve seen in weeks appeared first on AppleMagazine.