National Art Center, Tokyo

This is one of Japan's largest exhibition spaces, notable for having no permanent collection and instead hosting a rotating program of major loan shows and large public art association salons. Opened in 2007, its most striking feature is an undulating glass curtain wall designed by a celebrated architect, behind which soaring inverted cone structures support cafes and a restaurant. The vast, light-filled galleries can stage blockbuster exhibitions on a huge scale, and the building itself draws visitors even between shows.