Having previously worked on The Park-Ing GINZA's cavernous car park-cum-concept store last year, Nobuo Araki's latest creation is an altogether more tranquil affair.

In a country of salarymen and "karoshi," the three-layered house is billed as a zen-like retreat in the Kanagawa prefecture. Embedded on the coastal slope where the ocean and rock meet, each floor presents a distinctive view. The first features the bedroom, bathroom, and entrance to the olive yard; the second belongs to the entrance, living room, and ocean view; the third offers a rooftop looking out onto gorgeous coastal vistas.

Furthermore, the building has been designed so that light and shadow intermingle for aesthetic effect (as seen on the wall in slide 3). Currently, the property is owned by a lucky Tokyo-based photographer.

Peruse images of the gallery above and then check out this piece on our 10 favorites minimalist architecture buildings.