Located in Tachikawa City, Tokyo, the National Institute for Japanese Language consists of three research departments - Language Research, Teaching Japanese as a Second Language, and Language Information and Resources – engaged in scientific surveys and study on the Japanese language and the linguistic life of the Japanese people. The building site is at the center of a block with two other public facilities, lined by trees that define its edges and serve as a calming buffer against the busy surroundings. The Institute’s main access passes through a front garden, linking to nearby facilities and providing public space for the entire block. A secondary esplanade, weaving through trees, further integrates the block and provides contemplative space for researchers to stroll and rest in the gentle shade of the foliage.