Deutsch-Japanisches Center

The Deutsch-Japanisches Center is a building complex housing a hotel, retail spaces, and offices arranged around an inner courtyard featuring a granite portal tilted at a 45-degree angle. The structure integrates multiple functions within a unified architectural layout.

The complex was designed and built between 1972 and 1978 by architectural firms Takenaka Europe and Hentrich, Petschnigg & Partner. Its construction reflected growing business connections between German and Japanese companies in Düsseldorf during that period.

Memorial plaques throughout the courtyard honor Louis Kniffler, a Prussian vice-consul in Nagasaki who strengthened German-Japanese ties during the 1860s. The space tells the story of these historical connections through its commemorations.

The courtyard is readily accessible and pleasant for walking through, with the site offering a mix of public and private areas throughout. Visitors will find the space most active during business hours on weekdays.

The entrance gate was designed as a modern interpretation of a Japanese torii gate, symbolically marking the heart of Düsseldorf's Japanese business district. This architectural detail blends Eastern tradition with Western design in a subtle way.