12 Things to Know About Japanese Staircases (And Why They're Better Than the Rest)

From treacherous to gravity-defying, take a look at the impeccable design of these staircases.

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Complex Original

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The pure forms and acrobatic beauty of Japanese staircases make it easy to imagine that these structures have inspired many artistic-minded people to become designers. Whether that's true or not, it's undeniable that such creations exemplify some of the best elements in the design field.

The ingenuity and risk involved with a lot of these staircases far eclipses a lot of what we have going for us in the States. They stretch over impossible distances at treacherous angles, seemingly able to defy physics just with their beauty. Figure out why you should be paying attention to these constructions with 12 Japanese Staircases (And Why They’re Better Than The Rest).

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They Are Magic

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They Are Dangerous

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They Are as Bad as They Want to Be

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Less Is More but Least Is Best

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They Defy Gravity

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They Can Be Terrifying

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They Have Secrets

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They Are Beautiful

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They Are Everywhere

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They Can Be Made Out of Anything

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Not Every Single One Is Insanely Steep

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They Are All But Perfect

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