He holds a Masters degree in Architecture and Engineering from Ilinois Institute of Technology and Yokohama National University. He started his professional career in Chicago at Stugio Gang Architects where he worked for Aqua Tower. Later he moved to London and joined Foreign Office Architects (FOA) where he was responsible for a number of projects in UK and USA. After three years in London he moved back to Japan, and established Yukinobu Toyama Architects in Tokyo. Since 2010, he has been working on his own practice and teaching at Yokohama National University.