Having more than 400 thousand visitors per day, Tokyo Station is one of the most representative terminal stations in Japan, and its “Marunouchi-Building” part was registered as the country’s Important Cultural Property in 2003. While locating among the rapidly-growing skyscrapers in the heart of Tokyo, its solemn appearance and the historical atmosphere seems to tell its 100-years history to the visitors, and has been loved by many people in Japan.
The 3rd floor and the roof are restored in 2012, but the 1st and 2nd floor are preserved.
The station was built with the day’s best building techniques in 1914, and developed as the main gate to Tokyo from all over Japan.
Its strong building survived the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923 almost unhurt, yet in 1945, the roof and a half of the interior were burnt down in the bombing during the Pacific War.
Due to the political and economic situation after the War, it was difficult to restore the station to its original state, and the buildings were forced to change its appearance at the restoration.
When almost 50 years passed from the War, however, a project to bring the building back to its original shape was settled as a part of the area’s architectural planning.
In 2012, after 5-years of careful restoration and installing of earthquake isolation systems, Tokyo Station was finally brought to its original appearance for the first time in a half century.
While preserving the 1st & 2nd floor part, the 3rd floor including the symbolic Dome Ceiling was restored perfectly, and “The Tokyo Station Hotel,” whose guestrooms locate alongside the Dome Ceiling was beautifully renovated.
Right behind these luxurious windows on the second floor are the guest rooms of
“The Tokyo Station Hotel”
In 2014, Tokyo Station marked its 100 year anniversary, and the issue of anniversary “Suica” *, Projection Mapping on the station wall attracted a big attention from all over Japan, introducing people a new possibility of Tokyo Station created by the complex of history and the new technology.
The city of Tokyo has been evolving towards 2020’s Tokyo Olympic.
When you have chance to visit Japan, how about visiting Tokyo Station, where you can feel the history and the future of the city?
*Suica: one of the most used prepaid e-money cards in Japan, issued by JR (Japan Railway) East. More than 38 million cards were issued by 2012.
Beautiful Complex of Important Cultural Property and skyscrapers
Ms. Hazuki Kuroda