Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁舎, Tōkyō-to Chōsha), also referred to as the Tochō (都庁) for short, is the seat of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which governs the special wards, cities, towns, and villages that constitute the Tokyo Metropolis.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
東京都庁舎
Record height
Tallest in Japan from 1991 to 1993[I]
Preceded bySunshine 60
Surpassed byYokohama Landmark Tower
General information
StatusCompleted
TypePrefecture building
Location2-8-1 Nishishinjuku,
Shinjuku, Tokyo 163-8001 Japan
Coordinates35°41′23″N 139°41′32″E
Construction startedApril 1988
CompletedDecember 1990
Opening1991 (1991)
Cost¥157 billion
OwnerTokyo Metropolitan Government
Height
Roof242.9 meters (797 ft)[1]
Technical details
Floor count48
Floor area195,764 m2 (2,107,190 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Kenzo Tange
Structural engineerKiyoshi Mutō

Located in Shinjuku ward, the building was designed by architect Kenzo Tange. It consists of a complex of three structures, each taking up a city block. The tallest of the three is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No.1, a tower 48 stories tall that splits into two sections at the 33rd floor. The building also has three levels below ground. The design of the building was meant to resemble an integrated circuit,[2] while also evoking the look of a Gothic cathedral. It is the tallest city hall in the world.[3]

The other two buildings in the complex are the eight-story Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Building (including one underground floor) and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 2, which has 37 stories including three below ground.

The two panoramic observation decks, one in each tower on floor 45 (202 meters (663 ft) high), are free of charge to the public and contain gift shops and cafes.[4] The two observation decks are open between 9:30 and 22:00 on alternating days.[5]

History

The building was designed by Kenzo Tange and finished in December 1990 at the expense of ¥157 billion (about US$1 billion) of public money. It replaced the old city hall at Yūrakuchō, which was built in 1957 and also designed by Tange, which is now the site of the Tokyo International Forum.[6]

At 242.9 meters (797 ft),[1] it was the tallest building by roof height in Tokyo until 2007, when the Midtown Tower was completed.

  • The first Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in the 1930s. It was damaged during World War II.
    The first Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in the 1930s. It was damaged during World War II.
  • The previous Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, between 1957 and 1991, in Chiyoda district
    The previous Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, between 1957 and 1991, in Chiyoda district
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1 (Tōkyō-tochō daiichi honchōsha)
    Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1 (Tōkyō-tochō daiichi honchōsha)
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 2 (Tōkyō-tochō daini honchōsha)
    Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 2 (Tōkyō-tochō daini honchōsha)

See also

References
  1. "Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building 1". SkyscraperPage. Archived from the original on 13 May 2003. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  2. Kenzo Tange: Multifaceted Colossus Who Mirrored the Era (in Japanese). Nikkei Architecture – Nikkei BP. 2005. p. 118. ISBN 4-8222-0476-6.
  3. "Tokyo to open "world's largest' city hall in April". Tampa Bay Times. 11 January 1991. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  4. "Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatories". Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Archived from the original on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  5. "About Tokyo Government Building – Tokyo Travel Guide | Planetyze". Planetyze. Archived from the original on 2018-07-01. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  6. "Tokyo City Hall, Shinjuku Twin Towers Observatory". Japan Experience. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
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