ARCHITECTUREJAPAN
Main Buildings No. 1 and No. 2 of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Public Architecture · Skyscrapers · Offices

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building東京都庁舎

Location
Tokyo Shinjuku City
Completed
1990

Photo: Kakidai, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Overview

Twin towers like a Gothic cathedral. The citadel of metropolitan government in Nishi-Shinjuku.

The main headquarters of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, completed in 1990; the government moved here from its former Yūrakuchō offices in 1991. Designed by Kenzo Tange, it comprises Main Building No. 1, Main Building No. 2, the Metropolitan Assembly Building and the semicircular Citizens' Plaza.

Main Building No. 1 divides into twin towers from the 33rd floor, and has been likened to Notre-Dame de Paris. The north and south observatories on the 45th floor are open free of charge, offering panoramic views over Tokyo.

This description has been translated from the Japanese original.

Official website

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Data

Only verified information is shown.

Completed
1990
Architect
Kenzo Tange
Height
243.4m
Floors
48 floors above ground
Use
Government offices
Location
2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo
Opened for business
1991
Category
Public BuildingsSkyscrapersOfficesTokyoShinjuku

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Videos

Related videos (YouTube)

Video titles and channel names are shown in their original language. Copyright belongs to each video's publisher.

OfficialSource: 東京都 Tokyo Metropolitan Government (YouTube)Watch on YouTube ↗

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OfficialSource: 【公式】東京都財務局チャンネル (YouTube)Watch on YouTube ↗

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Architect

Kenzo Tange

Kenzo Tange1913–2005

Born in Osaka Prefecture. After graduating from Tokyo Imperial University and working in the office of Kunio Maekawa, he taught at the University of Tokyo after the war while undertaking numerous national projects.

His works, including the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Yoyogi National Gymnasium, St. Mary's Cathedral, Tokyo and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, came to symbolise their respective eras. In 1987 he became the first Japanese recipient of the Pritzker Prize.

Yoyogi National GymnasiumSt. Mary's Cathedral, TokyoHiroshima Peace Memorial MuseumProfile

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Location

2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo

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Sources

References

10

Photo Credits

Image sources, authors and licences

  • 01Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building 2024.jpg

    Photo: Kakidai

    CC BY-SA 4.0·CC BY-SA (Attribution-ShareAlike)·Wikimedia Commons

  • 02TokyoMetropolitanGovernmentOffice.jpg

    Photo: Markus Leupold-Löwenthal

    CC BY-SA 3.0·CC BY-SA (Attribution-ShareAlike)·Wikimedia Commons

  • 03Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No.1 - Shinjuku, Tokyo - DSC05442.jpg

    Photo: Daderot

    CC0·CC0 (No rights reserved)·Wikimedia Commons

  • 04Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building taken from Shinjuku NS Building.jpg

    Photo: Eavesdropper6735

    CC BY 4.0·CC BY (Attribution)·Wikimedia Commons

  • Photos have been resized and colour-graded for consistent display. Adapted CC BY-SA photos may be reused under the same licence terms.