Yurakucho Itoshia

A mixed-use redevelopment tower that opened in October 2007 in front of Yurakucho Station, Chiyoda City. The 21-storey, 107.78-metre building houses Yurakucho Marui on its lower floors and offices above, bridging Ginza and Hibiya in the heart of central Tokyo.

Use

Office tower

Area

Chiyoda City

Completed

2007

Floors

21 above ground, 4 below

Height

107 m

Developer

Yurakucho Station-Front District 1 Urban Redevelopment Association

Architect

Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei

A New Landmark at Yurakucho Station

Yurakucho Itoshia opened on October 12, 2007, directly in front of Yurakucho Station in Chiyoda City, Tokyo. The 21-storey, 107.78-metre main tower is paired with a lower commercial wing, together forming a complex centred on Yurakucho Marui department store. The building was designed by Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei and constructed by a joint venture of six major contractors: Toda, Taisei, Kajima, Shimizu, Obayashi, and Takenaka.

The site had a long history before this development. The former Yurakucho Sogo department store once stood here, operating until 1984. After years of planning by the Yurakucho Station-Front District 1 Urban Redevelopment Association, the project finally broke ground and delivered the contemporary glass-curtain-wall tower that stands today.

Connecting Ginza and Hibiya

Yurakucho sits in a seam between two contrasting neighbourhoods. Head east and within minutes you reach the upscale boutiques of Ginza’s Chuo-dori. Walk west and Hibiya Park and the Imperial Hotel come into view, with the quiet green edge of the Imperial Palace grounds not far beyond. Itoshia’s position at the station exit makes it a natural waypoint for anyone moving between these two worlds.

The lower floors draw everyday shoppers to the Marui store’s mix of apparel, homeware, and dining. The upper office floors meet the demand for a central Tokyo address, while the area around the building—with the old-style covered Corridor Street restaurants close by—maintains the layered, unhurried feel that sets Yurakucho apart from more polished neighbouring districts.

Summary

Yurakucho Itoshia, completed in 2007, stands 21 storeys and 107.78 metres tall at the entrance to Yurakucho Station. It replaced a long-vacant department store site with a contemporary office and retail building designed by Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei. From this crossing point between Ginza’s glamour and Hibiya’s calm, the paths leading deeper into central Tokyo are all worth following.