Tokyu Kabukicho Tower

Tokyu Kabukicho Tower
Tokyu Kabukicho Tower in 2023
General information
Status	Completed
Type	Mixed-use
Architectural style	Postmodern
Location	Kabukichō, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Coordinates	35°41′45″N 139°42′2″E
Construction started	1 August 2019
Completed	11 January 2023
Opened	14 April 2023
Owner	Tokyu Recreation and Tokyu Corporation
Height	225 m (738 ft)
Technical details
Structural system	Steel Reinforced concrete
Floor count	48
Floor area	87,421 m^2 (940,990 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architecture firm	Yuko Nagayama & Associates Kume Sekkei
Developer	Shimizu Corporation
Website
tokyu-kabukicho-tower.jp

Tokyu Kabukicho Tower (東急歌舞伎町タワー, Tōkyū Kabukichō Tawā) is a 48-storey skyscraper located in the Kabukichō district of Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. The 225 m (738 ft) tower was designed by Yuko Nagayama & Associates and developed by Shimizu Corporation. It was completed in 2023 as Japan's 19th tallest building.[1]

Overview

Formerly known as Shinjuku Tokyu Milano Plan, the project's official name was announced by Tokyu Corporation on 18 November 2021.[2] Unlike the nearby office and residential buildings, Tokyu Kabukicho Tower is centred on entertainment and recreational facilities, featuring movie theatres, hotels and art installations.[3]

Development took place on a 4,603 m^2 (49,550 sq ft) lot near the former Shinjuku Koma Theater. Construction began on 1 August 2019 and was completed on 11 January 2023;[4] the opening was held on 14 April 2023.[5]

Design

Tokyu Kabukicho Tower as seen from the Yamanote Line

The building is divided into three layers according to the purpose of the facility: lower, middle and upper. In order to form a continuous skyline, the height of the building was set at approximately 225 m (738 ft) to match the high-rise buildings in Nishi-Shinjuku, while its base was set at approximately 110 m (360 ft) to match the height of the buildings around Kabukichō. On the first and second floors, an east–west passageway is provided to ensure continuity in the central district, while an outdoor screen and stage are set up facing the Cine City Square.[6]

Architect Yuko Nagayama was in charge of the design. Inspired by the former water fountain of Kani-gawa and by the Buddhist goddess of water, the tower was designed with the image of a fountain, while the upper part expresses the force of water stretching to the sky.[7]

Tokyu Kabukicho Tower is Japan's first skyscraper designed by a woman.[7]

Facilities

Entrance of the tower

Lower floors

Tokyu Kabukicho Tower's lower floors feature two theatres operated by TST Entertainment: the Zepp Shinjuku from basement floors 1 to 4, which accommodates 1500 people, and the Theater Milano-Za on floors 6–8, with a total of 900 seats.[8][9] Occupying three floors lies the Zero Tokyo, Japan's largest night entertainment facility.[10]

The Shinjuku Kabuki Hall, an entertainment food hall by Hamakura Shoten Seisakusho, is located on the second floor. On the tower's third floor, Bandai Namco Amusements holds an amusement centre, Namco Tokyo (officially stylized namco TOKYO), that features events with anime, manga and video game characters.[8] On the fourth floor, there is an attraction by Sony Music Entertainment called "The Tokyo Matrix". A luxury wellness facility, "Existion", is operated by Milano 05 on the fifth floor.[11]

Middle floors

The 109 Cinemas Premium Shinjuku is located on floors 9 and 10, featuring 752 seats.[8][9]

Upper floors

The upper floors feature two hotels. Hotel Groove Shinjuku is located on floors 17–38. Bellustar Tokyo, a hotel by Singapore-based Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts (at one time owned by Tokyu), lies on floors 39–47, offering a three-storey atrium restaurant on the building's 45th, 46th and 47th floor.[8][9]

See also

• List of tallest buildings in Japan

References

1. "New 225-meter-tall skyscraper unveiled in Tokyo's Kabukicho nightlife district". The Japan Times. 7 April 2023. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
2. "「歌舞伎町一丁目地区開発計画(新宿ＴＯＫＹＵ ＭＩＬＡＮＯ再開発計画)」施設名称を「東急歌舞伎町タワー」に決定―２０２３年春開業予定、コンセプトは「"好きを極める場"の創出」" (in Japanese). Tokyu Corporation. 18 November 2021. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
3. Steen, Emma (11 April 2023). "The new Tokyu Kabukicho Tower in Shinjuku will feature artworks by 26 artists". Time Out. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
4. "東急歌舞伎町タワー」が竣工難しい超高層複合施設の施工を担った清水建設". Kabukicho Culture Press (in Japanese). 2 February 2022. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
5. "「東急歌舞伎町タワー」23年4月14日開業。国内最大級ナイトエンタメ施設". Impress Watch (in Japanese). 2 November 2022. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
6. "第64回新宿区景観まちづくり審議会 [報告]資料1 新宿 TOKYU MILANO再開発計画" (PDF) (in Japanese). Shinjuku city administration. 13 April 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
7. Meyer, Ulf (11 January 2023). "A Delicate Tower in Tokyo's Red-Light District". World-Architects. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
8. Imada, Kaila (5 September 2022). "Japan's largest hotel and entertainment complex is opening in Kabukicho in 2023". Time Out. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
9. "Tokyu Kabukicho Tower to open next year as one of Japan's largest multipurpose entertainment facilities". Japan Shopping Now. 9 May 2022. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
10. "国内最大級*のホテル×エンタメ施設からなる超高層複合施設「東急歌舞伎町タワー」２０２３年４月の開業に向け、２～５階の主要大型テナントを決定" (PDF). tokyu-rec.co.jp (in Japanese). 31 August 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
11. "国内最大級*のホテル×エンタメ施設からなる超高層複合施設「東急歌舞伎町タワー」２０２３年４月１４日の開業に向け、１～５階のテナント詳細を公開" (PDF). tokyu.co.jp (in Japanese). 16 November 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2023.

External links

• Official website (in Japanese)