Tokyu held a press conference in Tokyo on June 3 regarding “The Future Urban Development of Shibuya.”
Since the undergrounding of the Tokyu Toyoko Line’s Shibuya Station in 2002, Tokyu initiated a large-scale redevelopment around the station. Dubbed as a “once-in-a-century redevelopment,” the project began with the opening of Shibuya Hikarie in 2012 and has consisted of 11 development projects. On July 8, 2024, Shibuya Ax will fully open, followed by Shibuya Sakura Stage on July 25, 2024, and the major joint project “Shibuya Station District Plan,” in collaboration with JR East and Tokyo Metro, is currently underway.
This plan is centered around Shibuya Scramble Square East Tower, which opened in 2019, and as the second phase includes the construction of a central tower with 10 floors above ground, 2 floors below ground, and a height of about 61 meters, along with a western tower with 13 floors above ground, 4 floors below ground, and a height of about 76 meters. A cultural exchange facility, developed in partnership with various embassies, will be set up on the 10th floor rooftop of the central tower. Retail spaces will be among the largest in the Tokyo metropolitan area, with a maximum floor space of about 6,000 square meters per floor, in conjunction with the east tower.
▲ View from Shibuya Scramble Crossing (Provided by Shibuya Station District Joint Building Project)
On the northwest side of the western tower, a pedestrian deck of about 3,000 square meters will be constructed connecting the JR Line/Ginza Line ticket gate on the third floor of Shibuya Station, towards Shibuya Chuo Street and Sakuragaoka. Additionally, a free passage connecting the pedestrian deck and Miyamasuzaka will be opened and connected to the central tower. This passage is located directly above the Ginza Line platform, allowing views towards the east entrance area of the station and the Shinjuku and Ebisu areas. Furthermore, a maximum 22-meter-wide east-west free passage will be developed in front of the JR Hachiko entrance, and a maximum 23-meter-wide passage in front of the JR South entrance, improving ground-level access to Miyamasuzaka and Dogenzaka.
The central and western towers are scheduled for completion in fiscal year 2031, but the pedestrian network around the station is expected to be completed in fiscal year 2030. Apart from this, by fiscal year 2034, five plazas will be developed with a total area of about 20,000 square meters: Hachiko Plaza, East Entrance Ground Plaza, (tentatively named) Chuo Tower 4th Floor Plaza, (tentatively named) West Entrance 3rd Floor Aerial Facility, and (tentatively named) Chuo Tower 10th Floor Plaza.
▲ View from Miyamasuzaka Intersection (Provided by Shibuya Station District Joint Building Project)
Shibuya Station has undergone numerous relocations of hallways, ticket gates, and staircases during its long-term renovation but is finally reaching a completion stage for its pedestrian network.
At the press conference, Hideharu Tanabe, General Manager of the Development Promotion Group at Tokyu’s Shibuya Development Business Division of the Urban Development Headquarters, explained the project’s outline. “The redevelopment, including Shibuya Scramble Square, aims not only to ensure a safe and comfortable pedestrian space and solve the station’s complex paths but also to provide a unique scenery and experience targeting Shibuya as a world-renowned international city,” he confidently stated.
▲ Hideharu Tanabe, General Manager, Development Promotion Group, Shibuya Development Business Division, Tokyu Urban Development Headquarters
Tokyu is also promoting two additional projects, the “Shibuya Upper West Project” and the “Miyamasuzaka Area Type 1 Urban Redevelopment Project.”
The Shibuya Upper West Project is centered around a 34-story above ground, 4-story below ground, 155.7-meter tall complex to be built on the site of the former Tokyu Department Store, which closed in 2023. In addition to expanding and relocating “The Museum” from the existing Bunkamura, “The House Collective,” a contemporary luxury hotel brand, will make its first entry into Japan on the mid-level floors.
The Miyamasuzaka Area Type 1 Urban Redevelopment Project focuses on a 33-story above ground, 3-story below ground, 180-meter high complex on the northeast side of the Miyamasuzaka Shita Intersection and aims for completion in 2031. As a special designated project within the Tokyo National Strategic Special Zone, it will develop large-scale MICE-ready halls/conferences and international standard accommodation facilities, aiming to be a premier business and exchange hub in Tokyo. Additionally, the east side will see the rebuilt and redeveloped Shibuya Miyamasu Mitake Shrine, and a commercial facility of 7 stories above ground and 2 below will be built across from Miyamasuzaka.
The Shibuya Upper West Project is expected to be completed in fiscal year 2029, and the Miyamasuzaka Area Type 1 Urban Redevelopment Project is expected to be completed in fiscal year 2031.
▲ Shibuya Upper West Project (Image by Mir, Copyright Snøhetta and NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD, Provided by Tokyu)
▲ Miyamasuzaka Area Type 1 Urban Redevelopment Project (Provided by Miyamasuzaka Area Urban Redevelopment Association)
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This article was generated using automatic translation by GPT-4 API. The translation may not be accurate.
