Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building |
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東京都庁舎
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| Record height | |
| Tallest in Japan from 1991 to 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Sunshine 60 |
| Surpassed by | Yokohama Landmark Tower |
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Prefecture building |
| Location | 2-8-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo 163-8001 Japan |
| Coordinates | 35°41′23″N 139°41′32″E / 35.68972°N 139.69222°E |
| Construction started | April 1988 |
| Completed | December 1990 |
| Opening | 1991 |
| Cost | ¥157 billion |
| Owner | Tokyo Metropolitan Government |
| Height | |
| Roof | 242.9 meters (797 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 48 |
| Floor area | 195,764 m2 (2,107,190 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Kenzo Tange |
| Structural engineer | Kiyoshi Mutō |
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁舎, Tōkyō-to Chōsha), also called the Tochō (都庁) for short, is a very important building in Tokyo, Japan. It is where the Tokyo Metropolitan Government works. This government manages all the different parts of the huge city of Tokyo.
The building is located in the Shinjuku area. A famous architect named Kenzo Tange designed it. The building is actually a group of three main structures. Each one takes up a whole city block!
The tallest part is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1. It has 48 floors and splits into two parts near the top. There are also three floors hidden underground. The building's design looks a bit like a computer chip. It also reminds some people of an old Gothic cathedral. This building is the tallest city hall in the entire world!
The other two buildings in the complex are also important. One is the eight-story Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Building. This is where the city's lawmakers meet. The other is Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 2, which has 37 stories.
A cool thing about the main building is its two observation decks. They are on the 45th floor, about 202 meters (663 feet) high. You can visit them for free! They have gift shops and cafes where you can relax and enjoy the view. The decks are open most days from 9:30 AM to 10:00 PM.
Building History
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building was designed by Kenzo Tange. It was finished in December 1990. Building it cost about ¥157 billion, which was a lot of money (around US$1 billion at the time).
This new building replaced an older city hall in Yūrakuchō. That old building was also designed by Tange, back in 1957. Today, the Tokyo International Forum stands where the old city hall used to be.
At 242.9 meters (797 ft), this building was the tallest building in Tokyo for many years. It held that record until 2007. That's when the Midtown Tower was completed and became even taller.
See Also
- List of tallest structures in Tokyo
- List of tallest structures in Japan
- Tochōmae Station
Images for kids
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The first Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in the 1930s. It was damaged during World War II.
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The previous Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, between 1957 and 1991, in Chiyoda district
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Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1 (Tōkyō-tochō daiichi honchōsha)
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Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 2 (Tōkyō-tochō daini honchōsha)
