Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building - Part 2
For more Tochō photos check out Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (都庁) - Part 1
The first time I ever went to Tokyo I emerged from the east exit of Shinjuku station expecting to see a futuristic cityscape reminiscent of the sci-fi film Bladerunner. While the sea of neon I was greeted with was certainly impressive, I was actually surprised by the lack of skyscrapers in the area. Admittedly Shinjuku’s skyscraper district is actually located to the west of the station, but even after I figured that out and headed on over there, it was on the whole a disappointing collection of high-rises.
It seems that due to concerns over vulnerability in light of the earthquakes that frequently hit the city, attitudes towards skyscraper construction in Tokyo have (quite understandably) placed an emphasis on structural engineering and safety rather than on height and appearance. The result is that, while Tokyo has a comparable number of skyscrapers to other major cities in the world, its skyline lacks the diversity and innovation found among high-rises in places like New York or Hong Kong.
One exception, however, is the awesome Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, known colloquially as Tochō. My favorite Japanese skyscraper, Tochō bears the distinction of being Tokyo’s tallest building at 243m/48 stories high and, unlike Tokyo’s other tallest skyscrapers, there’s no admission fee for its observation decks.
It’s also especially noteworthy because in a city where most enjoyment of the tourist experience is gleaned from soaking up the atmosphere in different areas - as opposed to checking out internationally famous and visually impressive sights, as sightseeing in cities such as London, Sydney and New York constitutes - Tochō is perhaps the only outstanding sightseeing spot where sheer spectacle is the main attraction.
Designed by Kenzo Tange, one of Japan’s most famous architects, Tochō was completed just after the height of the Bubble Era in 1991 at the massive cost of ¥157 billion (US$1 billion). In true Japanese style, its design is a fusion of old and new, mixing gothic architecture (copying La Cathedrale Notre-Dame in particular, according to Emporis.com) with reproductions of microchip and electronic circuit board design.
The result is an impressive monument to Bubble Era capitalism that provides a stark contrast to the shanty towns in nearby Shinjuku Central Park, many of whose homeless residents are probably victims of the company restructuring and reduced employment opportunities that became characteristic of the Post-Bubble economic malaise.