Tokyo · Central Tokyo
Tokyo Station Marunouchi
The Marunouchi building of Tokyo Station was designed by the architect Kingo Tatsuno and completed in February 1914. It was a three-story red brick structure with two domes, in a style that suited the standing of Japan's main station. In the bombing of 25 to 26 May 1945 the domes and the roof burned, and after the war the building was rebuilt as a temporary structure of only two stories, without the domes.
A preservation project that ran from 2007 to 2012 returned the building to its original form: three stories and the two domes, following historic plans and photographs. Inside the north dome is Tokyo Station Gallery, an art museum that deliberately leaves sections of brick and steel from 1914 exposed, including scars from the fire of 1945. The building also houses the Tokyo Station Hotel, which opened in 1915.
Viewing from outside is free and possible at any hour. From Marunouchi Plaza you see the building reflected in the glass of the towers around it, but the two well-known viewpoints are from above: the roof of KITTE across from the station, and the floor 5 terrace of the Maru Building (Marubiru) right in front of it.
Good to know
- In the Lobby Lounge of the Tokyo Station Hotel you can sit for coffee even if you are not staying, 08:00 to 20:00. The dome ceilings can be seen for free from the station's ticket hall.
- Ramen Street, Character Street and most of the food shops are on the Yaesu side, on the other side of the station. The indoor walk there from the historic building takes about ten minutes.
What is nearby
Approximate walking minutes from the entrance of Tokyo Station Marunouchi.
- HereTokyo Station Marunouchi
- 1 min
Tokyo Station Gallery More to see
An art museum inside the station's dome, with exposed brick and steel from 1914, including the marks of the 1945 fire. 10:00 to 18:00 (Fridays until 20:00), closed Mondays, price depends on the exhibition.
- ~3 min
GranSta Tokyo Food
Under the station: bento, sweets and souvenirs.
- ~3 min
Marunouchi Building (Marubiru) 5F Terrace More to see
A free terrace with a glass floor, right across from the station's facade. Less known than the roof of KITTE, and a head-on view rather than one from the side.
- ~8 min
Rokurinsha Tokyo Ramen Street Food
Tsukemen, thick noodles that you dip in a thick broth, on Ramen Street under the station. The special tsukemen is about ¥1,090. 10:00 to 23:00, and an early opening for 'morning tsukemen' from 07:30.
- ~8 min
Tokyo Character Street Shopping
About 30 character shops under the station on the Yaesu side: Pokemon, Sanrio (Hello Kitty), Rilakkuma, One Piece, Plarail and Tomica, and a Kabuki souvenir shop. Part of 'Tokyo Ichibangai'.
- ~9 min
Vegan ramen at Tokyo Station.
- ~10 min
Café 1894 Cafe
A cafe on the ground floor of the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, a brick bank building from 1894 that was rebuilt exactly. The high ceiling of an old banking hall. 11:00 to 23:00, no fixed closing day.
More in Central Tokyo
Appears in: Tsukiji, Hamarikyu Gardens and Ginza: fish in the morning, luxury in the evening