Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Infobox Skyscraper
building_name = Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
東京都庁舎


caption =
year_highest =
year_end =
plural = no
location = Tokyo, Japan
coordinates = coord|35|41|23|N|139|41|32|E|
status =
groundbreaking = 1988
constructed = 1988–1991
est-completion = 1991
opening = 1991
destroyed =
use = City hall
antenna_spire =
roof = m to ft|242.9|wiki=no
top_floor =
floor_count = 48
elevator_count =
cost = ¥157 billion
floor_area = 27,500 m² (296,000 ft²)
architect = Kenzo Tange
engineer =
contractor =
developer =
owner =

The Nihongo|Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building|東京都庁舎|Tōkyō Tochōsha, also referred to as Tokyo City Hall or Tochō (都庁) for short, houses the headquarters of the Tokyo local government; this comprises not only the 23 wards, but also the cities, towns and villages that make up Tokyo as a whole.

Located in Shinjuku, it held title of the tallest building (by roof height) in Tokyo, at 243 meters (799 feet), from 1991 until late 2006, when it surrendered its title upon the completion of Midtown Tower. The two top-floor panoramic observation decks are free of charge to the public and contain many gift shops. They are open till 11 pm on weekdays. Use of cameras is permitted, but tripods are forbidden.

The building consists of a complex of three structures each taking up a city block. The tallest and most prominent of the three is Tokyo Metropolitan Main building No.1, a tower 48 stories tall that splits into two sections at the 33rd floor. The building also has three levels below ground. The design of the building (which was supposed to look like a computer chip), by architect Kenzo Tange (and associates), has many symbolic touches, most notably the aforementioned split which re-creates the look of a Gothic cathedral.

Finished in 1991 at the expense of 157 billion yen (about US$ 1 billion) of public money, a popular nickname for Tochō is "Tax Tower".

The other two buildings in the complex are eight-story Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Building (including one underground floor) and Tokyo Metropolitan Main Building No.2, which has 37 stories including three below ground.

ee also

*List of tallest buildings and structures in Tokyo

References

External links

* [http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/TMG/map.htm Map showing the buildings and its neighborhood]
* [http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/TMG/outline.htm Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings]
* [http://www.yokoso.metro.tokyo.jp/ Guide to Tokyo Metropolitang Governmenta Building Tour] (in Japanese)
* [http://citymayors.com/cityhalls/tokyo_cityhall.html CityMayors.com feature]
* [http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=b878c9a5721d49ddc5ee04abdf4d8614 3D model of the building for use in Google Earth]
* [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/cx/?id=101773 Tokyo Metropolitan Government Complex]