109, Fashion department store in Shibuya, Japan
SHIBUYA109 is a fashion building on an acute corner plot facing the Dogenzaka-shita intersection in Shibuya, Tokyo. Its lower block is clad in light grey panels with dark glazed openings and a red "109" sign, while a cylindrical elevator tower called the cylinder, wrapped in aluminium panels, rises on one side and carries large posters and pink "109" numerals above the letters "SHIBUYA". The building has eight floors above ground and two below, with 121 tenants.
The building opened on 28 April 1979 on a sharp-angled corner site at Dogenzaka, developed by Tokyu as a "Fashion Community" to draw shoppers toward its department store and counter Seibu's plans for Shibuya. Architect Minoru Takeyama gave it the cylindrical elevator tower known as the cylinder. It was renamed SHIBUYA109 in 1989, and in 2019 its logo was changed through a public competition for the 40th anniversary.
The name comes from a wordplay where the digits one, zero and nine sound like the parent company Tokyu when spoken aloud. This round tower has become a landmark in a district known for youth fashion, drawing mostly young shoppers looking for affordable clothing.
Shibuya Station sits a short walk away, making arrival by subway or train straightforward. Visitors who want to explore the full circuit should plan at least two hours to browse the many small shops at a comfortable pace.
The building's interior is laid out so shoppers loop past the shops on each floor from the elevators. A cinema was planned for the top floor, but the fire department refused approval because the emergency-evacuation routes fell short of standards. SoftBank's original emoji set included a dedicated icon for Shibuya 109.
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