Tokyo Station

The three-story brick building stretches 1,100 feet (335 meters) along the tracks and displays symmetrical facades with white stone ornamentation. Two domed roofs rise at either end of the structure, while arcades provide access to platforms below.

Tatsuno Kingo designed the terminal following European models, opening in December 1914 with three platforms for long-distance trains. Bombing raids in 1945 destroyed the third floor and domes, which were replaced after the war with a simplified two-story design. Restoration work between 2007 and 2012 reconstructed the original structure and interior spaces.

The station marks the symbolic zero point for distance measurements in Japan's national highway system and serves as a meeting place for business travelers transferring between regional trains and long-distance lines. Its central location in the financial district makes it a key hub for commuters from surrounding prefectures.

The terminal connects all major Shinkansen lines except those heading to Kyushu with fifteen local and regional JR East lines. The Yamanote Line provides direct connections to most Tokyo neighborhoods. Luggage storage and currency exchange are located on the first floor near the Marunouchi exit.

A commemorative plaque marks the spot in the northern entrance area where Prime Minister Hara Takashi was assassinated in 1921. The interior dome ceilings feature eight zodiac animals as relief sculptures, reconstructed during restoration based on historical photographs.

Location: Chiyoda-ku

Inception: December 20, 1914

Architects: Tatsuno Kingo

Official opening: December 20, 1914

Architectural style: baroque revival

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Part of: 100 stations of Kantō

GPS coordinates: 35.68083,139.76694

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:43