Tokyo Station square opens with fresh design

and this is a big deal?!

Don't you just get sick of the ubiquitous peace sign for photos by Japanese?

Wow! It's gonna be a hot island in summer! The could have at least put a few small fountains around the place to give it some humidity. I wonder if we can skateboard there?

Ah, what a refreshing change. Flat, grey, heat-intensifying stone. They've even managed to get the granite the same shade of grey as concrete.

God forbid we should have a couple of trees to give us some shade in the summertime. Let's heartful enduring misery!

Tokyo Station is a gorgeous building (based on or designed by the same architect that did the Amsterdam Central station?) located in a depressing office district. We need more stations that look like that or Japanese style tbh.

"nakanoguy" You always negative.lol

Tokyo Station is a gorgeous building (based on or designed by the same architect that did the Amsterdam Central station?)

Oh, if that's the same chap, he also designed the Rijksmuseum as well.

Oh my God, there I actually said it after years of planning a flat grey space was made, amazing achievement, and to top it off young girls taking a photo with the ubiquitous peace sign. It's just sad that behind them is a red brick building totally destroying the abeyance of the grey space.

beautiful old building

A good building can embody humanistic care. The central plaza in front of Tokyo's railway station will surely attract passing pedestrians. It is a pleasant thing to have such a pure land in a noisy city. I hope I have a chance to watch it.

I have a ruler, I have a pen uhh grey space. No plants needed no shade at all uhh grey space. To hot in summer to cold in winter uhh grey space. Think I might have just written a new no 1 for Japan.

papigiulioToday  04:48 pm JST

Tokyo Station is a gorgeous building (based on or designed by the same architect that did the Amsterdam Central station?)

Wikipedia claims this is not the case. Because the building was bombed in raids in 1945, its original domes were merely roofed over so it had the appearance of the Amsterdam station. Only now it is returned to its original three stories of 1914 instead of only two since then.

Don't you just get sick of the ubiquitous peace sign for photos by Japanese?

Not in the slightest. It's far more endearing than beered up young men chanting "U KNOW WHAT! U KNOW WHAT" at frightened onlookers.

(Chant changed to protect the sensitive)

Anyway, it's all very nice and a happy news story. Gosh only knows, we need more of them.

I suppose it offers an uninterrupted view of the station building, but that's about it.

If you want a sit down, you'll have pay for one in Starbucks.

I happened to have to cross it last summer. Blinding white glare. Crippling heat. Life-threatening amount of humidity. Obviously planned simply to hold the hordes whenever the Emperor makes an appearance on the 2nd floor balcony. Otherwise, people of Japan, take a hike. No benches. No trees. No mercy. Seems to fit.

Really depressing and people were not happy at all crossing the expanse. Otherwise, the Tokyo Station is a terrific renovation in place, which I wish was done with Tsukiji Wholesale Market, but seems that is not going to happen. The Marunouchi area is humane to walk around in. Too bad that design was not heeded for this sheet of granite in the scorching summer sun.

For anyone that has been a long-time resident of Japan and knows the history of the Tokyo-eki are, it IS a big deal. Honestly, if you go back to what the Marunouchi side of Tokyo-eki looked like in the '70s / '80s, the transformation that has taken place over the last 20 years is amazing.

I used to go to the Tokyo Chuo Yuubinkyoku in the late '70s with my dad. The whole area around Tokyo was hustling and bustling with life.... but was anything but beautiful.

Sort of reminds me of the remarkable transformation of downtown Washington D.C. since the late '70s....

I'd prefer the Singapore approach: a forest of shade-giving trees, plenty of benches and greenery all around.

The Japanese seem to like bare, hard surfaces because they're "clean," as the lady says in the article.

Nice legs............ on that selfie stick

Where are the photos of the design? All i see is 4 girls on a flat paved area!

strips of grass planted either side of the granite paving

curious who will be paid to keep pulling weeds from the grass and keeping it mowed...

I'll go see it before I make a judgment. But just based on this picture, there is a little too much cement for my taste. And I'm a city boy.

They were going to use concrete for this instead but the tetrapod manufacturers bought up the entire supply.

I was there in early October. From this picture, I'd say it looked better with the construction screening.

Pleased the area has been revamped. Chuo-Ku has lost some beautiful buildings over the years.

marcelitoDec. 7  03:59 pm JST Spruced up just in time for the Olympics .

No. The project has been underway since before Tokyo made a bid.

@okochat

Being factual and realistic is not negative, as many point out, the building is the big deal.

It is still clean and open area now, far better than it was during construction time when I hated to walk long way in summer to reach imperial palace.

But too neat, too flat.

glad finally finished the construction, nice rest area to relax to release stress.

i like the brick building of the hotel so much, dome rooms on the small side but still much enjoyable.

Nice - no benches and no shade...

The Japanese do like a nice big concrete hiroba, possibly because the maintenance costs are low. But they are dreadfully dreary and unbearable in summer. Why not put some trees there to provide shade and break up the monotony?

With the obligatory schoolgirl picture, natch