Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, or Tocho for short, is the seat of the government of Tokyo, in Shinjuku ward. The architect Kenzo Tange designed it, and it was finished in December 1990. Its main tower, Building No. 1, has 48 floors and is 242.9 metres tall, and it splits into two towers at the 33rd floor. It also has three levels underground.

It is the tallest city hall in the world. The design was meant to look like an integrated circuit, the microchip inside a computer, while also recalling a Gothic cathedral. The government of Tokyo runs the 23 special wards, cities, towns and villages that make up the Tokyo Metropolis, and this is where it works.

Three buildings

The complex has three structures, each taking up a city block: Building No. 1, the eight-storey Metropolitan Assembly Building and the 37-storey Building No. 2. It cost about 157 billion yen, which was about one billion US dollars of public money.

The new city hall replaced the old one at Yurakucho, built in 1957 and also designed by Tange. That site is now the Tokyo International Forum.

Free views of Tokyo

Each of the twin towers has an observation deck on the 45th floor, 202 metres up. Both are free for visitors, and they have cafes and gift shops. The two decks are open on alternating days, and a dedicated lift runs from the ground floor to them.

Tall, then taller

At 242.9 metres it was the tallest building by roof height in Tokyo until 2007, when Midtown Tower was completed. The Korean Wikipedia gives 2006 for that, so sources differ by a year.

In February 2024 the building was recognised by Guinness World Records for the world's largest projection mapping display, which shows moving pictures on the walls of the building.

On the globe

The model shows the granite tower that splits into twin towers on top. Look for the fine grid of windows.