The grand Renaissance-style red-brick building of Tokyo Station (東京駅) has been a symbol of the city since its completion in 1914. Behind its handsome facade, shinkansen (bullet trains) shuttle passengers across the country, and tens of thousands of commuters tread through sprawling underground shopping complexes and restaurants.
Tokyo Station Architecture
WWII air raids and bombings significantly damaged the roofs of Tokyo Station, and the building we see today was the result of careful restoration work completed in 2012, almost a century after it was first built.
Designed by Kingo Tatsuno, the station building is inlaid in red brick, with domes on the north and south ends. Inside, the north and south domes have beautiful arched ceilings with plaster reliefs and inlaid sculptures depicting the 12 zodiacs.
Tokyo Station Gallery
Outside Tokyo Station’s North Exit is the Tokyo Station Gallery. Visiting the gallery is perhaps the only way to get a closer look at the dome’s upper floors without splurging on a stay at the luxurious Tokyo Station Hotel. Around five exhibitions show here every year covering a range of mediums, though signage in English may be sparse. As you move between different parts of the gallery, you’ll see the interior walls of exposed brick and other elements used in the original station construction. In the gift shop you can walk along the dome’s 2nd-floor corridor.
Tokyo Character Street
If you’re looking to snag lots of character merchandise all in one convenient location, this row of shops in the Tokyo Station underground complex has you covered. Kids and collectors will have fun hopping from one toy store to another, picking up Lego and anime merchandise, or Pokémon plushies and capsule toys.
Tokyo Ramen Street
Restaurants, sweet shops and cafes are scattered throughout the underground station complex. Offerings range from sushi to beer halls, but the highlight here is Tokyo Ramen Street – a collection of seven of the best ramen from across the city. There’s a shop specializing in every kind of ramen, from classic shōyu (soy sauce), shio (salt) and tonkotsu (pork bone), to tsukemen (dipping noodles).
