Tokyo Station Marunouchi Facade: The Red Brick Palace of Tatsuno Kingo

Why is it significant?

Step onto the wide granite plaza of Tokyo Station and behold its magnificent three-hundred-and-thirty-five-meter red brick facade, crowned by stately north and south octagonal domes and copper-clad roof peaks.

Key Facts

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Step onto the wide granite plaza of Tokyo Station and behold its magnificent three-hundred-and-thirty-five-meter red brick facade, crowned by stately north and south octagonal domes and copper-clad roof peaks. Designed by Tatsuno Kingo, the father of modern Japanese Western architecture, and opened in December nineteen fourteen, this palatial transit terminal was conceived as the imperial gateway to the modernized Japanese nation, deliberately positioned facing the Imperial Palace. The rich red brickwork and white granite lintels command immediate admiration from travelers arriving from every continent.

During the Allied air raids of May nineteen forty-five, incendiary bombs incinerated the roof and shattered the magnificent interior dome plasterwork. For decades, the station functioned under a temporary two-story truncated roof, until an extraordinary five-year historic restoration project was completed in twenty-twelve, reconstructing the original three-story brick structure and majestic domes from archival blueprints. Over eight million original and reproduction red bricks were painstakingly laid by master masons, restoring the station's proud imperial stature.

Step inside either the North or South Dome to gaze up at the restored octagonal ceilings thirty meters above you. The plaster vaults are adorned with sculptural reliefs of eight eagles with outstretched wings, surrounded by decorative medallions representing eight animals of the classical Chinese zodiac, symbolizing the cardinal directions. The remaining four zodiac animals were discovered preserved at Takeo Onsen in Kyushu, also designed by Tatsuno Kingo, completing a nationwide architectural puzzle.

In the center of the facade sits a private imperial pavilion and carriage entrance, flanked by hand-forged wrought iron gates, through which foreign ambassadors still travel by imperial horse-drawn carriage to present their credentials to the Emperor, upholding century-old diplomatic court protocol that dazzles onlookers with liveried footmen and polished harness brass.

Walk straight west down the wide imperial ceremonial avenue of Gyoko-dori toward the palace moat.