Location spotlight: Shiodome - unique business district with tremendous potential.
Shiodome almost reached the target of becoming a full-fledged business district as a number of high-rise buildings opened one after another in 2003. In the futuristic space with skyscrapers standing high in the air, new stores and facilities indispensable to business activities are now opening every day. The traffic of business people has increased sharply, bringing vigor to the entire district.
Ninety-percent of Business Quarters Now Complete
The Shiodome area experienced great prosperity as a railway station in the Meiji era. Even when Tokyo Station opened and drove it out of the limelight, Shiodome did not lose its significance and maintained existence as an important freight terminal. Shiodome ended its role when the Japan National Railways was privatized. The terminal site was vacated and remained so for a long time as if time stood still. A turning point arrived in 1995. A redevelopment project for Shiodome was launched to make the most of the area's potential advantages of convenience to business and daily living due to its location near Hamamatsucho and Ginza. In 2002, the name of the redevelopment project was determined to be "Shiodome SIO-SITE." Since then, the project has been promoted steadily to create a new town on a vast site 6.5 times the size of Tokyo Dome. The town was to accommodate an employed population of approx. 61,000 and a resident population of approx. 6000, according to the project plan.
A reproduction of Shinbashi Station House in the state when the first railway in Japan opened in 1872 between Shinbashi and Yokohama. Inside lies the Railway History Exhibition Room, andrestaurants.
From 2002 to 2003, many project components were completed, one after another. One of them was the opening of Shiodome Station served by the Metropolitan Oedo Line and the Yurikamome Line. This was followed by a rush of building completions, including Shiodome City Center, Shiodome Media Tower, Nippon TV Tower and Shiodome Tower. With the opening of these skyscrapers, the redevelopment project has become 90% completed % and increasing occupancy. The traffic of business people is growing every day. The new town formed of gigantic buildings is finally becoming alive with flesh and blood. In 2004, Shiodome Sumitomo Building will open in front of Shiodome Station. Following this, Tokyo Shiodome Building will open in 2005 and Vita Italia, with a design resembling an Italian city, in 2007. From now on, boutiques, restaurants and many other stores will begin operation, adding color to the site.
The Old and the New Features Merge to Increase Convenience
Shiodome is also within walking distance of Shinbashi, which means that people can use JR, Ginza and Metropolitan Asakusa Lines in addition to the above-mentioned lines. Just a stone's throw away from Shiodome is the eastern side of Shinbashi Station, where many eating and drinking establishments and convenience stores, along with bank branches, post offices and business hotels, are ready to be taken advantage of by people working and living in the Shiodome area. In high-rise buildings in Shiodome, a rush to open new commercial facilities, such as convenience stores, cafes, business conveniences and hotels, is continuing to evolvethe area into an even more convenient town.
Location Spotlight