Marunouchi Architecture Tour

Mitsubishi Jisho Design, Japan-Architects Curators | 20. February 2026

All photos by Neoplus Sixten Inc.

Mitsubishi Jisho Design Inc. recently presented the Marunouchi Architecture Tour. The tour introduced the company's "Inheritance Design" philosophy via visits to actual buildings in Tokyo's Marunouchi district, and included a report on the Marunouchi Architectural Materials Preservation Warehouse, which was unveiled to the media for the first time. The curators of Japan-Architects were in attendance and documented the tour.

Orientation at the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum.

Ahead of the tour was an orientation at the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, where attendees received an explanation of the history and achievements of Mitsubishi Jisho Design, the role of the Mitsubishi Jisho Design Architectural Heritage Design Office, and how Mitsubishi Estate has advanced the development and preservation of Marunouchi. Approximately forty architecture-related media representatives were in attendance.

The land purchased in 1890 is shown in red, and Marunouchi Nakadori Street is depicted in the blue dashed line.

In 1890, Mitsubishi acquired from the Meiji government approximately 35,300 square meters of former military land in the Marunouchi area (red frame in the above image), including the site west of present-day Tokyo Station. The purchase price was ¥1.28 million, equivalent to three times the annual budget of Tokyo City at the time. The land was originally a feudal lord's residence, and the Marunouchi Nakadori Street (blue dashed line) was built through it, creating the office district.

To create a world-class office district in Japan, the Marunouchi Architectural Office—the predecessor of Mitsubishi Jisho Design—was established. British architect Josiah Condor was brought on as an advisor and a conscious effort was made to create architecture with an urban, street-oriented design perspective. Mitsubishi Jisho Design defines Inheritance Design as “design that clarifies the value of inherited cities and architecture, and creates new value for the future together with contemporary value.”

The Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum (2010) is inside a recreation of the original Mitsubishi Ichigokan (1894).

The first office building constructed by Mitsubishi in Marunouchi was designed by Josiah Condor and built in 1894, but it was demolished in 1968 due to deterioration. After the construction of the Mitsubishi Corporation Building, the old building was rebuilt in 2009 and opened as Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum in 2010.

During the rebuilding, detailed investigations were conducted on various documents, photographs, and preserved components, in addition to meticulous examination of Meiji-period design drawings and actual measurement drawings taken during dismantling. Preserved components, such as the stone handrails from the staircase section, were partially reused within the building interior. Furthermore, various experimental approaches were undertaken, faithfully reproducing not only the designs and components but also their manufacturing methods and construction techniques.

The courtyard side of Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum.

At Marunouchi Brick Square are a modern space that dialogues with Mitsubishi Ichigokan and gas streetlights recreating the era. The tour participants wore headsets and receiving commentary via radio.

Shin-Tokyo Building (1963): The modernist building was designed by Masanori Sugiyama, who transferred from Raymond Architectural Design Office to Mitsubishi Estate Co, Ltd. Supervision Department (this division became independent later and is now Mitsubishi Design Inc.). Renovations began in phases starting in 2019 and were completed in 2025.

Marunouchi Nakadori (hereafter Nakadori), a street approximately 1.2 km long connecting Harumidori to Eitaidori.

Nakadori around 1955: Buildings from the Meiji period remain, with heights restricted to about 15 meters. (Photo from Marunouchi: A Century of Progress, Mitsubishi Estate History)

Many office buildings constructed during the Meiji and Taisho periods were rebuilt in the 1960s to address aging structures and a shortage of office space. Height restrictions were also raised to approximately 31 meters. Furthermore, in 2002 the street underwent renewal, narrowing the roadway width from nine to seven meters and widening the sidewalks accordingly.

Nakadori around 1967 (Photo from Marunouchi: A Century of Progress, Mitsubishi Estate History)

The Meiji Yasuda Seimei Building (2004, at right) aimed to achieve coexistence between a new state-of-the-art office building and the older Meiji Seimei Kan (1934, at left), a historic structure designated as an Important Cultural Property.

Between the Kishimoto Building (1980, at left) and Marunouchi-Nakadori Building (1963, at right)
is a commercial plaza called "Marunaka Walk," which serves as a relaxing spot within the office district.

A passageway inside the Marunouchi-Nakadori Building leads to Nakadori.

Subtle consistencies and difference were evident on the walk. For instance, the lighting at the second floors of the Marunouchi-Nakadori Building (at left in above photo) and Marunouchi 2-chome Building (at right in above photo), which also houses Mitsubishi Design, share the same design, lending a sense of unity to the street. Alternatively, variations in heights and floor area ratios of the Marunouchi 2-chome Building and Mitsubishi Building (below photo)—formerly the Mitsubishi No. 25 Building and the Mitsubishi Main Building, respectively—are due to differences in their reconstruction periods and the Building Standards Act in effect at the time.

Marunouchi 2-chome Building (1964, right) and Mitsubishi Building (1973, left).

Marunouchi Building (2002): The previous building on the site was completed in 1923 and stood as the face of Tokyo Station for approximately 80 years before being rebuilt due to insufficient earthquake resistance.

The building features a six-story atrium.

The office lobby was designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates. To the right is Tokyo Station.

If you continue around to Gyokodori Street, you will find the restored triple-arch entrance of the old building.

Looking across Tokyo Station toward the Yaesu side, where redevelopment is also underway.

The Marunouchi Building and JP Tower seen from Gyokodori Street.

The Industry Club Of Japan (1920/2003).

The Japan Industrial Club Hall, a registered Tangible Cultural Property, was designed by Yokogawa Tamisuke and Matsui Kitaro. Due to deterioration and insufficient seismic resistance, two-thirds of the structure was demolished. In 2003, it was rebuilt in a manner of preservation and restoration, integrated into the Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Building behind it. The side facade (above photo) incorporates the original bricks.

The walking tour ended at Marunouchi Oazo (at left in the below photo) but then continued at the Marunouchi Architectural Materials Preservation Warehouse inside the Marunouchi North Exit Building.

The tower crane visible northeast from the vicinity of Tokyo Station's Marunouchi Kitaguchi Building is from the construction site for the Torch Tower, scheduled for completion in 2028.

A single door tucked away in a corner of the basement level of the Marunouchi Kitaguchi Building is the entrance to the Marunouchi Architectural Materials Preservation Warehouse.

Marunouchi Architectural Materials Preservation Warehouse (2025).

The materials inside the Marunouchi Architectural Materials Preservation Warehouse were previously stored in the basement of the Kokusai Building, which is undergoing demolition and reconstruction. The warehouse is set up as a preservation space where visitors can view the materials. This tour marked the first time the space was shown to the media. With the aim of preserving the value of historical architecture in Marunouchi, the warehouse aims to preserve the distinctive parts of old buildings while also passing on the history of each building and the construction techniques of their time. The warehouse will preserve components of historical value from future redevelopments as well.

These components were retained during the dismantling of the Mitsubishi Ichigokan in 1968, but they could not be used due to deterioration; instead, they were restored and used as the basis for recreations. Left: Lightning rod with forged iron spike, wooden support pillar, and copper sheet metal cladding. Lower center: Sandcast ornamentation. Right: Nameplates for the Yurakucho Building and Marunouchi Building.

A 1:20 roof truss model was created to accurately understand the relationships between structural components during the recreation of Mitsubishi Ichigokan. Note the multiple lightning rods and, in the back corner, excavated pile foundations.

The second-floor window sill from the facade of Mitsubishi Ichigokan.

Upon viewing the recreated Mitsubishi Ichigokan, one can observe the ridge ornament, lightning rod, and window sills. It is said that only one window sill uses the original piece.

Disaster prevention and security equipment left behind in the Marunouchi Building includes, from left: fire alarm, sign, megaphone, candle lantern, paper lantern, electrical outlet, etc. The glass on the right is the cover glass for a mail chute imported from the United States.

Lightning rods, lightning conductors, and fittings recovered from buildings date back to the Meiji and Taisho periods.

Structural components from the Kokusai Building's demolition and reconstruction: The upper section features glass blocks used on the stairwell wall, illuminated from behind; the lower section is terrazzo flooring. These are all handcrafted finishing materials by artisans that are rarely seen in modern buildings.

Plaster decoration that was installed on the transom outside the entrance of the former Yaesu Building.

Ceiling decoration in the entrance hall of the former Yaesu Building, in which press-formed metal plates were coated with plaster.

This is a window frame from the Shin-Yurakucho Building, which is also currently being demolished and rebuilt. It is a revolving window with an aluminum sash frame in a stainless steel frame.

Mitsubishi Jisho Design's Architectural Heritage Design Office office aims to work not only on rebuilding through change in this era of economic prioritization, but also to preserve architecture, maintain continuity with the evolving landscapes that serve as stages and backdrops for people's memories and sentiments, and foster a sense of security and connections across generations.

Their facility is not normally open to the public and is only accessible during events such as the Tokyo Architecture Festival.

This article was originally published on Japan-Architects on February 11. English translated edited by John Hill with the input of the Japan-Architects curators and Mitsubishi Jisho Design Inc.