National Diet Building
National Diet Building, Tokyo. Read about the National Diet Building, the seat of Japanese government in Tokyo.
Tokyo Area Guide: National Diet Building 国会議事堂
Japanese Diet Building, Nagatacho, Tokyo
The German-influenced three-storey National Diet Building on Kasumigaseki Hill in Nagatacho is Japan's parliament and center of government and a well-known Tokyo landmark.
The 65.5m tall reinforced concrete and granite structure was completed in 1936 after 18 years of construction work. All the building materials including the interior marble are locally-sourced.
The front of the building is approached from the east. Facing it, the south wing (to your right) contains the House of Councillors and the north wing (to your left) is the House of Representatives.
Free guided tours of the House of Councillors (about 60 minutes long) are available to the casual tourist. (A tour of the House of Representatives requires an invitation from a member of the House.)
House of Councillors: Mon-Fri (except national holidays) 8am-5pm; Tel: (03) 5521 7445 (Reception, House Police Department). (Tours may be suspended when the houses are in session.)
Access to the House of Councillors
For a tour, approach the Diet complex from behind, i.e. from the west. Coming from Nagata-cho station (Exit 1), the tour reception building is just to the right of the Annex of the House of Councillors. Look for the "Tours of the House of Councillors: Entrance" sign. Just across the road from Nagata-cho Station (Yurakucho subway line).
National Diet Building, Tokyo, Japan
Nagatacho Subway Station with US & Japan flags honoring President Barack Obama's visit in 2014, Tokyo
Nagatacho Station
BEWARE: there are no less than three different "Nagata-cho" stations, all within 5 minutes walk of each other:
However, the exit numbers are shared by all three stations. They are not duplicated.
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