The Dentsu Building 電通本社ビル
Advertising giant
In the Shiodome district, the Dentsu Building is much more than the headquarters of the Dentsu, the largest advertising agency in the world!. The splendid 48-story skyscraper, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, also houses a shopping complex!
Instead of the station
In 1997, Dentsu, the largest advertising agency in Japan and one of the most important globally, acquired land in Shiodome, on the edge of the magnificent Hama-rikyû garden, to set up its new headquarters.
The place was once occupied by the first Shinbashi station when it was still the terminus of Japan's first railway line between 1872 and 1909. Following the architectural competition, the firm founded in 1901 by Hoshiro Mitsunaga (1866-1945) chose the project of the famous French architect Jean Nouvel.
On the horizon
Inaugurated in December 2002, the head office takes place in a 48-story building, culminating at 213 meters in height. The building, whose shape is reminiscent of a boomerang, is designed to accommodate 6,000 employees every day. Its curved southern facade overlooks the Hama-rikyu garden and its Nakajima-no-ochaya tea house.
Beyond the sober and elegant aesthetics, Jean Nouvel paid particular attention to the acoustic and climatic comfort of the occupants of the premises. An architectural success that won the Good Design Gold Prize in 2003 in the architecture and environmental design category.
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For everyone
But the Japanese advertising giant did not just build an office building. The firm wished to add a shopping and entertainment complex to the tower, open to all.
A real investment in community service! This commercial part, named Caretta Shiodome, all in granite and natural materials, is the work of the American architect John Jerde. Among the sixty shops, you will find restaurants and cafes, a bookstore, konbini, a pharmacy, a museum, and a theater!
The Ad Museum is the only museum in the archipelago devoted to the history of advertising from the Edo period (1603-1868) to the present day. The Dentsu Shiki Theater, with 1,200 people, offers musicals all year round.
Take full eyes
One of the building's 70 elevators is an ultra-fast elevator that takes you to the panoramic restaurants on the 46th and 47th floors in about thirty seconds. Even if you don't eat there, we advise you to climb to the 46th floor to enjoy the view, especially since access is open to all from 10 am to 11 pm, for free!
Every year, from mid-November, the forecourt of the Dentsu Building is dressed in lights for memorable Christmas illuminations.
See also: The five most beautiful night views of Tokyo.
Address, timetable & access
Address
Phone
+81 3-6218-2100Timetable
1 min walk from Shiodome station or 5 min from Shimbashi station.Access
Shops: 10 am - 8 pm. Restaurants: 11 am - 11 pm.Website
http://www.caretta.jp/foreign/index