The Imperial Hotel Tokyo — one of Japan’s most historic hotels — is entering a major redevelopment phase. The tower building is planned to reopen in 2030, followed by a new main building in 2036.
First opened in 1890 as Japan’s official guesthouse for international visitors, the hotel has stood through the Meiji, Taisho, Showa, and Heisei eras. The current main building is now 50 years old, and the adjacent tower is 38 years old. Both will be replaced as part of a long-term plan to renew the property and the surrounding district.
A new main building designed by Tsuyoshi Tane
Architect Tsuyoshi Tane has been selected to design the new main building. His past work includes the Estonian National Museum and the Hirosaki Brick Warehouse Museum.
Tane’s design theme draws from the phrase “Jewel of the Orient,” once used to describe Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous second main building. The concept blends the form of a palace — a place to welcome important guests — with the vertical presence of a tower that represents progress. The new main building will continue to operate as a hotel and banquet facility.
The tower building: offices, serviced apartments, and more
The tower building will be rebuilt through a joint development with Mitsui Fudosan. Plans include offices, commercial facilities, and serviced apartments. When completed, the tower will form part of a larger mixed-use block that supports both hospitality and business functions.
Part of the Uchisaiwaicho 1-chome redevelopment
The reconstruction of the hotel sits inside the broader redevelopment of the Uchisaiwaicho 1-chome area. This district is being planned by ten companies, including the Imperial Hotel, Mitsui Fudosan, and NTT Urban Development.
The goal is to create a district where the station, town, and park are connected through new public spaces. Plans include an overhead park that links directly to Hibiya Park, as well as new underground and above-ground pedestrian routes.
The entire block is divided into the North, Central, and South districts. The Imperial Hotel site is in the North District.
New small luxury hotel in the Central District
A separate 100-room luxury hotel will also open inside the NTT Hibiya Tower, located in the Central District. This smaller hotel is a joint project between NTT Urban Development and the Imperial Hotel group, offering an additional hospitality option within the same redevelopment zone.
Key timeline
- Tower building: scheduled for completion in 2030
- New main building: scheduled for completion in 2036