In anticipation of the Tokyo Olympics, massive redevelopment projects are underway across Tokyo. Besides the Tokyo Bay waterfront area, where much of the Olympic action will happen, the area around Shibuya Station is also in the process of a complete makeover. Trains lines are being shifted, rivers regenerated, new multi-purpose towers are mushrooming — with modern urban landscaping and pedestrian walkways connecting the new developments and station and bringing the whole concept together. Here we take a look at new developments that have taken place over the course of the last decade and a glimpse into the future of Shibuya.

2012: It all started with Shibuya Hikarie

The Shibuya Hikarie building, opened in 2012, was the start of Shibuya’s redevelopment. Directly connected to the station, the 183 m multi-purpose tower changed the area's (previously low-rise) skyline forever. Until then, Cerulean Tower, still standing 1 m taller at 184 m, was the only skyscraper in the area. But in 2012, the brand-new Hikarie building — with its structured glass façade and shopping, dining, entertainment and office spaces — became the new highlight of the area that was previously synonymous with youth culture and fashion. Besides modernising the slightly aged cityscape of Shibuya, it was also a first step toward changing the image of the town, now geared towards upper-middle-class office workers with deeper pockets than the youngsters known to frequent Shibuya.

2018: Shibuya Stream open

It took several years for the next stage of redevelopment as it involved moving the Toyoko and Fukutoshin lines underground to new tracks. But last year the long anticipated Shibuya Stream building finally opened its doors. The multi-purpose tower is 180 m high and houses a high-end hotel, restaurants, retail shops and office space spread across 35 above-ground and 4 below-ground floors. Following in the footsteps of the Hikarie building, Shibuya Stream further gentrified Shibuya and revived the underdeveloped southside of the station that had previously received little foot traffic. As the name of the building suggests, it rises up next to Shibuya River. At one point, nothing more than a (not too clean) trickle of water channeled into a concrete riverbed. Post-building, the stream itself and the area around it have been rejuvenated with pleasant greenery and pedestrian promenade.

2019: Shibuya Scramble Square is coming

Things are noticeably speeding up as the Olympics draw closer.  Later this year, currently slated for November, Shibuya Scramble Square will open its doors to the public. The glass-and-steel skyscraper will be the highest building in Shibuya at 230 m. Unsurprisingly, it is positioned next to its namesake, the scramble crossing. The tower will house shops, restaurants, event spaces, and 73,000 sq m of office space. A dedicated office space of 2,900 sq m will be the largest currently available on the market in Tokyo, according to the developer, Tokyu Corporation. The building will be directly connected to Shibuya Station.
 
The highlight of the building will be a rooftop terrace on the 47^th floor and indoor observation decks on the 45^th and 46^th floor — offering unobstructed 360-degree views of Tokyo, Mt. Fuji to the west, and the hustle and bustle of the scramble crossing below. The latter is known as the scramble crossing for the fact that pedestrians wanting to cross receive a green light for all sides at the same time, resulting into a frantic scramble across the intersection, with people seemingly (or actually) running into each other.

2020 and beyond

The final property to invite guests and new residents in time for the Olympics will be the Shibuya Fukuras, with its opening planned for autumn 2019. Like all the other developments described above, it is lead by the Tokyu Group. The 103 m, 19-storey building focuses on providing office and retail space on the west side of Shibuya Station. The building will also house a modernised, roofed version of the outdated and impractical open-air Shibuya bus terminal.
 
More developments are planned and the latest announcement in December 2018 was the Next Shibuya Sakuragaoka District Town Area Redevelopment by Tokyu Land. The 2.1-hectare site on the south side of Shibuya Station is located next to Cerulean Tower. East of the planned project site, the Shibuya Station Sakuragaoka District Redevelopment has already begun construction in May 2019, with completion of the project slated for 2023. The project will include a 133 m residential tower and a 180 m office tower. By then, the facelift of Shibuya and its transformation into an upscale urban centre fusing residential, commercial, and business purposes will be nearly complete.

“But what about the Hachiko Statue?”

...some might wonder. Rest assured, the symbol of Shibuya will stay put and developers stated that with train lines shifted underground and multilevel pedestrian walkways optimally using the space around the station, Hachiko Square will expand — receiving 1.5 times the space than it has now.

By Mareike Dornhege

Similar to this: 

2020 Olympic designs: Past, present and powerful

Top Tokyo redevelopment projects

Florian Busch and the floating stadium: A futuristic Olympic insight