Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
東京都庁舎
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No.1
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Prefecture building
Location	Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Coordinates	35°41′23″N 139°41′32″E / 35.68972°N 139.69222°E / 35.68972; 139.69222Coordinates: 35°41′23″N 139°41′32″E / 35.68972°N 139.69222°E / 35.68972; 139.69222
Construction started	April 1988
Completed	December 1990
Opening	April 1991
Cost	¥157 billion
Owner	Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Height
Roof	242.9 meters [797 ft]
Technical details
Floor count	48
Floor area	195,764 m2 [2,107,190 sq ft]
Design and construction
Architect	Kenzo Tange
Structural engineer	Kiyoshi Mutō

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁舎, Tōkyō-to Chōsha^?), also referred to as Tochō (都庁^?) for short, houses the headquarters of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which governs not only the 23 wards, but also the cities, towns and villages that constitutes the whole Tokyo Metropolis.

Located in Shinjuku, the building consists of a complex of three structures, each taking up a city block. The tallest and most prominent of the three is Tokyo Metropolitan Main building No.1, a tower 48 stories tall that splits into two sections at the 33rd floor. The building also has three levels below ground. The design of the building (which was meant to resemble a computer chip), by architect Kenzo Tange (and associates), has many symbolic touches, most notably the aforementioned split which re-creates the look of a Gothic cathedral.

The other two buildings in the complex are the eight-story Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Building (including one underground floor) and Tokyo Metropolitan Main Building No.2, which has 37 stories including three below ground.

The two panoramic observation decks, one in each tower on floor 45 (202 meters [663 ft] high), are free of charge to the public and contain gift shops and cafes.