Gyoko-dori Street - A rare view in front of Tokyo Station

The appeal of the design of this space is that it is "empty," which is natural given that it is a street. However, the design process involved not only civil engineering and architectural specialists, but also experts in various fields such as urban planning, industrial design, and landscaping. The central strip is paved with calm-toned granite, and on both sides there are low-rise planting strips with granite cappings that are integrated with benches, classically designed lighting, a glass-box staircase and elevator to the underground passage, and a ginkgo tree. This minimalist design is truly stunning.

Marunouchi Nakadori Street, which runs directly alongside this street, is 21 meters wide, and the area south of Gyoko-dori, where development is nearly complete (towards Yurakucho), is paved with porphyry, featuring several types of street trees, street furniture and sculptures, designed street lights, and above all, a row of brand shops and restaurants lining the street, creating a stylish and dense space.

This contrast is truly stunning. As you come out onto Gyoko-dori Street from the Yurakucho side, enjoying the dense space of Nakadori, a vista opens up before your eyes, and as you walk further into the central strip, you are greeted with a historic view leading to the Imperial Palace and a surprisingly large skyline over central Tokyo. Tokyo Station is still under construction, but it is easy to imagine how magnificent the view will be when it is completed.

Nakadori is scheduled to be developed as a lively and comfortable pedestrian space all the way to the Kanda River when the ongoing Marunouchi 1-chome and Otemachi district projects are completed, and its appearance will continue to change with the times. Similarly, the buildings around Gyoko-dori will also change with the times. In this context, Gyoko-dori will continue to exist for 100 years as a street with a historical perspective of the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station in front, and as a valuable open space where you can experience the vastness of the sky above Tokyo Station and connecting to the Imperial Palace, even in the city center. I think this is very important and wonderful not only for Marunouchi, but for the city of Tokyo as a whole. I would like you to stand in the center of Gyoko-dori and experience the splendor of the minimalist design, the historical perspective of Tokyo, and the vastness of the Tokyo sky. I especially recommend visiting at dusk.