Toranomon Hills: Tokyo’s Latest Landmark

Toranomon means “the gate of the tiger.” The name is derived from one of the outer gates of Edo Castle called Toranogomon.

Tokyo is already a mega-city, but it still continues to grow rapidly, especially in preparation for hosting the 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games. Toranomon Hills, a high-rise complex tower, is meant to symbolize a Tokyo of tomorrow.

Toranomon Hills (虎ノ門ヒルズ ) or Toranomon Hiruzu, is one of Japan’s newest skyscraper complexes built by Mori Building, a Japanese property management firm. Toranomon Hills opened on June 11, 2014 and is located in the Toranomon  district of Minato, Tokyo around the new Loop Road No. 2, a surface artery that will connect the Shinbashi and Toranomon districts. Tokyo’s latest landmark has 52 floors and is 247 meters high. It is Japan’s second tallest building to date.

Toranomon Hills houses offices, residences, shops, restaurants, and an Andaz hotel. In line with Japan’s kawaii culture, Toranomon Hills has a character mascot named Toranomon, a cat-type business robot from the 22nd century Tokyo.

Andaz hotel inToranomon Hills  is aptly called “Andaz Tokyo”. A luxury hotel from the Hyatt Group, it is considered the first of its kind in Japan. It specializes in Japanese-style hospitality and prides itself in tailoring its services to the personal and individual needs of its guests, making you feel like you were in your own home. There are also shops and restauramts located on the 1st to 4th floors. One of Toranomon Hills’ unique features is the 6,000 square meter outdoor space with shops and restaurants having open-air terraces facing a lawn area called the “Oval Plaza.”

Toranomon Hills was the solution to the long time plan of building an arterial road between Toranomon and Shimbashi as part of a loop road around central Tokyo. Building a skyscraper above the road and relocating displaced residents became the answer. This futuristic development befits such a modern city as Tokyo.