Last chance to save the Jonas Residence
Demolition of the historic Jonas Residence has been pushed back to October as the current owner is prepared to sell the house and land for 360 million Yen (approximately 3.6 million USD) if a buyer can be found.
Developer Anabuki Kosan purchased the waterfront property earlier this year and plan to tear it down and replace it with a 10-storey apartment building.Read more
Asakusa's Ryounkaku Tower to be revived
Asakusa's Ryounkaku Tower is going to make a reappearance as a new theatre under construction will feature a facade replicating the original historic tower.
The Maruhan Shochiku Rokku Tower is scheduled to open in December 2014. At 48 meters tall, it will be 4 meters shorter than the original tower.
The Ryounkaku was a 12-storey octagonal tower built in 1890. It was designed by British engineer William Kinnimond Burton, who spent most of his career in Japan. The first 10 floors were brick, while the top observation floors were wood.Read more
Konami acquires Hotel Seiyo Ginza building
Gaming company Konami Corporation have purchased the Hotel Seiyo Ginza building from Tokyo Theatres for 17.8 billion Yen (180 million USD). Konami plans to convert the hotel into commercial space to be used as gaming development offices. Some of their 3,000 staff in Roppongi will relocate to the Ginza location. They will also develop event spaces which can be used to hold gaming conventions.
The 12 storey building has a total floor area of approximately 19,000 sqm (204,000 sqft) and is on a 2254 sqm block of land. The hotel was opened at the beginning of Japan's bubble in 1987. The 77-room hotel was the first in Japan to offer concierge services. In 2000, Seiyo Corporation filed for bankruptcy and the building was sold to Tokyo Theatres Co. Read more
Matsuzakaya Ginza Department Store to close after 89 years
The Matsuzakaya Ginza Department Store will close its doors on June 30 as the site it occupies is going to be redeveloped.
The department store opened in Ginza the year following the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923, and is the oldest department store in the famed shopping district. At the height of Japan's bubble in 1990, annual sales reached 54 billion Yen. However, revenues began to drop due to growing competition from other department stores, including Mitsukoshi, Matsuya and Printemps Ginza, and an influx of fast fashion retailers. By 2013, sales were down to 10.2 billion Yen. Read more