Less than 3% of Kyoto's machiya avoid demolition
A recent attempt by Kyoto City to save its historic machiya townhouses has only resulted in 5 out of 170 properties avoiding demolition. Back in 2016, a survey found that as many as 800 traditional machiya townhouses in Kyoto were being demolished each year. With an estimated 40,000 machiya in the city, they could vanish within the next 50 years, leaving no trace of the city’s merchant past.
Apartments planned for Azabu-Nagasakacho
An 8-story block of apartments is planned in the wealthy and exclusive Azabu-Nagasakacho enclave in central Tokyo.
National Theatre of Japan to be demolished next year
On June 17 the Japan Arts Council announced that the National Theatre of Japan will officially close its doors at the end of October 2023 with the modernist building to be demolished and redeveloped.
Shibuya Marui department store to be rebuilt with wood
On May 27, Marui Group announced that the Shibuya Marui department store will temporarily close its doors on August 28 while the 51-year old building undergoes redevelopment.
Osaka Marubiru to be demolished
The circular Osaka Marubiru office tower in Umeda will be redeveloped, with construction set to start next year.
Tokyo cancels refurbishment of Children’s Castle
On May 9, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced the cancellation of a planned refurbishment of the National Children’s Castle property in Omotesando. The property will continue to be used as an oxygen and medical care station for coronavirus patients.
The popular arts and entertainment complex closed in 2015. It was sold by the national government to Tokyo in 2019 for approximately 52 billion Yen.
New data center planned for Nihonbashi
Real estate giant HULIC is embarking on a redevelopment project that will see an older office building demolished to make way for a new data center in Nihonbashi.