We've compiled a list of notable new facilities and tourist attractions opening in Tokyo in 2020.

2020 is finally the beginning of the Olympic year. In order to present Tokyo to the world, new facilities will be opening one after another through redevelopment. Here we introduce new facilities opening in 2020 that you should not miss if you are visiting Tokyo. Be sure to check out these noteworthy spots that may become new symbols of Tokyo.

[Harajuku] Spreading culture and creativity from Harajuku to the world "WITH HARAJUKU"

The historic Omotesando, which was developed as the approach to Meiji Shrine, and Takeshita Street, which has been bustling since the postwar period as a source of unique culture. "WITH HARAJUKU" will open between these two areas, which symbolize the old and new of Harajuku. The name of the facility expresses "our desire to be a place where people from all over the world who visit the facility can improve each other, and also to be a presence that is close to the city and the people who gather there."

From the second basement floor to the third floor, there is a lineup of attractive stores that will make your walk around the city more enjoyable. On the street facing Harajuku Station, you will find stores such as IKEA Harajuku, Japan's first urban store, and Oshman's Harajuku, which is being reborn in the place where it was first founded.

Furthermore, the 300m2 event hall "WITH HARAJUKU HALL" on the third floor will be used for exhibitions and other events. This location in Harajuku, the center of fashion, life and culture, will be a place where new trends are born one after another. It is expected to be a hub not only for culture, but also for the birth of innovative businesses.

Shiseido Parlour The Harajuku is scheduled to open on the 8th floor as a park view restaurant with a panoramic view of the Meiji Shrine forest, and this is also a hot topic. There are rental residences on the 4th floor and above. WITH HARAJUKU is being built on the site of the former Harajuku Apartments, which were built during the period of high economic growth and were a pioneer of condominiums. With this redevelopment, WITH HARAJUKU will be equipped with the necessary utilities for food, clothing and shelter, and will become a base for promoting the new Harajuku to the world. It will be a place to watch even after the Olympics.

[Hibiya/Yurakucho] The 100-year-old brick arch viaduct is now the latest cultural spot, "Hibiya OKUROJI"

In early summer 2020, the historic area underneath the elevated railway will be transformed into a new commercial space called "Hibiya OKUROJI."

This noteworthy project will revive the brick arch viaduct, which has more than 100 years of history, and the viaducts of the Tokaido Line and Tokaido Shinkansen, into a new commercial facility. The space under the viaduct between Yurakucho Station and Shimbashi Station stretches for an astounding 300 meters. The bricks built in 1910 at the beginning of the Meiji era will be utilized, and the aim is to beautify and develop the area so that it will remain a symbol of the city for the next 100 years.

A variety of unique shops are scheduled to open at "Hibiya OKUROJI". It will be made up of three zones: "A zone for adults to enjoy nighttime," offering bars of various styles and high-quality dining experiences, "A food and beverage zone," featuring restaurants that are casual and easy to drop by under the elevated railway line, and cafes where you can spend your time however you like, and "A food, miscellaneous goods, and fashion zone," featuring new sweets and products made with the latest techniques and ingredients.

Originally a bustling business district filled with office workers, the area is now surrounded by tourist areas such as Hibiya, Yurakucho, Ginza, and Shiodome, making it a popular hub for exchanges both within and outside Tokyo. This up-and-coming spot is making the most of its history and creating the future, so be sure to check it out.

[Ikebukuro] Hareza Ikebukuro: A futuristic entertainment spot that combines eight theaters with art and culture

When you think of Ikebukuro, many people may imagine it as a bustling downtown area for people living in the city center, with department stores such as Seibu and Tobu, the bustling Nishiguchi Park with its young people, and the "senbero" district where you can enjoy reasonably priced alcohol. However, Ikebukuro is also one of Tokyo's leading entertainment districts.

The Sunshine Aquarium continues to break attendance records after its renovation, while the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre can host any style of stage, from orchestras to small theaters. MAZARIA, where you can experience activities such as VR that puts you in the world of anime and games, attracts tourists from overseas.

Hareza Ikebukuro was born with the aim of turning the entire entertainment district of Ikebukuro into a single theater, a place where art and culture, the city and the world, the present and the future intersect. It was built on the site of the former Toshima Ward Office and Toshima Public Hall, and consists of three buildings: the Hall Building (Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL) and Toshima Community Center, which opened on November 1, 2019, and the Office Building (Hareza Tower), scheduled to open in July 2020, as well as Naka-Ikebukuro Park.

The highlight of "Hareza Ikebukuro" is the eight theaters. The hall building includes four theaters of different styles, including "Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL (Toshima Ward Arts and Culture Theater)," which has been scheduled to host Takarazuka Revue and Kabuki performances; "harevutai," a futuristic live theater run by Pony Canyon; "Haresta," a studio run by Dwango; and "Park Plaza," a large staircase-like theater space facing Naka-Ikebukuro Park. In addition, the Toshima Community Center will have two theaters, a "Multipurpose Hall" and a "Small Hall," and the office building, which will open next summer, will have two theaters, "TOHO Cinemas" and "Cinema Plaza," a stepped semi-outdoor theater space. It looks like the whole town will be bustling with stages.

And in Naka-Ikebukuro Park, Animate Cafe Stand Hareza Ikebukuro, which promotes anime, games, and other cultures, opened on October 24, 2019. It has already become a popular spot, with the digital signage on the side of the building broadcasting popular anime content.

The name "Hareza Ikebukuro" is a combination of "hare" meaning something out of the ordinary, and "za" meaning a theater where many people gather. It is said to express the idea that it is a special place unlike any other in the world, where 10 million people meet and 10 million stories intersect. Why not go and see a performance that is attracting attention at this futuristic entertainment spot?

[Haneda] HANEDA INNOVATION CITY: Innovation born in the city at Japan's gateway

Haneda Airport will see a significant increase in international flights when a new runway goes into operation in March 2020. As the airport develops into a gateway to Japan, the city of Haneda is also continuing to evolve. HANEDA INNOVATION CITY, a large-scale complex consisting of commercial facilities and offices adjacent to Haneda Airport, is one part of this. Its abbreviation has been decided as "HICity," and it is finally starting in earnest. It is scheduled to have a grand opening in 2022, but a preliminary "town opening" will take place in the summer of 2020.

HICity will have dining facilities and Japanese cultural experience facilities where you can enjoy gourmet food, Japanese culture, and live events. It will also have research and development facilities (laboratories and large offices), an advanced medical research center, conference rooms and event halls, and even a large hydrogen station for fuel cell vehicles, making it a true catalyst for Japan's innovation.

A pedestrian space called the Innovation Corridor will be set up on the second floor deck of HICity. Tenants will include cutting-edge industries providing the latest technology, as well as cultural industries such as traditional, tourism, and entertainment, and it is expected that a wide range of products and experiences will be exchanged across fields.

Future-oriented urban development that creates new experiences and value is thoroughly implemented throughout the city, and the exterior design also pursues this philosophy. It will have beautiful and attractive scenery from every angle, whether it's the overall view from the sky, the distant view from the airport terminal and the river, the mid-range view from the roads and parks, or the close-up view from the surrounding area and the Innovation Corridor. This completely new city that will be born at the gateway to Japan, combining cutting-edge and cultural industries, is sure to become a special space where people from Japan and abroad can gather and interact.

[Shibuya] A new hub for business and culture! "SHIBUYAFUKURAS" opens on the former site of Tokyu Plaza

Shibuya is undergoing a once-in-a-century redevelopment project. In 2018, Shibuya Stream, which is directly connected to the station, opened, followed by Shibuya Scramble Square in 2019. The final opening of 2019 was SHIBUYA FUKURAS, a notable complex that symbolizes Shibuya, which will continue to evolve into 2020.

"SHIBUYA FUKURAS" was built on the site of Tokyu Plaza, a beloved Shibuya landmark for many years that sadly closed in March 2015. It is home to a bus terminal, commercial facilities, offices, and more, and has been opening in stages since November 2019.

The newly reborn "Tokyu Plaza Shibuya" has opened on the 2nd to 8th floors and the 17th and 18th floors. The concept is "To Shibuya where adults can have fun". The target audience is mature, urban, and sensitive adults. They know the value and richness of time, and cherish the goodness of essential things while also keeping a sense of fun. There are a total of 69 attractive stores for such adults who know the real thing.

For example, brands that offer the latest lifestyle ideas, such as Beams Japan Shibuya and Akomeya Tokyo, are creating original designs for Tokyu Plaza Shibuya.

The name "Shibuya Fukuras" expresses the desire to greatly expand (expand) the happiness of all people who visit Shibuya and this building. Shibuya Fukuras is expected to become a hub for new businesses and cultures that will lead the world, and is a must-see spot.

[Shibuya] Opening in early summer 2020! Shibuya's Miyashita Park becomes a new urban space

There is one more spot worth introducing in the up-and-coming city of Shibuya.

Miyashita Park, located along the JR Yamanote Line, is the closest urban oasis to Shibuya Station. This park was developed in 1966 in preparation for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and was built as an aerial park with a parking lot below and a park above.

It has been loved by many people as a place to relax, whether you're stopping by for a break while shopping, or enjoying sports like futsal or climbing, all while being in the city center. Now, more than half a century later, Miyashita Park is being fully renovated in preparation for the return of the Olympic Games.

After the renovation, Miyashita Park's fourth floor will be developed into a multi-level urban park filled with greenery, with a full lineup of sports facilities such as a multi-purpose sports facility (sand court), a skate park (for skateboarding, etc.), a bouldering wall, and a cafe. The lower level will undergo a bold transformation into a facility that combines a parking lot that can accommodate about 370 cars, commercial facilities, and accommodation (hotel) with about 240 rooms. In addition, it is said that the new facility will form a pedestrian network that will improve access to the Shibuya Station area, and will also enhance the disaster prevention functions of the area.

When Miyashita Park was developed in 1966, it was built on top of a parking lot in anticipation of the automobile society, and attracted attention as an "aerial park." With this renewal, expectations are high that it will maintain its "function as an urban park" while becoming a brighter, more open "new urban space" for the local community.

[Sendagaya] The new "National Stadium" is finally complete! Opening event

The National Stadium, which was the venue for the first Olympic Games held in Tokyo in 1964, will finally be reborn as a new stadium. At the Tokyo 2020 Games, it will host the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as track and field and football events, and will be used for various sports and cultural events after the Games.

What is impressive is the warm design, realized by combining domestic timber and steel. This stadium can be said to be the culmination of the work of Kengo Kuma, an architect who is now attracting worldwide attention. Not only does the interior give the feeling of being surrounded by wood, but the vertical latticework on the exterior of the building is also made of cedar, giving it a very Japanese feel.

Many people think that stadiums are not fun to visit unless you are there to watch a sport, but the National Stadium is different. There are areas where visitors can stroll around and enjoy sports, such as "Daichi no Mori" (Forest of the Earth), which connects to the surrounding parks, and "Sora no Mori" (Forest of the Sky), a rooftop space that surrounds the top floor of the stadium, so it seems like a great place to stop by as a tourist destination. Of course, even just taking photos of the shiny, newly built stadium will make a great memory of your trip.

On Saturday, December 21, 2019, the "National Stadium Opening Event"
The event will be held at the stadium. Based on the concept of "OURSTADIUM, where humanity comes together," the idea is to create a base where all humanity can come together beyond the boundaries of region and country, and spread the power of culture and sports in a new era.

This will be the first time the new National Stadium is open to the public to celebrate its completion, and will feature a spectacular program of performances, including the first-ever exhibition race in human history, live shows by DREAMS COME TRUE and Arashi, and a Japanese drum performance by Kodo.

The Tokyo 2020 Games venue will be a place where new history will be written. If you visit Tokyo, it is one spot you should definitely see.

All of these spots are the result of large-scale development and will undoubtedly become symbols of Tokyo in the future. When you visit Tokyo, why not take a look at the ever-changing cityscape?

*Some content was updated on December 23, 2019, April 7, 2020, and May 14, 2020.