Shiodome

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View of Shiodome and Hamarikyu Gardens as seen from Tokyo Tower

Shiodome in 2006

Shiodome (汐留) is an area in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, located southeast of Shimbashi, southwest of Ginza, and northeast of Hamamatsucho. It is right near Tokyo Bay and includes Hama Rikyu Garden. Formerly the starting point of the Tokyo-Yokohama railroad (the first railroad in Japan) Shiodome later became a freight terminal, and finally has been transformed into one of Tokyo's most modern and architecturally stunning areas.

[edit] History

Shiodome (the location of the original Shimbashi Station (Shinbashi Teishajō (新橋停車場)) not to be confused with the current Shimbashi Station) was the Tokyo terminus of the first railway in Japan, known as the Tōkaidō Main Line, completed in 1872. Superseded by Tokyo Station in 1914, the old Shimbashi Station was destroyed by fire in the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake. After World War II, Shiodome prospered as a freight terminal, though its glory days as an important public transportation were thought to be over. In 1986, even the freight terminal was no longer used, and Shiodome lay dormant. Finally, in 1995, it was decided that Shiodome would be redeveloped as a shining city within a city. Redevelopment started around 2001 and has been ongoing since then. Skyscrapers have sprung up, and even the facade of the old Shimbashi station was rebuilt and is now a historic site. The whole redevelopment project is slated to be completed in late 2006.

[edit] Shiodome today

Shiodome is one of the most modern-looking places in Tokyo.

Shiodome is already a bustling area (though with a more dignified serenity than neighboring areas like Shimbashi). The headquarters of major companies like Dentsu and Nippon Television are located in its gleaming new skyscrapers. Hotels, restaurants, and parks are also well represented. There is a pedestrian walkway over the busy streets below, so people can easily get around. Shiodome has two train stations, one for the Yurikamome monorail and the other for the Toei Oedo Line.

[edit] Layout

Shiodome is a collection of 11 tiny town districts or cooperative zones (街区), but generally there are three main areas. One area is the Shiodome SIO-SITE (シオサイト), a collection of skyscrapers containing mostly businesses, hotels, and restaurants. It is just east of Shimbashi Station, and can be reached by strolling along the elevated walkway from the Yurikamome Shimbashi Station. A second main area, and a cooperative zone on its own is the West district (西街区). This district is Western in more ways than one. Its location is geographically west of the JR tracks, the only district to be so. In addition to that, its builidngs, all constructed recently, have a decidedly European look to them. Finally, there is the southern extension, east of the JR tracks from Hamamatsucho 1-chome. This area is for residential use, and there are three tall apartment buildings located there, along with a small park.