Tokyo Midtown, a major urban development, is opening in central Tokyo on 30 March 2007.Tokyo Midtown will include the tallest building in Tokyo as well as a prestigious hotel (Tokyo’s first Ritz-Carlton), luxurious serviced apartments, two museums, unique restaurants and shops, a beautiful large park, as well as residences, offices and medical facilities. Two convention centres have also been created underground at “Midtown East” to host various events, with a seating capacity of 800.

Tokyo Midtown was developed by Mitsui Fudosan and is less than a kilometer from the popular Roppongi Hills development that opened in 2003. Many of Japan’s top architects have worked on the development, including Tadao Ando, Jun Aoki, Kengo Kuma, Nikken Sekkei, Sakakura Associates, with stunning results.

Midtown Tower is Tokyo’s newest landmark, rising 54 storeys and 248 metres in height, making it the second-tallest building in Japan, falling short of Yokohama’s Landmark Tower. The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, a five-star hotel, is located in the building’s top levels. Offering some of the most expansive views of snow capped Mt. Fuji, the contemporary hotel with Art Déco accents features four 18 feet high works of contemporary art by famous American painter Sam Francis, valued at US$4 million. Throughout the hotel public space, brightly hued works of modern art give The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo a sleekly stylish, yet warm and welcoming ambience. The 278 square meter Ritz-Carlton Suite is already in high demand, despite a price tag of US$20,000 per night, making it the most expensive suite accommodations in Asia.

For those planning a longer stay in Tokyo, will be Oakwood Premier Tokyo Midtown, set to be the most luxurious serviced residence in Japan, consisting of 107 beautiful executive apartments, smartly equipped with Broadband, large flat screen home theatres and drench showers, richly appointed with furniture, household and kitchen equipment. Oakwood Premier also offers a state-of-the-art fitness center, business center, 24-hour front desk, regular maid service and concierge service plus a 24-hour supermarket will be located onsite. Making it an ideal base for business travelers to Tokyo.

The retail section of Tokyo Midtown includes shopping and restaurant zones. “Galleria” offers unique and trendy shops, while the restaurant zone “Garden Terrace” is in an area overlooking the park. The underground street will be lined with cafes and shops. A wide variety of retail outlets will include shops exclusive to Tokyo Midtown such as a Muji store which will not stock regular Muji products but furniture that focuses on timeless design; the first Richard James tailor shop outside of London and Shu Sanctuary - a one stop beauty centre for all your beauty needs using the highly desirable Shu Uemura beauty products.

For a break from shopping there will be two museums - Suntory Museum of Art and 21_21 Design Sight. Suntory Museum of Art has 40 years of history and houses a collection of Japanese antique arts and crafts. Renowned for unique special exhibitions, the museum will be relocated from Akasaka to the third and fourth floors of “Gardenside”. The opening exhibition of the museum will be ‘Arts of Celebration - An Exhibition Commemorating the New Museum of Suntory Museum of Art’.

Behind the Suntory Museum of Art will be 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT. 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT was sparked by an idea by designer Issey Miyake and designed by architect Tadao Ando. Here various art and design exhibitions and events will take place, making it a new centre for the creation and propagation of Japanese culture to the world. The opening program is Tadao Ando’s Construction Site 2006 “A Hard-Fought Process” which will allow the general public to view the space prior to the first exhibition.

The development’s two beautiful new parks - Midtown Garden and Hinokicho Park - are expected to be a bursting with pink cherry blossoms for Midtown’s grand opening. An oasis of green in the heart of Tokyo, Midtown garden offers the convenience of full-fledged information communications via wi-fi.

Tokyo Midtown is situated in Roppongi. Roppongi subway station has underground passageways directly linking the station to the development’s shops, restaurants, hotels and museums.
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