Sony Building

Ginza Sony Park in Tokyo's Ginza district is an architectural landmark and public space built on the historic site of the original Sony Building. This iconic structure, designed by Yoshinobu Ashihara, opened in 1966 under the vision of Sony co-founder Akio Morita as a showcase flagship for the then rapidly expanding electronics brand. It was known for its innovative exhibition space rising floor by floor and a facade that was originally lit with cathode-ray tubes. After more than five decades in use and a comprehensive renovation in 1992, the building was demolished in 2017. In the meantime, from 2018 to 2021, the site served as a temporary ground-level urban park that drew millions of visitors during the Olympic Games.

The new structure, which opened in January 2025, spans eight floors and covers more than 4,000 square meters (about 43,000 square feet). Conceived in-house by Sony, it follows a brutalist style with exposed concrete and a metal mesh facade. Unlike conventional parks, the design does without trees and lawns, instead defining its public character through open architectural access points. Around 40 percent of the space is available as unrestricted communal areas, while the remaining areas are used for changing cultural programs, media presentations, and temporary exhibitions.

You experience the building as a vertical park, with an open central spiral staircase at its heart that leads from the basement to the rooftop terrace and recalls the original 1966 design. Flexible galleries showcase art, technology, and media, while lounges with free seating invite you to linger or work. The lower levels house cafés and restaurants as well as direct access to Ginza Station on the subway. Remnants of the historic building were integrated into the underground entrance area, creating a fascinating contrast between old and new architecture.