3 hours ago
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October 22, 2025 — 12:23pm
They’re the must-see destinations within a must-see destination: the wards of Tokyo such as Shibuya have idiosyncratic charms, putting them on every visitor’s to-do list. The Minato ward hasn’t had this kind of allure. But this district, under the radar even though it fronts Tokyo Bay, might just be about to become the city’s next big thing.
If you’ve ever visited the red and white Tokyo Tower, you’ve been to Minato ward. Likewise the Edo-period Kyu-Shiba-rikyu gardens. But for most, their footfall in Minato is brief, at Hamamatsucho station, where the monorail to Haneda Airport meets the JR East lines.
Now, it’s also the location for Blue Front Shibaura, a large-scale redevelopment set to change the area dramatically. Within it is Japan’s first Fairmont, which opened in July.
Encompassing the former site of the Hamamatsucho Building, which was once Japan’s tallest building, and a former JR East cargo train yard, the 4.7-hectare site is reshaping the Tokyo Bay skyline and street life.
Blue Front Shibaura is the work of the studio of Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, who designed many notable buildings in Japan and the US, including Tower 4 of the World Trade Centre.
Maki died in June last year, aged 95, leaving a legacy of prioritising low-key beauty and easy flow over big design flourishes. He was also known for creating new neighbourhoods such as Blue Front Shibaura, where construction began in 2021.
The Fairmont Tokyo is designed by Melbourne’s BAR Studio. Its credits include the Ritz-Carlton Melbourne, Capella Sydney and a number of Rosewood properties.
The Fairmont Tokyo occupies the upper floors of the mixed-use Blue Front Shibaura’s Tower S (south), capturing expansive bay and city views. It has 217 rooms and suites, an infinity pool, spa, gym, and five dining venues.
Japan’s luxury hotel stocks had been lacking compared to other developed destinations. But a surge in tourism to the country is seeing that change rapidly. Another driver is district redevelopment, similar to Blue Front Shibaura. There are several under way in Tokyo, due to changes in building codes among other factors.
Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district, for instance, has seen transformation in recent years – and a high-rise development that will include the Waldorf Astoria Tokyo Nihonbashi is set to open next year.
Construction of the north tower of Blue Front Shibaura is due to begin in 2027, with completion of the whole project slated for 2030.
When done, as well as the Fairmont Tokyo, it will include residences, retail, hospitality, including waterfront restaurants and bars, plus plenty of public green space and community hubs.
With East Japan Railway Company as a development partner, there will be undercover walkable access to the railways and a new transport hub that makes connections to various lines and modes of transport more clear.
These will include the new Shibaura Pier, home to the Blue Ferry (which began service in 2023), connecting the area with other waterfront parts of the city. It’s designed to integrate Tokyo’s underutilised waterways for daily travel and tourism.
See fairmont.com
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