Tokyo Station Completion Day

What Is Tokyo Station Completion Day?

Every December 18th is "Tokyo Station Completion Day" (東京駅完成記念日, Tōkyō Eki Kansei Kinenbi) in Japan. On December 18, 1914, the completion and opening ceremony of Tokyo Station (東京駅) was held, with regular service beginning on December 20. Known as the "Central Station" (中央停車場) during planning, its iconic red-brick Marunouchi building was designed by architects Tatsuno Kingo and Kasai Manji. The station represented the apotheosis of Meiji-era railway development and remained Japan's symbolic railway hub for over a century.

The Architecture of Tokyo Station

Tatsuno Kingo's Marunouchi station building — 335 meters long, three stories high, with distinctive red brick and white stone domes at each end — was the grandest railway station in Japan when it opened and remains one of the country's most beloved architectural landmarks. The station's central position opposite the Imperial Palace made it not only a transportation hub but a symbolic gateway to the capital. The building was damaged by Allied bombing in 1945 and rebuilt as a two-story structure with simplified, trapezoidal north and south roofs; it was designated an Important Cultural Property in 2003, and in 2012 a meticulous restoration returned the building to its original three-story form with its domes — a project that itself became a celebrated engineering achievement.

Tokyo Station as Transportation Hub

Tokyo Station today is one of Japan's major terminals, served by multiple Shinkansen (bullet train) lines connecting Tokyo to destinations throughout Japan, and numerous commuter and intercity JR lines. Below and around the Marunouchi building, the underground concourses of Tokyo Station contain extensive retail and dining areas, connecting to neighboring stations and underground shopping districts.

Tokyo Station's Cultural Significance

Tokyo Station occupies a unique place in Japanese cultural memory — the point of departure for journeys to every corner of Japan, the symbolic entry point to the capital, and the setting for countless partings and reunions in literature, film, and personal memory. The phrase "Tokyo Station" evokes associations of travel, ambition, homecoming, and the ceaseless movement of Japanese life.

Fun Facts

• Hotel inside the station: The Tokyo Station Hotel (東京ステーションホテル), originally opened in 1915 within the station building itself and restored along with the building in 2012, is one of Japan's most historic and sought-after luxury hotels.
• Ekiben paradise: Tokyo Station's underground retail areas contain one of Japan's most comprehensive collections of "ekiben" (駅弁, station bento boxes) from across the country — a destination in itself for food-loving travelers.