The Sony Building in Tokyo's Ginza district, which closed at the end of March last year, has been renovated and will finally open as Ginza Sony Park on August 9th.


Ginza Sony Park is a unique vertical multi-level park that retains the structure of the old Sony Building, incorporating the open atrium of three underground levels, the adjacent Sukiyabashi Crossing, a subway concourse, and an underground parking lot. Based on the concept of an experimental "ever-changing park," various projects, including shops and events, will be held from the approximately 707 square meter flat ground floor to the fourth basement floor until autumn 2020. At a press preview held on the 8th, the day before the park's opening, Daisuke Nagano, president and chief branding officer of Sony Enterprise Co., Ltd., said, "When we rebuilt the old Sony Building, which had served as Ginza's garden since 1966, we discussed what kind of building we should create. Previously, the only options were to either keep the original building or demolish it. In keeping with Sony's philosophy of 'doing things no one else has done,' we took on the challenge of ingeniously preserving the original. Ginza Sony Park is a reinterpretation of Sony Square, the public space that was located in the former Sony Building, created by Sony founder Akio Morita and designer Yoshinobu Ashihara. Open to Harumi-dori, Sotobori-dori, and Sony-dori, this location is rare even for Tokyo, and is open on three sides. It also boasts direct access to the Tokyo Metro concourse and Ginza's largest parking lot on the third basement floor. This unique location aims to serve as an interface between people and the city."



The newly opened Ginza Sony Park is actually the completed form of "Phase 1" of the entire "Ginza Sony Park Project." It will be open from August 9, 2018 until autumn 2020, after which "Phase 2" will begin in 2022, with the construction of a new Sony Building on the ground floor, while maintaining the park concept.

The concept of the ground floor of Ginza Sony Park is a "park you can buy." Special plants collected from around the world and planted in the park can be purchased at "Awo GINZA TOKYO," produced by plant hunter Seijun Nishihata. The park's appearance changes every time a plant is purchased. In addition, a satellite studio for "TOKYO FM" has been set up as a "radio station (Ginza Sony Park Studio) that delivers the latest in Tokyo." It will broadcast music popular in Tokyo and Tokyo culture. At the seasonal pop-up store of "Toraya Cafe An Stand," you can enjoy Ginza-exclusive dishes made with "an paste" made at Toraya Cafe An Stand's first "an paste direct sales outlet" on the third basement floor of the park. TOKYO FM's satellite studio

TOKYO FM's satellite studio

TORAYA CAFE AN STAND pop-up store

On the first basement floor, "THE CONVENI," a shop based on the concept of a convenience store and directed by Fujiwara Hiroshi, has opened. It offers a selection of unique items that can only be found here, and aims to spread a new culture. Additionally, MIMOSA GINZA, a dim sum stand run by a Michelin-starred restaurant, is themed around a "back alley food stall" and serves Hong Kong milk tea and egg tarts, both of which are popular in mainland China and originate from Hong Kong. Guests can enjoy these items casually within the park.

THE CONVENI
MIMOSA GINZA

An event space will be set up on the second basement floor, where interactive events based on a variety of themes will be held. From the opening until September 24th, there will be a roller skating rink. You can enjoy short lessons with professional instructors, watch performances, and of course, skate rentals will be available, so you can easily try it out while you're shopping or dining in Ginza. Incidentally, this floor is directly connected to the concourse to Tokyo Metro Ginza Station.

#001 PARK x MUSIC x ROLLER SKATE

The third basement floor is home to Toraya Cafe An Stand. The store has its first in-house manufacturing facility, where they produce and sell limited edition original mini-sized "an paste" on the spot. This floor is directly connected to the second basement floor of the Nishi Ginza Parking Lot.

Toraya Cafe An Stand

On the 4th basement floor, "BEER TO GO" by SPRING VALLEY BREWERY, a new concept deli from SPRING VALLEY BREWERY, which operates craft beer specialty stores in Daikanyama, Yokohama, and Kyoto, has opened. Guests can freely enjoy 16 types of craft beer and 12 types of deli and grilled food that change with the seasons within the park. There is also a live music venue on the floor, where you can sometimes enjoy live music while dining. A variety of experiential events and live performances, filled with surprises and fun, are planned for the year. The first experimental program, "Park x Music x Roller Skate (#001 PARK x MUSIC xROLLER SKATE)," will run from August 9th to September 24th. An indoor roller skating rink will be set up on the second basement floor, inspired by the packaging design of the original Walkman®, depicting two people roller skating while listening to music. Adults and children alike can enjoy roller skating accompanied by Sony's signature 4K large-screen images and music blaring from a high-powered audio system. Short lessons and special performances by professional instructors are also planned. Starting August 17th, the "Sony Aquarium," which has been running since the old Sony Building opened, will be held. To commemorate the International Year of the Coral Reef 2018, a large, five-meter-wide tank will be exhibited, themed "Napoleon fish and the Coral Sea," featuring approximately 1,000 creatures representing 25 species from Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and other aquariums. On weekends, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium staff will provide commentary on the creatures. On the third basement floor, there will be table games using the Xperia Touch, a smart product that allows intuitive operation via screens projected onto walls and tables. Also featured will be "Game x Parking," where visitors can experience the immersive racing game on a cockpit-style demo station for the real-life driving simulator "Gran Turismo Sport." On the fourth basement floor, there will be "Park Live," a live concert where performers will not be announced until the day of the event, allowing visitors to enjoy "spontaneous encounters with music." Additionally, a pop-up store will be opening selling original Ginza Sony Park tote bags, T-shirts, and other merchandise. The "Sony Building Souvenir Louver," which was sold online as a charity item when the old Sony Building closed, will also be available for a limited time.



Last updated: August 8th