The 21st-century reinvention of Shibuya nears completion with the staggered opening of Shibuya Sakura Stage. This 254,620-square-metre complex, centred on the Sakuragaokacho district south of Shibuya Station, is the fifth and final element of developer Tokyu Group’s transformation of ever-vibrant Shibuya, following projects including Shibuya Stream (2017) and Shibuya Scramble Square (2019).
Shibuya Sakura Stage, which gets a grand opening on July 26 2024, now makes for much smoother pedestrian journeys both into the heart of Shibuya from the south, and in the opposite direction over into Daikanyama and Ebisu. Gone is the confusion of old, resolved by some stunning new public architecture: the lower levels of the complex’s 39-floor Shibuya Tower contain an ‘Urban Core’ where escalators and stairs are embedded into what looks like a supersized masterpiece of futuristic abstract sculpture.
Also welcome in a district largely dominated by major brands will be Shibuya Sakura Stage’s role as a platform for independent and emerging businesses and creatives. In addition to around 100 stores opening on the lower floors of the Shibuya Tower and its 30-storey sister Sakura Tower, the development will be home to Manoma, a centre to support entrepreneurs and creatives working in the food and drink industry, as well as a ‘global creation base’ named 404 Not Found. The latter facility will host events from a diverse mix of creatives encompassing music, art, food, tech and more.
Out in the open air, meanwhile, the Nigiwai Stage is a performance space overlooked by another Instagram-genic piece of architecture: ‘Shibu S’ is a silver-and-metallic-pink staircase portal with a huge ‘S’ shape (for ‘Shibuya Sakuragaoka’) cut into it.
As Shibuya Sakura Stage’s developers proudly state, redevelopment on this scale only comes around once each century. This future-forward element of the new-look Shibuya is one that won’t appear dated any time soon.