S05E32
Tokyo Station
October 4, 201228m
Tokyo Station's 100th anniversary is approaching. With 28 tracks, and 3,000 trains arriving and departing each day, it is Japan's largest rail terminal. Over the years, Tokyo Station has been the site of countless hellos and goodbyes, and the station building is an Important Cultural Property in Japan. The third floor and two striking domes burned down in 1945 during the Second World War, and for 60 years Tokyo Station remained a two-story building. Five years ago, work began to restore the station to its original appearance. The restoration project not only meticulously re-created the craftsmanship of a bygone century, it also included a state-of-the-art seismic-safety retrofitting. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is Tokyo Station. This is part of our special Tokyo trilogy. We trace the station's history and explore its latest features.