Tokyo's Changing Skyline: New Towers and Waterfront Projects

Supertall towers, a new station district and plans for Tsukiji are reshaping the city, so here is what has opened and what is still on the way.

Published October 26, 2026 at 12:33 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Tokyo's skyline is changing around three big stories: Azabudai Hills, whose Mori JP Tower reached 325 meters in 2023 and is the city's tallest building; Takanawa Gateway City, which opened beside a new JR station in March 2025; and the planned Torch Tower in Otemachi, scheduled for 2028 at roughly 390 meters. Waterfront plans, including the Tsukiji redevelopment, are still in progress.

Anyone returning to Tokyo after a few years will notice new silhouettes, from glass towers in Toranomon and Azabudai to a whole new district beside Takanawa Gateway Station. Developers and the city government are also working on the waterfront, where Tsukiji's former market site and the Harumi area are part of a larger plan to link the city center with the bay. This guide separates what has opened from what is planned, so travelers know where to look today. Details of future projects can change, so confirm with official sites before building a trip around them.

What has changed in the skyline

For decades Tokyo's skyline was defined by Tokyo Tower, which opened in 1958 at 333 meters, and by Tokyo Skytree, which rose to 634 meters in 2012. Both are towers rather than office buildings, and for a long time no building in Tokyo reached the supertall class. According to the Wikipedia list of tallest buildings in Tokyo, that changed in 2023 with Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower, which stands 325 meters tall and is the city's tallest building.

Since then, development has continued in several districts at once, including Shibuya, Nihonbashi, Toranomon, Takanawa and Otemachi. These projects share a pattern: large mixed-use blocks that combine offices, homes, shops, hotels and public plazas around a new transit hub. For visitors, that means more places to eat, shop and look at the view without leaving a single complex.

Azabudai Hills and the tallest tower

Azabudai Hills, built by Mori Building in central Tokyo, is the most visible example. Its Mori JP Tower is the tallest building in Tokyo according to the Wikipedia list, and the district also includes residences, galleries, shops and green space. It sits near the Tokyo Tower area, which makes it easy to pair with a classic view of the older landmark.

Because the site already has a separate guide to Azabudai Hills, this article treats it as the anchor of the new skyline rather than a full visit plan. The key point is scale: a single development now contains the tallest building in the city and connects to the surrounding streets with plazas and walkways.

Takanawa Gateway City, a district beside a new station

Takanawa Gateway City, developed by JR East, is a newer example. According to the project's official site, it centers on Takanawa Gateway Station and was scheduled to open on March 27, 2025. The district includes business facilities, a convention hall, a JW Marriott hotel, residences, a clinic and a fitness facility, plus a cultural hub with MoN Takanawa, The Museum of Narratives.

The official site also describes ekinaka NEWoMan TAKANAWA, described as the largest facility in LUMINE's history, with shops, restaurants and cafes. This is a good example of the modern Tokyo pattern: a station district designed as a destination, with culture and dining built in. The area is a short ride from central Tokyo on the Yamanote line.

Torch Tower and the Otemachi plan

The next headline project is Torch Tower, part of the Tokyo Torch development by Mitsubishi Estate near Tokyo Station. According to Wikipedia, the first tower of the project, Tokiwabashi Tower, was completed in 2021, and Torch Tower is scheduled for completion in 2028 with a height of roughly 390 meters, which would make it Japan's tallest building. Sources give slightly different height figures, so treat the number as approximate.

Because Torch Tower is still planned, it is best described as an upcoming addition rather than an attraction to schedule a visit around. The same source says the project's plaza, Tokyo Torch Terrace, is planned to expand in 2027. Updates will appear on the developer's official channels.

Tsukiji and the waterfront plan

On the waterfront side, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government describes a plan to strengthen hubs in the central and bay areas and improve links between them so the two function as one. Its Tsukiji page says the former market site, covering about 194,000 square meters in Chuo ward, will be redeveloped with heavy private-sector involvement. A preferred operator was selected in April 2024, a basic agreement was signed in March 2025, and the operator's basic plan is posted on its project site.

Tsukiji's outer market continues to operate, and the metropolitan government has held archaeological site tours at the redevelopment site, with about 4,000 visitors on one day in July 2026. According to Wikipedia, the redevelopment was announced in April 2024 as an entertainment area centered on a stadium, with a reported target of the early 2030s, but these remain plans and may change. Visitors today can still enjoy the nearby outer market and Hamarikyu area as usual.

Harumi, transport links and boats

The same metropolitan page mentions Harumi, where the former Tokyo 2020 Athletes' Village site is being developed as a lasting legacy. It also notes that Circular Route No. 2 has been fully open since December 2022, including the Tsukiji to Shimbashi section, which improves road links around the area.

Transport ideas on the page include the Tokyo BRT, a bus-based system using articulated buses and dedicated lanes, and continued planning for a central and waterfront underground railway. Boat transport is also a stated priority, with trial runs to study new routes and better signage to guide people to piers. None of these are final, and the page names no specific new routes.

How to see the new skyline as a visitor

There is no need to chase every new tower. A simple approach is to pick one old landmark and one new district in a day. Pair Tokyo Tower with Azabudai Hills, or Shinagawa with Takanawa Gateway City, and use public transport to move between them.

Observation decks and rooftop spaces change over time, so check the operator's website for opening hours and ticketing. For a free view, many public buildings and bridges offer wide city panoramas. Evening light, when towers glow against the sky, is a favorite time for photographers.

A short wrap-up

Tokyo's skyline is changing in stages. Azabudai Hills and Takanawa Gateway City have already opened, Torch Tower and the Tsukiji project are planned, and waterfront transport ideas are still being studied. Seeing the city this way helps visitors understand that Tokyo is always under construction, and that each new district adds another layer to a famously dynamic city.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Tokyo Paul's Japan Unrevealed: Japan in Motion is available on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the tallest building in Tokyo?

According to the Wikipedia list of tallest buildings in Tokyo, Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower is the tallest building, at 325 meters and completed in 2023. Tokyo Skytree is taller at 634 meters but is classified as a tower rather than a building. Torch Tower in Otemachi is planned to exceed Mori JP Tower, with completion scheduled for 2028.

What is Takanawa Gateway City?

Takanawa Gateway City is a JR East district centered on Takanawa Gateway Station, with offices, a hotel, residences, a convention hall, shops and a cultural hub called MoN Takanawa. According to the project's official site, it was scheduled to open on March 27, 2025. It is easily reached by train on the Yamanote line.

What is happening at the Tsukiji market site?

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says the former inner market site will be redeveloped with strong private-sector involvement. A preferred operator was selected in April 2024 and a basic agreement was signed in March 2025. Wikipedia cites a reported target of the early 2030s, but these are plans and may change, and the outer market continues to operate.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Azabudai Hills and Tokyo's New Landmarks, MoN Takanawa: Tokyo's Newest Culture Hub and Odaiba: Tokyo Bay's Waterfront Playground.