Ginza Wooden Box: Japan's Tallest Wooden Skyscraper

Innovative Urban Architecture by Tetsuo Yamaji Architects

The Ginza Wooden Box—officially known as the Ginza Takagi Building—is an architectural milestone in Tokyo, designed by Tetsuo Yamaji Architects. This 12-story mixed-use commercial complex redefines urban wooden construction by integrating traditional Japanese materials with modern engineering. The structure, completed in 2023 and inaugurated in May 2024, stands at 56 meters, making it Japan’s tallest wooden skyscraper.

Architectural Concept & Structural Design

Located on Ginza Sotobori Dori Street, the building features a unique hybrid construction system. The lower eight floors are built with a steel-frame structure, while the upper four floors utilize a wooden framework, giving it the appearance of a wooden box atop a modern office complex.

• Basement: Reinforced concrete
• First to Eighth Floors: Steel frame (commercial & office spaces)
• Ninth to Twelfth Floors: Wooden frame (commercial & recreational areas)

The exterior and interior finishes use cedarwood sourced from Tama, Tokyo, reinforcing sustainability and local material utilization.

The Rise of High-Rise Wooden Construction in Japan

The Ginza Takagi Building surpasses the Toji Temple Pagoda (55m), Japan’s tallest wooden structure for the past 380 years. This project marks the beginning of a new era in Japan’s urban landscape, paving the way for future high-rise wooden buildings. Notable upcoming projects include:

• Mitsui Fudosan's Nihonbashi Office Building (84m, 2026)
• Tokio Marine Group Headquarters (100m, 2028)

These developments highlight the growing adoption of wooden structures in modern urban architecture.

Inspiration from Edo-Period Urban Planning

The Ginza district retains an Edo-period urban layout, characterized by narrow alleys and traditional townhouses. The site was previously home to Ariga Shashinkan, a historic building that housed the Candle restaurant, a cultural hub frequented by literary figures like Yasunari Kawabata and Yukio Mishima. Inspired by this legacy, the project embraces Japan’s traditional alley-style architecture, reinterpreted in a modern high-rise format.

Fire-Resistant Wooden Structure: Engineering Challenges & Solutions

A fully wooden skyscraper was initially considered but was deemed impractical due to fireproofing, structural, and cost limitations. The chosen hybrid wooden structure balances safety, sustainability, and efficiency.

Fireproofing Features

• COOL WOOD System by Shelter: Used for columns and beams
• Fire-resistant layers: Two 21mm reinforced gypsum boards
• Surface finish: 20mm wooden cladding
• Certified one-hour fireproof structure

The critical structural joints utilize drift-pin joints with insert-type steel plates, ensuring stability without requiring approval from conventional general contractors.

Urban Adaptability & Future Applications

A significant advantage of this mid-rise mixed wooden structure is its exemption from structural evaluations, making it a cost-effective and scalable solution for urban construction. This generalized construction model can be adapted to small and medium-sized multi-tenant buildings, which dominate Japan’s urban landscape.

Transforming Tokyo’s Skyline with Sustainable Wood Architecture

The Ginza Takagi Building serves as a pioneering example of how wooden architecture can integrate into dense urban environments. By utilizing regional materials and merging traditional and modern architectural techniques, this project sets a precedent for the future of sustainable urban design in Japan.

As Japan embraces high-rise wooden construction, the Ginza Wooden Box stands as a symbol of innovation, bridging historical craftsmanship with contemporary engineering—a true landmark in Tokyo’s evolving skyline.

All Photographs are works of Hiroyuki Hirai