Tameike
Sanno
Tameike
Sanno Station is a subway
station serving the Tokyo Metro
Ginza and Namboku Lines. The station
is located both in the Chiyoda and
Minato Wards of Tokyo – the Namboku
platforms being in Chiyoda Ward,
and the Ginza platforms in Minato
Ward. Tameike Sanno Station is connected
to Kokkai Gijido-mae Station by
underground passageways, making
it possible to transfer between
the two stations without going through
ticket gates.
The
Tokyo Metro Namboku Line platforms
are located in the Nagatacho district
of Chiyoda Ward. A short walking
distance from the Station exit into
Nagatacho is Kantei .
Kantei
Kantei
is the official residence of the
Prime Minister of Japan. This five-story
building is relatively new, having
been finished in 2002. It is situated
next to the previous Kantei, which
is a two-storey mansion built in
1929. Both the new and the old buildings
are surrounded by a wall and entry
is only through a double gate.
The
new Kantei, built at a cost of $350
million, is uniquely designed in
half Japanese and half Scandinavian
architectural forms. The walls are
sectional and are made of wood.
The ceiling and its lighting are
based on traditional Japanese designs,
but from the outside, the roof is
very western and also has two helipads.
In the middle of the building is
a rock garden. The whole building,
covering an area of 25,000 sq. meters,
is protected from terrorist threats
by stones and bulletproof glass.
Besides
being the residence of the Prime
Minister, Kantei also has facilities
for Cabinet meetings, and summits
and banquets for foreign dignitaries.
Sanno
Park Tower
Sanno
Park Tower is one of the twenty
tallest buildings of Tokyo. Standing
at a height of 194 meter, it can
be seen from afar. What makes it
even more prominent is its location.
It is located close to Tameike Station,
with the Kantei, Diet Building,
and offices of the members of Parliament
to its right; the luxury hotel Tokyu
to the left; and the Hie Shrine
behind it.
Sanno
Park Tower was completed in 2000.
Covering a floor area of 219,216
m², the Tower consists of 44
floors above the ground and 4 floors
underground. It is made of steel-framed
reinforced-concrete designed in
a modernist style.
Some
of the prominent tenants at Sanno
Park Tower are Deutsch Bank, who
has rented 6 of its floors, Mitsubishi
Trust & Banking, and NTT DoCoMo.