Yaesu Bus Terminal, which is now under construction on the east side of Tokyo Station, is to become the biggest bus station in Japan.
An artist’s impression of the entrance to Yaesu Bus Terminal which is to be built by Tokyo Station
Currently, there are many independent highway bus and airport bus services that have stops outside the Yaesu Exit of Tokyo Station. However, because there is not enough space in the station plaza, many of these bus stops are scattered along the road without any overall organization. To remedy this situation, a major new bus terminal is being constructed which will consolidate all the different bus services in one area and integrate their operations. This should make transfers between the railway station and local bus services much smoother.
The three sections to be developed are left to right: the Eastern, Northern and Middle Sections
The new terminal will be located outside Tokyo Station’s Yaesu Exit and will have three sections which will open gradually as the redevelopment of the area progresses. Three high-rise buildings are to be constructed in these sections with the bus terminal operating in their basement levels and various commercial facilities and offices located on their upper floors. The Eastern Section building will be located on the north side of Yaesu Street, and the Northern Section and Middle Section buildings will be located on the south side.
A diagram of the three buildings with the bus terminal in the basement levels and a connecting passage running under Yaesu Street
As the bus terminal is scheduled to open in stages, the Northern Section will be the first to partially open in August 2022 when that building is completed. Notably, the top seven floors of the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu Building, which is the Northern Section building, will be occupied by Japan’s first Bulgari Hotel.
The Tokyo Midtown Yaesu Building will be completed by 2022
The redevelopment of the Yaesu district is being overseen by the semi-governmental organization, Urban Renaissance Agency (UR), but day-to-day operations and maintenance of the terminal will be handed over to Keio Dentetsu Bus as the bus terminal gradually opens. When completed, the terminal which has been tentatively named Yaesu Bus Terminal will have 20 berths making it Japan’s biggest bus terminal. Naturally, it will also be provided with information counters, ticket machines, waiting lounges, coin lockers, rest rooms, and access to other commercial facilities. Digital signage will also be provided so that passengers can easily find their way through the terminal to their individual stops.
An artist’s impression of a passageway in the Eastern Section
According to the current schedule, the Northern Section of the Yaesu Bus Terminal will partially open in 2022, followed by the Eastern Section in 2025, and the Middle Section will complete the bus terminal in 2028.
Article by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.
