First opening in 1966, the Sony Building attracted around 5.5 million visitors annually. The seven-story building was a showcase of electronic gadgets and gizmos from one of the world’s leading brands, Sony.
Visitors could enjoy a hands-on experience with nearly every Sony electronic product, from video and digital cameras, CD players, and radios to the latest MP3 players and plasma TV technology. The centre also featured event space for various exhibitions and a shop where Sony’s wide range of products was available for purchase.
The Sony Building had free entry and was easily found on the corner of Harumi Street at the Sukiyabashi Crossroad, opposite the Hankyu Department Store. It was a short walk from Exit B9 of Ginza Subway Station, served by the Ginza, Hibiya, and Marunouchi Lines. The centre was also just a few minutes’ walk from the Ginza 4-Chome intersection or JR Yurakucho Station on the Yamanote Line. The Sony Building was open daily from 11 AM.
Several shops, restaurants, and even a British pub were located inside. A large underground mall featured a tempura restaurant, along with the delicious Maxim’s de Paris Cake Shop and French restaurant.
Designed by renowned architect Yoshinobu Ashihara, the Sony Building became an icon of Ginza and the Sukiyabashi Crossroad. Featuring a flowing design across its six floors, visitors gradually moved through and up the showroom of Sony’s latest products. The building originally featured a high-tech video display on its feature wall, which was later replaced in a 1992 redevelopment with a regularly changing feature art wall.
In 2017, the Sony Building closed for redevelopment. The space reopened as a small park for the 2020 Olympics, featuring a coffee caravan, two decks, and planters, while also reopening the subway entrance below. Sony’s product showcase moved one block away to the Nissan Crossing building, maintaining a similar-sized exhibit. The park closed after the Olympics, and in 2025, a new five-level building—also known as Sony Park, opened, featuring open space for exhibitions and event areas.
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