Omotesandō Audio Guide

Omotesandō: what does the audio guide cover?

1. 01

   Welcome to Omotesandō

   Welcome to Omotesandō, one of the most elegant walks in Tokyo. This guide tells the story of the avenue as a whole, a zelkova tree-lined boulevard that runs from the entrance of Meiji Shrine to Aoyama-dōri, where Omotesandō Station stands. It does not focus on one single building or corner. The avenue sits on the border of two wards, Shibuya and Minato, and it links the lively streets of Harajuku with the more polished district of Aoyama. Today it is known for luxury boutiques, striking architecture and cafes. Yet it began as something quieter and far more solemn. The name gives the game away. Omote means front, and sandō means approach, so Omotesandō is the front approach to a shrine. Over the next few stops, we will look at why it was built, how it turned into an open-air architecture gallery, and what to look for as you stroll beneath the trees.

2. 02

   A Front Approach for an Emperor

   Picture Tokyo around 1919. The city is preparing a shrine for the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. That shrine, Meiji Shrine, was completed and opened to the public in 1920. Omotesandō was created in the Taishō era, which ran from 1912 to 1926, as its formal front approach. That explains the avenue's shape and its character. A sandō is not an ordinary street. It is a ceremonial path that prepares visitors for the shrine at its end, and the long line of zelkova trees still gives the avenue that sense of procession. You can feel it when you stand beneath the branches and look along the road. History did not stop there. After the Second World War, the nearby Yoyogi area became Washington Heights, a housing complex for American military officers that lasted from 1945 until 1964. Then the preparations for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics brought further changes to the area. So the avenue has been a sacred approach, a neighbor to an occupation-era district, and a stage for modern Tokyo, all in a little over a century.

3. 03

   An Open-Air Architecture Gallery

   Now look at the buildings, because Omotesandō is regarded as one of the world's foremost architectural showcase streets. Flagship stores stand within a short walk of each other, and many were designed by famous architects, including Tadao Ando, SANAA and Toyo Ito. Start with a clever trick of perspective. The Dior building, next to Oriental Bazaar, was designed by the Tokyo firm SANAA. Building rules in this part of the city set a maximum height of 30 meters, but the design works like an optical illusion and makes the building seem much taller. Then look for a building by Toyo Ito, completed in 2004. Its facade is modeled on the silhouettes of zelkova trees, echoing the real trees along the avenue, and about 270 random openings of glass and aluminum panels are scattered across its walls. Further along, a building by Norihiko Dan, completed in 2013, rises on pillars of different shapes, as if they grew up from the ground. Inside Omotesandō Hills, the slopes and stairs are worth a look for their interesting geometry. The side streets reward you too, so wander off the main boulevard now and then.

4. 04

   Fashion, Culture and a Parade

   Omotesandō is also a street of fashion. International names such as Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen and Gucci sit alongside fast fashion retailers such as Gap, H and M, and Zara. A luxury brand management author has cited it as one of the best locations in Tokyo for a luxury goods store, which tells you how much prestige this avenue carries. But it is not only about shopping. Walking toward Aoyama, you pass cultural landmarks too. The Nezu Museum, a short walk from Omotesandō Station, is revered for its collection of Japanese and East Asian art. Its beautiful grounds and building make it one of the most rewarding stops in the Minami-Aoyama district. Another cultural landmark is a complex designed by Fumihiko Maki and built by the underwear manufacturer Wacoal in 1985, conceived as a fusion of life and art. Once a year the avenue becomes a stage. Omotesandō is the venue for Tokyo's annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade, when the shrine approach fills with festive crowds. It is a nice reminder that a street built for ceremony has stayed a place for gathering.

5. 05

   Before You Head Off

   Before you move on, take one more look along the avenue. Notice how the zelkova canopy frames the buildings, and how some facades seem to answer the trees with their own shapes. Behind all that style stands an older purpose, a path to a shrine. Getting here is simple. Omotesandō Station, Meiji-jingumae Station and Harajuku Station are all close by, and the neighborhoods of Harajuku, Aoyama and Shibuya are within easy reach. You could begin at the shrine end and walk toward Aoyama, or start from Omotesandō Station and walk the other way. Try it twice if you can, once looking up at the architecture and once looking down the length of the tree-lined avenue. Each direction reveals different details. What will you spot first?