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Tokyo Station was opened in 1914 with the completion of a section of line linking the Tokaido Main Line's original terminus at Shinbashi to the Tōhoku Main Line's terminus at Ueno. The station building was designed by architect Tatsuno Kingo as a restrained celebration of Japan's costly victory in the Russo-Japanese War. (Tatsuno also designed the nearby Bank of Japan building, which is very different in appearance.) The similarly designed red brick Naka Buildings, which extended from Tokyo Station to Hibiya Dori, were opened at the same time as the opening of Tokyo Station. The Naka Buildings were destroyed during the 1960's to make way for the new Marunouchi. The Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station, facing the Imperial Palace, dates back to the original 1914 opening; the Yaesu side, facing Nihonbashi, is more recent and primarily accommodates the Shinkansen. In 1921, Prime Minister Hara Takashi was assassinated in Tokyo Station. Much of the station was destroyed during the firebombings of 1945, including an impressive dome that had also been patterned after Amsterdam's central station. The station was significantly expanded in the 1960's to handle the new Shinkansen services and has been partially rebuilt several times since, most recently to accommodate the Shinkansen extension from Ueno.

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Japan 日本

Tokyo 東京