Discover Japan’s Tallest Building (and Where It Ranks Among the World’s Giants)

From traditional tea houses to soaring skyscrapers, Japan’s architecture has its own uniquely hybridized style, a harmony with nature blended with cutting-edge technology. Japan’s tallest building captures this stylistic synthesis, encapsulating not only bold architectural innovation but also a commitment to sustainability, community, and a vision at least 30 years in the making. Let’s dive in and explore Japan’s tallest building and see where it ranks among the world’s other giant skyscrapers!

The Tallest Building in Japan: Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower

Located in Tokyo’s Minato City, the Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower is the tallest building in Japan, standing 1,068 feet (325.5 meters) tall. The tower was completed in 2023 and boasts 64 floors above ground as well as five below. The Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower is accompanied by two other skyscrapers measuring 778 feet (237.2 meters) and 862 feet (262.8 meters). However, the Azabudai Hill Mori JP Tower is the only one that qualifies as a “supertall” building — a skyscraper 984 to 1,965 feet (300 to 599 meters) tall. 

Azabudai Hills

Although it sits at the heart of a busy city, Azadubai Hills celebrates harmony between nature and humanity. The Mori Building Company calls it a “modern urban village” and “a city within a city” that will “bring people closer together and build a new community”. 

Azabudai Hills is an urban revitalization project that provides a connective space for numerous activities and living. The complex not only includes residence living spaces, but also offices, hotels, a spa, an art gallery, a museum, fitness clubs, retail shops, a university medical center, restaurants, and an international school.

Covering 20 acres of land, Azabudai Hills is surrounded by greenery, multiple waterscapes, park-like areas, and fruit and vegetable gardens. The talented architect Thomas Heatherwick designed Azabudai Hills with gigantic structures that look like garden trellises or pergolas, which add to the harmony of its outdoor spaces. These structures tie the various spaces together and reflect the area’s natural valley shape with their gently curving buildings. In addition, they also allow sunlight to shine down into underground shopping areas. 

How Does the Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower Compare to the Tallest Buildings in the World?

The Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower is the tallest building in Japan, standing 1,068 feet tall. While it is certainly an impressive skyscraper, it is not nearly as tall as a “megatall” skyscraper. Megatall buildings are at least 1,968 feet (600 meters) tall. The tallest megatall skyscraper — the tallest building in the world — is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. This extraordinary building was completed in 2010 and is 2,717 feet (828 meters) tall. The Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower, in contrast, is less than half that height!

The tallest building in the United States — the One World Trade Center in New York — is only half that height. However, with a height of 1,776 feet (541 meters), it is taller than Azabudai Hills. The Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower in Japan is closer to the height of New York City’s iconic Empire State Building, which stands at 1,250 feet (381 meters).

The Tallest Building in Japan in 2027

Currently, the Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower is the tallest building in Japan, but it will soon lose this title once the Torch Tower opens. When it is completed in 2027, the Torch Tower will stand 1,280 feet (390 meters) tall, surpassing the Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower by 212 feet. This new supertall skyscraper will also be located in Tokyo, near the Tokyo Station. It will contain a mix of areas, from offices to large event halls, a luxury hotel, and an observation deck. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © matejhudak/Shutterstock.com