If you get a chance to walk around the area in the middle of Tokyo’s Nakano ward, there’s a distinct triangular building that stands out from the buildings around it. It’s a former hotel and concert venue that’s been an iconic part of the area’s landscape going all the way back to the 70s.
The distinctive structure has stood tall for nearly five decades, making it a permanent fixture of the city’s cultural landscape. The Nakano Sun Plaza, the pyramidal tower has been a beacon for music enthusiasts, artists, and travelers alike. However it’s time for change has come, as the sun sets on this iconic landmark, let me tell you a bit about its storied past and the future that awaits.
The rise of Nakano Sunplaza
Built and unveiled in June 1973, the Sunplaza stands out as a symbol of modern architecture and artistic flair. Its designer, Shoji Hayashi from Nikken Sekkei Ltd., came up with a 21-story tower that breaks the mold of your usual cookie-cutter rectangles. Its distinctive shape, like a twisted pyramid, makes it a real eye-catcher and Nakano’s most recognizable (and most photographed) building.
The concert hall was a 2,200 seat space being large but not giant made it perfect for up-and-coming bands yet acceptable for established bands. Added to it was an 83-room hotel on floors 16 through 19 which made it an excellent venue to book your accommodations at. No filing out with the crowds when your hotel was just upstairs.
An iconic rock venue
Nakano Sun Plaza wasn’t just a cool looking building, it was a stage where music legends left their mark. The 2,200 seat concert hall hosted a shocking roster of bit name artists from the 1970s all the way to the 1990s.
No, really. Duran Duran, Van Halen, The Clash, Guns N’ Roses, Journey, Iron Maiden, The Cure, Iggy Pop, Bob Marley & The Wailers, and Kraftwerk have all performed on its stage. The grunge movement was also big here with bands like Alice in Chains and Nirvana delivering unforgettable performances.
The hotel suites on the tower’s upper floors spanning the 16th to 19th floors witnessed rock stars, jazz virtuosos, and pop idols. These rooms, mostly Western-style, harbored secrets of late-night jam sessions, post-concert celebrations, and quiet moments of reflection.
You could stay at a suite wondering what musical compositions were thought up here. Or more likely, what debauchery occurred here.
Cultural significance
The Sunplaza’s size and mixed-use building managed to help it transcend being a mere concert venue. It became a symbol of Tokyo’s vibrant music scene, a place where genres collided, and creativity flourished. For Japanese bands, it was a sign that you had made it (much like how the budokan is today). For Japanese fans, attending a concert at Nakano Sun Plaza was akin to a rite of passage into the world of live music, a sign that you were a serious fan.
Changing landscape
Nakano sunplaza pic.twitter.com/NyBxoR2PGK
— あっとぼうくん (@HYPER_bokun) September 11, 2023
As the years passed, Nakano Sun Plaza faced many challenges, mostly related to Japan’s economic stagnation in the post-bubble years. International acts gradually gave way to J-pop and anime-related music events. But its reputation remained intact. The hotel rooms underwent renovations, blending traditional styles with modern comforts. Visitors got to bathe in the nostalgia of a bygone era while enjoying comforts of a modern hotel.
That being said, nostalgia and otakus weren’t enough.
The final curtain
Although the building is a cultural landmark, its age meant it was time to rebuild it to modern code and design standards. The area around Nakano Station was also set for redevelopment as part of a larger development project to attract more business in the area by the Nakano ward government. Thus, the Sun Plaza’s fate was sealed. The Sunplaza’s send-off was held as a multi-month long music festival from May 1st to July 2nd (every other date claimed is wrong or missing context).
Though its time as a venue has come to an end, the actual Sunplaza building remains up and pending demolition. There are still illumination shows projected onto it during events and festivals. There’s still time for you to see it one last time if you’ve got a trip lined up before the end of 2024.
The rebirth: A mixed-use skyscraper
The building’s demolition is set to begin in 2024 but all is not lost, the building is set to be redeveloped rather than to be replaced entirely as part of a redevelopment project of Nakano ward as a whole.
Rising from the ashes will be a 770 foot tall mixed-use skyscraper scheduled for completion around 2028, this tower will stand as the eighth tallest in Tokyo. Its silhouette will blend tradition and modern innovation, paying homage to Nakano Sun Plaza’s legacy. That’s nerd speak for “we’ll build something new but it’ll look somewhat reminiscent of the old building”.
The $1.13B (181M JPY) development will house an auditorium with 5,000 seats ready to echo with music once more, only this time hoping to be more appealing to larger international bands. Office spaces, residential units, and communal areas will be added in order to breathe life into the tower during the day. Along with that, the hotel’s rooms will be remodeled so the appeal of an on-site concert + hotel venue remains.
And as the sun sets on the old Nakano Sun Plaza, we celebrate its impact, a cultural icon that shaped Tokyo’s soul and a piece of musical history.
Look to the future
It’s always sad to see something woven so deep into a place’s history disappear.
Nakano Sun Plaza’s demolition marks the end of an era, but its spirit lives on. Though the old building disappears, the melodies, the cheers, and the magic that unfolded within those walls were what made it so legendary. Never forget what made Nakano Sun Plaza, it wasn’t the concrete and steel, rather it was the symphonies and memories.
Though it’s a shame that the Sunplaza won’t be this multi-century old institution, future events will happen and new memories will be born. In time, the new building might end up more famous than the old.
Here’s to the past and the future. May it be brighter than we could have hoped.
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