[JAPAN] Kitte and Tokyo Station

11:33 Travel Bunny 0 Comments

Tokyo Station is the main intercity rail terminal in Tokyo. To get the best view of Tokyo Station, head over to the rooftop of Kitte building. Kitte is the name of a redeveloped part of the old Tokyo Central Post Office building opposite of Tokyo station.



Kitte occupies one underground floor and the first six floors of the 38-floor JP ("Japan Post") Tower that replaced the old post office building in 2013.


Tokyo Station is located just opposite of Kitte.



Kitte—its name a play on the Japanese words kitte (postage stamp) and kite (come on over). Kitte is also home to Tokyo Central Post Office on the ground floor. Entrance to the Tokyo Central Post Office is on the right.



Welcome to Tokyo Central Post Office!



Besides offering the full range of regular postal services, this post office offers a wide range of novelty postal-related goods aimed at the tourist like souvenir themed postcards and unique stamp collection.



Lovely envelopes sold in the post office.



Cute postcards…



These are souvenirs unique postcards, the design is unique for each city or prefecture.



Postcards with Tokyo’s landmarks as design.



Unique stamp selections. You can fill out the order form and purchase the stamps at the counter #7.





Kitte has over 100 shopping and dining establishments. Kitte's interior feature a huge, triangular atrium.



The Kitte Garden is on the 6F.



The garden is small but has areas of greenery, offering visitors a place to rest and relax.



Many photographers are taking picture here of the Tokyo Station.









The garden offers an excellent view over the beautifully renovated Tokyo Station, and of trains arriving and departing there.





It is nice to just stroll around and take in the cityscape.



Looking down to the triangular atrium of Kitte.



The Former Postmaster Office is on the 4th floor of Kitte.



Visitors can catch a glimpse of what it looks like during the Showa period (1926 – 1989).



The postmaster office is facing the Tokyo Station.



There are benches provided to allow visitors to admire the view.



Most of Kitte is made up of stores offering a sophisticated selection of goods and a distinctively Japanese take on things. At Nugoo, they sell beautiful tenugui, or hand towels, which are dyed and lovingly handcrafted one by one by expert craftsmen.



Hacao is a shop specializing in goods made of wood.



Moorit is a yarn shop for knitting.



A Japanese style clothing store.



Marunouchi Reading Style is a retail shop selling stationery goods, novelty items and gifts, and a big selection of books. It is also combined with a cafe inside.





Good Design Store Tokyo is another shop with unique designer items.



Goodbye, Kitte.



Tokyo Station is divided into Marunouchi and Yaesu sides. The main station façade on the western/Marunouchi side of the station is brick-built, surviving from the time when the station opened in 1914.









I really like the red brick facade of Tokyo Station.









The interior of Tokyo Station is just as beautiful as its facade.



It has a beautiful dome ceiling.



Tokyo Station Gallery was established in 1988. It has exhibitions spanning the entire art world, including paintings, sculptures, graphic art, and architectural design. The entrance fees is 1,100 yen per adult.



This is the passage connecting to Yaesu side of the station.



Plenty of lockers available in the station.



I had dinner at a conveyor belt sushi shop in Tokyo Station.



Remember to visit First Avenue, basement of Yaesu entrance of Tokyo Station, which will be introduced in my next posting. Stay tuned!

Kitte
Kitte Marunouchi shop hours: 11am-9pm, Mon.-Sat.; 11am-8pm, Sun. & public holidays (but open till 9pm on the day before a public holiday)
Kitte Marunouchi restaurant hours: 11am-11pm, Mon.-Sat.; 11am-10pm, Sun. & public holidays (but open till 11pm on the day before a public holiday)
Kitte Marunouchi Granche hours: 10am-9pm, Mon.-Sat.; 10am-8pm, Sun. & public holidays (but open till 9pm on the day before a public holiday)