Omotesando Hills is a shopping and dining complex on Omotesando Avenue in Tokyo’s Jingumae district. Designed by Tadao Ando and Yoshiharu Kanebako, it opened in 2006, with fashion and lifestyle shops arranged around a gently rising ramp. The concrete interior and skylit atrium make the building worth exploring even if you are not shopping. Browse international labels and Japanese designers, then head to the restaurants and cafés. For a wider look at local fashion, continue into the smaller streets off the main avenue.
A low profile on Omotesando
Omotesando Hills opened in 2006 on a long, wedge-shaped site along Omotesando Avenue. The complex was designed by Tadao Ando and Yoshiharu Kanebako. Its low profile was intended to sit alongside the avenue’s zelkova trees rather than rise above them, and the design makes extensive use of underground space. Greenery on the roof also helps the building relate to its tree-lined setting.
The site was previously occupied by the Dosokai Aoyama Apartments, a landmark residential complex in the area. Today, shops and places to eat fill the commercial building, with fashion, art and culture among its retail themes. The selection includes international luxury brands and Japanese designers, along with shops selling cosmetics and household goods.
Follow the ramp through the atrium
Inside, a skylit atrium cuts through the shopping floors, with shops lining a gently sloping spiral route. The ramp echoes the grade of Omotesando Avenue and links the retail spaces across several levels. Raw concrete walls and geometric forms give the interior its distinct architectural character. Escalators provide another way to move between floors.
The complex has six levels above and below ground. Its scale and unusual layout make it worth stepping inside even if your plans do not include a purchase. Look up through the atrium as you walk, and notice how the shops sit along the slope rather than in the conventional arrangement of a flat mall.
Shops, dining and a family stop
The retail mix ranges from international fashion houses to Japanese labels and select shops. You can also find jewelry, cosmetics and household goods. The line-up is geared toward polished fashion and design, so shoppers looking for a broad range of everyday budget stores may find more choice in the surrounding streets.
Restaurants and cafés give you a place to pause during a shopping walk through Omotesando. There is also a children’s store with a small playground on the basement level. Weekends can draw more shoppers, so a weekday visit suits anyone who would rather browse at a calmer pace. Afterward, carry on through the side streets, where smaller shops offer another way to explore the neighborhood’s fashion scene.
FAQ
Where is Omotesando Hills?
It is at 4 Chome-12-10 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo, along Omotesando Avenue.
Who designed Omotesando Hills?
The complex was designed by architects Tadao Ando and Yoshiharu Kanebako.
What can you find inside Omotesando Hills?
It has fashion and lifestyle shops, including international luxury brands and Japanese designers, along with restaurants and cafés.
Is there anything for children at Omotesando Hills?
A children’s store with a small playground is located on the basement level.
