KITTE Marunouchi
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Tokyo Station · 1 min walk (JR Yamanote Line, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
- Hours
- Shops: 11:00–20:00 daily; Restaurants & cafes: 11:00–22:00 daily
- Admission
- Free
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Best time to go
- Weekday evenings between dusk and 21:00, when surrounding Marunouchi office towers remain illuminated alongside Tokyo Station's facade before the station lights turn off
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Housed in the partially preserved 1931 Tokyo Central Post Office building, KITTE Marunouchi seamlessly blends historic architecture with sleek modern retail. Spanning seven floors, it showcases curated Japanese design shops, regional specialty goods, and diverse dining options. It is highly worth visiting for its unique aesthetic, artisanal souvenirs, and the free rooftop garden that offers unparalleled, panoramic views of the historic red-brick Tokyo Station.
What Japanese guides note
Japanese visitors regularly use KITTE as a cultural viewpoint rather than merely a shopping facility, pairing the 6th-floor observation terrace with the free University of Tokyo museum on the lower levels. The 4th-floor former Postmaster's Office provides an eye-level view of the 1914 Tokyo Station facade and serves as a heated, indoor viewing alternative during inclement weather. Underground corridors connect the basement of KITTE directly to the Marunouchi exits of Tokyo Station, allowing completely covered access without stepping outside.
Details from local sources
- The 4th floor preserves the former Postmaster's Office with original 1931 window glass and flooring, where visitors can sit at writing desks overlooking Tokyo Station. [source]
- Floors 2 and 3 house Intermediatheque, a free public museum co-operated by Japan Post and the University of Tokyo displaying academic and skeletal specimens collected since 1877. [source]
- The 6th-floor rooftop observation deck strictly bans tripods, monopods, and reaching equipment beyond the glass railings. [source]
- The 1,500-square-meter rooftop garden includes a replica recreating the original chimney of the 1931 Tokyo Central Post Office. [source]
- Interior renovation architect Kengo Kuma assigned distinct Japanese materials to each level, incorporating sakura wood on the 1st floor and kawara roof tiles on the 2nd floor. [source]
- The commercial name KITTE is a linguistic play combining kitte, the Japanese word for postage stamp, with kite, meaning an invitation to come. [source]
Insider Tip
Head to the 6th-floor rooftop garden (Kitte Garden) at dusk to watch Tokyo Station light up against the skyscraper backdrop.
Frequently asked
Is there an admission fee for the rooftop garden or the museum?
Both the 6th-floor KITTE Garden rooftop terrace and the 2nd- and 3rd-floor Intermediatheque museum are completely free to enter. The historic 4th-floor former Postmaster's Office is also open to the public free of charge. No tickets or advance reservations are required for general walk-in access.
What are the photography rules on the KITTE Garden rooftop terrace?
Photography is permitted, but tripods and monopods are strictly prohibited by building management. Visitors must not lean on railings or extend cameras and selfie sticks over the glass barriers. Commercial shoots require prior permission, and security guards monitor the deck to ensure walkways stay clear.
How do you reach KITTE from Tokyo Station in bad weather?
KITTE connects directly to Tokyo Station through underground concourses on basement floor B1. Passengers arriving on JR lines or the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line can exit through the Marunouchi underground ticket gates and follow the posted signage straight into KITTE without encountering rain or cold.
When does Tokyo Station shut off its exterior illumination?
The illumination of Tokyo Station's red-brick Marunouchi facade shuts off nightly at 21:00. While the KITTE Garden rooftop remains open until 23:00 on weekdays and 22:00 on weekends and holidays, night-view visitors and photographers must arrive before 21:00 to see the station lit up.
What are the hours and closing days for Intermediatheque?
Intermediatheque operates from 11:00 to 18:00, with extended evening hours until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. It is closed on Mondays (or the following Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday), during year-end holidays, and during occasional university maintenance closures.
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