The oldest Western-style wooden station building in Japan, completed in 1924, has transformed into a gleaming glass box station on March 21st, 2020. Situated just south of the original station, the new station is 4 times bigger than before with two-story structure straddling the tracks with new exits to Meiji Shrine in addition to the current exit facing the Omotesando and Takeshita street.
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Wooden to Gleaming Glass Box
More than 100 years ago in 1906, Harajuku station began its operation in the old Western-style wooden building. However, due to its narrow shape and decades-long failure to comply with the fire code, despite calls of the local residents to preserve the building, the oldest wooden station in Japan are to be dismantled after the olympics. Yet, the pedestrian access from the exit facing Takeshita Street from the old station still remains unchanged even following the opening of the new station.
![Goodbye to the oldest wooden station building in Japan]()
Goodbye to the oldest wooden station building in Japan
To accommodate the modern era and to deal with growing number of station users, the new Harajuku Station have 3 exits, West exit for Meiji Jingu Shrine, East exit for Omotesando and Takeshita exit with more spacious concourse and ticket gates. Plus extra elevators, and newly placed multipurpose toilets and nursing rooms. Because of its iconic glass box structured, there are plenty of sunlight in the concourse compared to previous, with more modern and clean feel.
![New Harajuku Station building]()
New Harajuku Station building
![The previous Harajuku station building seen on the right and on the left, the current building]()
The previous Harajuku station building seen on the right and on the left, the current building
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![Newly made 3rd exit, "West Exit" directly connected to Meiji Shrine(bottom right) and easy access to Yoyogi park (bottom left)]()
Newly made 3rd exit, "West Exit" directly connected to Meiji Shrine(bottom right) and easy access to Yoyogi park (bottom left)
![The previous narrow dark concourse (left) compared to the current one with plenty of sunlight]()
The previous narrow dark concourse (left) compared to the current one with plenty of sunlight
The train coming in from Shibuya (Yamanote Line outer loop) arrives on the newly built tracks with tiled floors in the design that looks like a turtle shell.
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After exiting the station, on the 1st floor there is a New Days convenience store and on the 2nd floor, a speciality coffee shop, Sarutahiko Coffee cafe which also began its business following the opening of the new station building.
![Sarutahiko Coffee]()
Sarutahiko Coffee
![Not just drinks and sweets but merchandise goods are also available at Sarutahiko Coffee]()
Not just drinks and sweets but merchandise goods are also available at Sarutahiko Coffee
- Sarutahiko Coffee TheBridge Harajuku Sta.
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