Construction of what might be Japan’s tallest building is just underway in Tokyo. The planned 1,280-ft-tall Torch Tower would surpass the 1,067-ft Mori JP Tower. In 2020, Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd., the developer, released the cost estimate as $4.7 billion. 

General contractor Shimizu Construction Co. Ltd. anticipates completing construction of the 63-story skyscraper in March 2028, according to the developer. Mitsubishi Jisho Design Inc. is handling all design services for the 5.9-million-sq-ft tower, with Sou Fujimoto Architects and Yuko Nagayama & Associates. Mitsubishi Jisho is also the project manager.

While Torch Tower would stand as the tallest building in Japan if completed as planned, its height would tie for 41st globally among completed buildings, or closer to 70th when accounting for other tall buildings under construction, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. The world’s tallest building, the 2,717-ft-tall Burj Khalifa in Dubai, is more than double Torch Tower’s planned height.

Torch Tower is joining other development by Mitsubishi Estate at the 7.7-acre Tokyo Torch site near Tokyo Station. In 2021, contractor Toda Corp. completed construction of the neighboring 695-ft-tall Tokiwabashi Tower and an electrical substation for Mitsubishi Estate. Last year, contractor Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co. Ltd. completed a wastewater pumping station. Torch Tower is the final project planned for Tokyo Torch.