I felt a bit of a pause! We visited “Shibuya AXE” just after its opening, and “users’ frank evaluation” was disclosed.

On July 8, the “once-in-a-century redevelopment” project took another step forward with the opening of Shibuya AXE at the east exit of Shibuya Station. Before Akush, Shibuya Fukuras (December 2007) opened at the south exit of Shibuya Station as part of the urban development that began with Shibuya Hikarie in 2000.

The first four floors of Akush contain commercial facilities, while the fifth to 23rd floors are office areas that have already reached 100% occupancy. When a reporter visited the site on the first day of the opening, about 150 people of all ages, men and women, were waiting in line before the gates opened at around 10:30. A female customer in her 20s said, “It doesn’t look like it’s going to be a success.

I came here because I was curious to see what kind of stores there would be, but there were only 12 stores in total, and I was disappointed. I was disappointed. The paella at Cerveza, a Spanish restaurant that is making its first appearance in Japan, was certainly delicious, but lunch started at 1,500 yen, which was a bit expensive. It is just an office building rather than a large complex, and to be honest, I got a little lost. They didn’t need to open such a big deal.”

The only restaurants that are busy are upscale restaurants, such as “TRATTORIA PIZZERIA 207,” an Italian restaurant that charges over 4,000 yen for lunch, which may be a hurdle for families and young people. On the other hand, it is popular among businessmen working in Shibuya.

My company is going to be here, so I came here for a preliminary inspection. If I go through Hikarie, I can go to work without getting wet in the rain. If you go through Akush, you can go from Shibuya to Aoyama without going up the hill, which makes things a lot easier. It would be even better if there was a bar where I could casually drop in after work.”

Real estate journalist Junji Sakaki analyzes Akush, which has a mixed reputation.

The location, a 10-minute walk from the scramble crossing, makes its success a bit questionable. It is a toss-up whether the people who come to Shibuya to have fun will be attracted enough to go all the way to Akush, so the hurdle will be quite high. The restaurant is not that much of a draw either. The redevelopment of Shibuya itself will be a success, but it remains to be seen if Akush will do well.”

Will Akush become a landmark that will further energize the Shibuya area?

From the July 26/August 2, 2024 issue of FRIDAY