Tokyo’s historic Hyakudan Kaidan building reopens after one year

Tokyo’s historic Hyakudan Kaidan building reopened to the public last week after a yearlong closure, in a special viewing event aimed at allowing visitors to better enjoy the charms of the architecture and its ornaments from the 1930s.

In the event, running until March 30, 2027, fewer exhibits are on display in the Tokyo metropolitan government-designated tangible cultural property than in past events, which had exhibits and showcases that partially blocked views of ceiling paintings, pillars and architectural details.

“We aim to have visitors experience the architecture firsthand and directly feel its charm,” the public relations office for Hyakudan Kaidan said.

Across the seven traditional Japanese-style rooms connected by a 99-step wooden staircase, visitors can find about 100 motifs associated with good fortune in paintings and architectural decorations on ceilings, walls and alcove pillars.

The Gyosho room of Hyakudan Kaidan, featuring elaborate carvings throughout its pillars, walls and ceiling | JIJI

Among them are numerous Japanese sensu folding fan motifs representing the Japanese concept of suehirogari, which literally means widening toward the end, like an open folding fan, and symbolizes growing prosperity, good fortune and future success.

What is believed to be Japan’s oldest surviving rotating table is on display in the Jippo room, the first room of the building.

The table, restored from a pre-World War II piece, is decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay, a traditional decorative technique in which the shimmering, silvery-white parts of shells are cut out and inlaid into the surface of lacquerware and other objects.

The architectural features and the rotating table offer insight into the history of Hyakudan Kaidan, which once served as a ryotei traditional Japanese restaurant at the former Meguro Gajoen, a famous venue of lavish banquets and wedding receptions, following its completion in 1935.

The famous 99-step staircase of Hyakudan Kaidan leading to seven traditional Japanese-style rooms with fan-shaped motifs on the ceilings | JIJI

Although most of the buildings in the original 1935 complex were demolished in 1988 due to redevelopment projects, Hyakudan Kaidan has been preserved largely in its original state to this day.

“As the cityscape continues to transform, the survival of Hyakudan Kaidan, nearly unchanged since the early Showa Era (1926 to 1989), holds profound significance, allowing the area’s history and memories to remain present within the modern landscape,” the office said.