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Tokyo Big Sight – B&W Photography of Iconic Architecture
Tokyo Big Sight is one of my favorite buildings. I’ve been to it for many events. But this was my first time photographing it. This shoot of this iconic place was long overdue.
Inside are the East, West, and South Exhibition Halls. They contain restaurants and business facilities. With a floor area of 230,873 m², it is Japan’s largest convention and exhibition center. Only Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture is close.
Tokyo Big Sight is mostly low set, as some exhibit halls are only three floors high. But, it has one standout feature. The glass and titanium-paneled conference tower! It has four inverted pyramids upon massive supports. The whole thing looks futuristic. It is an iconic piece of architecture.
A total of eight contracting companies worked on the site. Construction began in October 1992 and finished in October 1995. The contract was worth ¥40,392 million.
Tokyo Big Sight is great, but casual visitors are restricted to the entrance and outside. The exhibit halls are typically closed when there are no events. That is okay, as there is still a lot to photograph if you like buildings and architecture.
It is a great place to walk around. But the conference tower is worth more of your time. That part of the building is unique in Tokyo. It looks like something out of an Atlantis movie. For this visit, though, I was a little disappointed as it was a very cloudy day. So, I shot it in black and white.
Tokyo Big Sight is a great place to go, even though it is quite a long trip from my house. Walking around the halls during events is always an experience. It is so big. I’d love to see what goes on behind the scenes. How much is there that visitors can’t see? Sorry, but I can’t answer that question yet.
I hope Tokyo will get more similar structures. We are behind the times with our numerous standard glass and steel boxes. Many world-class cities overseas lead us. It’s a game of catchup. Let’s get moving!
And more convention centers are going to be needed in the years to come. At this point, nothing here ranks in the world’s top 10. I would be surprised if many people overseas know of Tokyo Big Sight. It is something I very rarely hear discussed. If the government wants Tokyo to be a real-world player, it will need another such center even bigger in years to come. They can be excellent sources of income.
There are many events held at Tokyo Big Sight. They include bridal expos, IT events, jewelry, and food fairs. Some of the biggest are Comiket, Japan Home and Building Show, and Caferes Japan. The complete list is extensive. I’ve been to some. They include:
Tokyo Big Sight details
See the building’s admission fees, opening hours, and location on the official website.
Wrapping up
Tokyo Big Sight is a great place for architectural photography. I’d also like to shoot it on a sunny day in the future. When it lights up at night, that might be very interesting too. Anyway, more projects to add to my bucket list!
If you have any questions or comments about this article, please leave them below. And I’d like to hear from people with experience in the convention/conference industry. That would be very interesting.
External articles about world convention centers
Please leave questions and comments below. And I’d like to hear from people with experience in the convention/conference industry. That would be very interesting.