Omotesando Project – New Development Featuring Tommy Hilfiger To Replace Old Gap Harajuku

When Harajuku’s landmark Gap store closed earlier this year, many people were left wondering what would appear in its place. The location – the corner of Meiji Dori and Omotesando Dori – is one of the most prime pieces of real estate in Harajuku, if not in all of Tokyo. Rumors swirled in the neighborhood about a possible new Shibuya 109 mall (presumably called “Harajuku 109”?) that would go head to head with the famous Laforet Harajuku located just across the street. This week, the owner of the property (Tokyu), put all rumors to rest by announcing the groundbreaking of the new “Omotesando Project” – a new development to be anchored by a massive Tommy Hilfiger flagship store. Omotesando Project is set to open in the Spring of 2012.

Omotesando Project

Tokyu explains the concept of the new Omotesando Project like this (we’ve translated their text from Japanese into English):

The new building is located at the junction of Omotesando, home of many famous luxury brands, and Meiji Dori, popular with retailers of casual fashion. This area is in the center of Harajuku and Omotesando. These commercial districts are known not only in Japan, but across the globe, as the birthplace of many fashion and cultural trends. This unique development makes maximum use of the prime location to create a “next generation commercial and leisure facility that will coexist in harmony with nature”. In giving the project a global reach, Tokyu Land Corporation is aiming to further our company’s understanding of urban development.

In line with the next generation concept, we have appointed the talented young architect Hiroshi Nakamura (NAP Architects Co., Ltd. Representative Director) as designer. The project has been designed to be environmentally friendly and to fit in with the style of the existing buildings. The main feature will be the rooftop open terrace. The whole building has been designed to reflect the surrounding environment, including the forest of the Meiji Shrine and the elm tree-lined pavements of Omotesando. The terrace will be open to the public, and help to enrich the community by providing a green space in the heart of the city. The “Omotesando Project” will be a new landmark in the Harajuku, Omotesando area.

The key tenants will be three fashion brands, including world-class label Tommy Hilfiger, who have chosen the building for their flagship stores.

The Omotesando Project building will be seven floors tall plus two basement floors, with a total floor space of almost 12,000 square meters (127,000 square feet). The tree-covered rooftop terrace looks pretty amazing in the artist’s concept illustrations.

Omotesando Project Harajuku

One of the main tenants in the new Omotesando Project development will be Tommy Hilfiger’s largest store in Asia. The brand announced that the massive new flagship store will anchor their other 108 Tommy Hilfiger stores throughout Japan.

“This store will serve as the primary flagship location for our brand in Japan and will further support our significant retail business in Asia,” said Fred Gehring, CEO of the Tommy Hilfiger Group. “The Harajuku store reflects our firm belief in the potential for future growth in Japan and is the first in a series of steps to increase our presence in the market.”

“I am excited to open a flagship store in Japan on Omotesando, one of the most renowned shopping locations in the world,” said Tommy Hilfiger, Principal Designer and Visionary for the Tommy Hilfiger Brand. “As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, I’m looking forward to the next 25 years of continuing to strengthen our presence in important cities around the world such as Tokyo. The Harajuku store will capture the global Classic American Cool essence of the brand while also embracing Japanese heritage.”

The new flagship will be 10,946 square feet (1,000+ square meters), spanning three floors housing the latest men’s and women’s sportswear, runway and Hilfiger Denim collections. The Harajuku store will include several surprising design elements and will pay tribute to the brand’s roots, as well as to local heritage, by incorporating an eclectic mix of vintage furniture and accessories from America and Japan.

This is another major change in the Harajuku landscape. TokyoFashion.com will follow the progress of the Omotesando Project and let you know as more tenants are announced – as well as keeping you up to date on other related developments. Stay tuned!

Omotesando Project Details:

  • What: Omotesando Project featuring Tommy Hilfiger
  • When: Expected Opening March 2012
  • Location: The old Gap Harajuku site on the corner of Meiji Dori and Omotesando Dori
  • Address: 4-30-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan

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  1. wow thats sound so cool, what great place to hang out!

  2. Looks really amazing. Love the idea of integrating foliage on the roof terrace x