Snøhetta to Design Upper House Tokyo in Shibuya, Due in 2029

Swire Hotels will open an Upper House in Tokyo in 2029, in the Shibuya neighbourhood. The design is by the Norwegian architects Snøhetta.

The hotel was first announced on 26 July 2022 as part of the Shibuya Upper West Project, a 117,000 square metre mixed-use development near the Shoto neighbourhood that includes Bunkamura. The developers are Tokyu Corporation, Tokyu Department Store and L Catterton Real Estate; Swire Hotels operates the hotel. The site was previously Tokyu Department Store’s flagship.

Snøhetta leads the architectural design. The project aims to obtain international sustainability certifications, and alongside the hotel it brings luxury retail, residences and art and cultural experiences. The 2022 announcement presented Tokyo as the brand’s first location outside China, and gave fiscal year 2027 for completion. The October 2025 announcement now lists 2029.

Kazuo Takahashi, President and Representative Director of Tokyu Corporation, said at the time that Upper House “creates elevated luxury experiences with distinctive character and a sense of style.” Tokyo follows Shenzhen in 2027 and Xi’an in 2028 in the group’s schedule, and comes before Bangkok in 2030.