The incredible £2.5bn tower set to be the tallest in world's 'friendliest country'

The construction of a new supertall skyscraper in Japan, which in the past has been named one of the world's "friendliest countries" by Conde Nast, is under way. The skyscraper is set to become the country's tallest building.

The Torch Tower under construction in Tokyo is expected to stand 385 metres tall, surpassing Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower, which is 325.2 metres and currently Japan's tallest skyscraper. The incredible building is situated in the Tokyo Torch district, a redevelopment of the Tokiwabashi district near Tokyo Station.

Construction of the work commenced in September 2025 and is scheduled for completion in March 2028. The project is being developed by Mitsubishi Estate, one of Japan's largest real estate developers.

Designed by architects Mitsubishi Jisho Sekki, Sou Fujimoto Architects, and Yuko Nagayama Associates, the skyscraper will feature a total of 67 floors, with 62 above ground and four below.

Floors 7 to 52 are planned for offices, while the higher floors are reserved for a luxury hotel and an observation deck, where visitors can view iconic landscapes such as Tokyo Bay and Mount Fuji, Japan's tallest mountain.

The building will also be available for use in events, as it features a large hall that can accommodate up to 2,000 people.

The name of the building was chosen in the hope that the skyscraper would "illuminate Japan" and, therefore, the exterior of the building would follow a torch-inspired design.

While the tower's expected height is still far off from Burj Khalifa, Torch Tower's total area is set to exceed the space in the world's tallest building by nearly twice the amount.

The entire construction of the building is expected to cost approximately ¥500 billion, equivalent to around £2.5 billion.

The build is part of the wider Tokyo Torch project, which, according to the official website, is a "large-scale mixed-use redevelopment project spanning a site of 3.1 hectares". The project aims to redevelop buildings over a 10-year period.

The Tokyo Torch district also features another skyscraper, the Tokiwabashi Tower, which was completed in June 2021.