Has Ryugu Castle Appeared in Shimbashi!? We Go Behind the Scenes at “Gran Hammer,” a Surprising Food, Entertainment, and Leisure Complex!
In the fall of 2024, a massive food, entertainment, and leisure complex opened in front of Shimbashi SL Square. The newly opened Gran Hammer is a “unique experiential facility” spanning a total of nine floors—from the basement level to the eighth floor and rooftop—where visitors can enjoy a variety of culinary and entertainment options. The project was developed by Hamakura-teki Shoten Seisakusho, the company behind Ebisu Yokocho and Shibuya Yokocho, which specializes in producing and operating new community “spaces.” In this report, we take a look at Gran Hammer, which may well become a new tourist attraction in Shimbashi.
The skyscraper towering over the station and the massive underground aquarium
Gran Hammer is a 1-minute walk from JR Shimbashi Station. It’s just a stone’s throw from Shimbashi SL Square, a location often featured in TV street interviews. The building’s exterior sparkles and shimmers, creating a magical atmosphere. The illuminated building adds color to Shimbashi’s nightlife. With a total area of approximately 2,500 tsubo, it’s a vast complex. Each floor features a different theme and concept, allowing visitors to experience “eating, watching, playing, and relaxing” all at once within a single building.
Let’s start with the first basement level. At the restaurant “Amajō,” which features a massive, approximately 20-metric-ton aquarium in the center, you can enjoy a meal while experiencing the “Ama Diver Culture,” a designated Japan Heritage site.
To introduce Ama culture to a wider audience, “Ama Free-Diving Demonstrations” are held six times a day in a giant tank. Visitors can see “Ama fishing”—a rare fishing method registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage—up close. Mr. Hamakura, the manager, said said, “You can watch demonstrations by real ama divers active in Minami-Izu Town, Shizuoka Prefecture. We hope that your experience at Ama Castle will serve as an opportunity to appreciate ama culture and the charm of the region, and ultimately, we’d be delighted if you were to visit the area in person.”
The free-diving demonstration lasts about 15 minutes. As you’d expect from such a one-of-a-kind performance, it’s always a huge hit. “Guest satisfaction is extremely high, and after the demonstration, you can interact with the ama divers once they’ve emerged from the tank. “Since these are actual ama divers working right here on site, I hope you’ll ask them all sorts of questions—such as what inspired them to become ama divers or what their daily lives are like. Being able to interact with ama divers, whom you wouldn’t normally have the chance to meet, is one of the great attractions of Ama Castle,” says Mr. Hamakura.
The menu at “Ama-jo” features mainly dishes such as individual shabu-shabu, individual hot pots, sukiyaki, grilled seafood, and yakiniku. You can enjoy fresh seafood—such as spiny lobsters and abalone—delivered directly from the source, along with carefully selected Kuroge Wagyu beef, prepared exactly the way you like it. There is also an extensive à la carte menu featuring items such as sashimi and tempura.
Enjoy gourmet cuisine from across Japan and Asia
When you go up from the basement to the first floor, you’re suddenly immersed in a traditional Japanese atmosphere. “Shimbashi Yokocho Busho ~BUSHO~,” located on the first floor and directly connected to the entrance of Grand Hammer, is a floor featuring a collection of five regionally themed bars: the Hokkaido Food District, Tohoku-Kanto Food District, Chubu-Kinki Food District, Chugoku-Shikoku Food District, and Kyushu-Okinawa Food District. Here, you can casually enjoy local specialties and “B-class” gourmet dishes from all over Japan.
The armor of a wide variety of samurai is a “photo-worthy spot” that makes you want to take pictures. The ceiling is decorated with various items that evoke a traditional Japanese atmosphere—such as Japanese drums, Nebuta floats, paper lanterns, sake barrels, Daruma dolls, and shogi pieces—creating a space where you can experience the festivals and culture of regions across Japan.
The Edomae sushi platter is one of the signature dishes at Tohoku-Kanto Shokujin. We also recommend the Fukushima-style sauce katsu don and Sendai-style beef tongue.
One of the most popular dishes in the Kyushu-Okinawa culinary scene is Nagahama Ramen, which is also one of Fukuoka’s “Three Great Ramen” varieties. Its light tonkotsu broth and extra-thin noodles make it the perfect way to wrap up a night of drinking.
"Shimbashi Yokocho Asia ~ASIA~" on the second floor brings together Asian restaurants serving dishes such as 100% buckwheat soba and yakitori from China, South Korea, Thailand, and Japan. The approximately 800 colorful signs evoke the atmosphere of a bustling Asian downtown district. Like the first floor, this level is a collection of country-themed bars. Why not enjoy the flavors of various countries while sharing dishes with a large group?
A Relaxing Evening for Adults at a Lounge or Club
At the “Za Grand Tokyo” show restaurant on the 3rd floor, you can enjoy a meal and drinks while watching authentic entertainment shows featuring artists, performers, and illusionists. On the stage, equipped with a large LED screen, a wide variety of shows are presented—ranging from performances by internationally renowned artists and performers to Showa-era pop songs, traditional Japanese performing arts, and even martial arts. The stage is close to the audience, creating a truly immersive experience.
The "Grand Café Lounge" on the 4th floor features an open-ceiling design, allowing guests to relax comfortably while taking in the entertainment shows taking place on the 3rd floor. It’s a sophisticated space reminiscent of a hotel lounge, perfect for unwinding.
"HAMACLUB," located on the 5th floor, is an island bar featuring a DJ booth. You can lose yourself in the DJ sets and music while enjoying "Tex-Mex"—Texas-style Mexican cuisine—and a drink.
Believe it or not, there are 15 claw machines set up inside the club. Come have some fun with your friends!
Experience the culture of the hanamachi, including dance and traditional parlor games
On the 6th-floor Premium Floor, you’ll find “HAMACOM,” where you can enjoy cuisine and karaoke in luxurious private rooms, and “Mikan,” a snack bar staffed by “voice professionals”—including active broadcasters—who serve as MCs and other roles. and “Benitsuya,” a Japanese restaurant where you can savor authentic kaiseki-style meals and experience the culture of the traditional entertainment districts of yesteryear.
Performances of “Kouen” dances and traditional entertainment are held three times daily at 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. Visitors can experience dances and traditional entertainment performed by authentic geisha registered in the hanamachi district, and it’s said to be hugely popular not only with Japanese people but also with tourists visiting Japan. Ms. Sakamoto, the proprietress who runs “Kouen,” says, “When it comes to traditional entertainment, many places typically turn away first-time customers, but at Kouen, anyone can feel free to enjoy themselves. “Also, while Kyoto is often strongly associated with geisha, Tokyo actually has six hanamachi where this culture is very much alive. We hope to help promote this hanamachi culture right here in Shimbashi,” she adds.
Located on the 7th floor, “O2 Plage” is a new-concept relaxation floor consisting of three areas: private saunas with completely enclosed rooms, massage chairs featuring high-concentration oxygen and zero-gravity functions, and private rest rooms equipped with showers. After you’ve eaten your fill and had some fun, come take a break on this floor.
In our private saunas, you can work up a good sweat with self-service löyly using high-quality sauna stones from Finland. Each sauna also features a deep cold plunge pool—an essential part of the sauna experience. A truly sublime sense of well-being awaits you.
Our private rest rooms with showers are perfect for taking a break during spare moments or for a quick nap between work tasks.
On the top floor, the 8th floor, you’ll find “Chaka to SAKE ‘TATAMI’,” a bar serving rare sake and desserts made with Kyoto Uji matcha, as well as “Rainbow Star,” where you can enjoy rooftop barbecues. The open-air rooftop features a large LED screen, making it possible to host events that incorporate video and audio.
With the Shiodome skyscrapers in the background, let’s enjoy a hearty meal of meat on a rooftop terrace where you can forget all about the hustle and bustle of the city.
While “Rainbow Star” offers a set menu, you can also order individual dishes you like, such as the extremely spicy “Urute” and “Harami.”
Gran Hammer, which is attracting attention as a new landmark in the rapidly redeveloping Shimbashi area, was a new-concept food, entertainment, and leisure complex that combined luxury and entertainment in a way reminiscent of the Palace of the Dragon King. Spanning from the first basement level to the eighth floor and rooftop, it’s a spot where you can enjoy yourself all day long without ever getting bored—and it’s sure to become a hit not only with domestic and international tourists but also with businesspeople working in Shimbashi. If you’re ever in Shimbashi, why not stop by Gran Hammer?
《Grand Hammer》
Address: 2-8-5 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (in front of SL Square)
Closed: Open year-round
Hours:
1st, 2nd, and 7th Floors: Open 24 hours
6th Floor “Kouen”: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
6th Floor “Mikan”: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM
All other floors and establishments: Sun–Thu & Sat: 11:00 AM – 5:00 AM; Fri & the day before a national holiday: Open 24 hours
*For more detailed information, please check the official website below.
https://grandhammer.jp/
Address: 2-8-5 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (in front of SL Square)
Closed: Open year-round
Hours:
1st, 2nd, and 7th Floors: Open 24 hours
6th Floor “Kouen”: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
6th Floor “Mikan”: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM
All other floors and establishments: Sun–Thu & Sat: 11:00 AM – 5:00 AM; Fri & the day before a national holiday: Open 24 hours
*For more detailed information, please check the official website below.
https://grandhammer.jp/