Daiichi Seimei Building

Revisit a Piece of U.S.-Japan Postwar History

The Daiichi Seimei building may seem like any other office building, but it holds a unique place in world history. As an operational office building, it doesn’t offer regular tours, but fans of history will still want to make the pilgrimage here. This building was home to the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Allied Occupation from 1945-1952. Leading the GHQ was General Douglas MacArthur, the American Caesar himself. Although American historians are generally split on the MacArthur, a substantial portion of the older Japanese population continue to hold MacArthur in high regard. In fact, his office at the Daiichi Seimei building has been kept intact all these years. They open it periodically for public tours, but there is no regularity to the schedule. Even if the office is not open to visit, you can stroll around the grounds of the building an get an idea of what it may have been like 70 years ago. The Daiichi Seimei Building is located adjacent to Hibiya Metro Station, about three minutes away from Yurakucho station, or about a ten minute walk away from Tokyo Station.