A Tokyo hotel known for its unusual architecture, said to resemble the shape of a Christmas tree, is set to be dismantled and transferred to a new location.

Workers recently began preparations to dismantle the 26-story Sofitel Tokyo, which overlooks Shinobazu Pond in Tokyo’s Ueno district.

The Sofitel Tokyo had a reputation as a high-class facility, with some rooms costing as much as 100,000 yen a night. Since it had only 83 rooms, its operators had been looking for a new site where they would be able to expand its capacity. The location of the new site was not immediately reported.

The building, which drew both criticism and praise for its unusual shape, was built in 1991, and stood as a symbol of Japan’s economic bubble era. Speculation has arisen that a condominium block will be built on the site to replace the hotel, but its owners say the details are still being considered.

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By Sun Tzu on 13-02-2007