Zenbird Editorial TeamHITO-Communications Holdings, Inc. has earned a 2026 Good Design Best 100 selection for Former Ueno City Hall SAKAKURA BASE, a repurposed municipal building recognised for its sustainable operating scheme and contribution to regional revitalisation.
The building is located in Iga City, Mie Prefecture. The facility operates as a Private Finance Initiative that aims to stimulate the local economy and generate new visitor traffic in the historical Iga Ueno Castle town area through a public-private partnership. The special purpose company handles the entire lifecycle of the project, from initial facility development through to long-term maintenance and daily operations.
The initiative repurposes the former city hall, a modernist structure completed in 1964 by architect Junzo Sakakura. The renovation preserves the building’s historical and architectural value while transforming the interior into a multi-use space that combines a public library, accommodation and community exchange functions. The Japan Institute of Design Promotion highlighted this integration of public and private amenities as a new model for municipal facilities, noting the flexible spatial design and the economic sustainability of the partnership framework.
SAKAKURA BASE serves as the central hub for the Iga City Nigiwai Ninja Corridor development. It operates in conjunction with Bansenshukai, an interactive ninja culture facility featuring retail, dining and lodging, to improve tourist circulation and extend visitor stays between Ueno Park and the surrounding historic district.
[Reference] HITO-Communications Holdings News (Japanese)
