Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2011

It isn’t due to open for another year, but the Shibuya Hikarie building has already redrawn the Tokyo skyline. When the 34-story complex flings open its doors in 2012, it’ll offer a range of amenities, from shops, offices and restaurants to a gallery space and a purpose-built musical theater. In the meantime, nascent Hikarie fans are encouraged to follow the @shibuya_hikarie account on Twitter, and upload photos of the building to the site. From now until March 13, the theme is “Shibuya Hikarie seen from afar,” while from March 14-27, snappers will be invited to recreate a shot of the tower taken from a mystery location. Upload your pics, accompanied by a #hikarie hashtag, and you could win prizes including Bunkamura gift vouchers and a night’s stay at the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel. If that’s all a bit old-school for you, head to http://hikarie-cp.jp for a spot of Augmented Reality action instead. Simply download the “Shibuya Future Map” (also available in leaflet form), scan its QR code using the Arappli iPhone app, and a virtual Hikarie Building will pop up. Choose your angle, shoot it and upload the photo to Twitter for a chance to win a ¥5,000 Tokyu voucher.