The Australian Embassy, Tokyo, represents the Australian Government and promotes Australia's interests in Japan. It works to project a positive image of Australia and provides consular information and services to Australians in Japan.
For contact details and access, please visit our Contact Us page.
In this section:
- Mission Statement and Values
- Overview of our services
- Meet our Ambassador
- About the Embassy building
Mission Statement and Values
With particular reference to Australia's dealings with Japan, we endeavour to advance the interests of Australia and Australians, by:
- Enhancing Australia's prosperity
- Working to strengthen Australia's security
- Protecting the welfare of Australians
- Helping Australia meet its international responsibilities
- Projecting contemporary Australia
To these ends, we place emphasis on
- Delivering timely and effective service
- Building and maintaining networks with Japan
- Using sound judgement, common sense, and high ethical standards
- Being flexible and applying a pro-active and positive attitude
- Effectively coordinating with and including colleagues in the work process
- Working smarter and fostering continuous improvement and efficient work practices
- Building a supportive and motivating work environment which balances work and personal life
Overview of our services
Our services for Australians in Japan
- providing consular services to Australians in accordance with the Consular services charter
- issuing passports to Australian citizens
- providing a range of other documentation services to Australians
Our services for citizens of Japan
- witnessing signatures, certifying and notarising documents (only for documents that are Australian in origin, or intended for use in Australia)
Our services for Australian and Japanese businesses
- helping Australian companies secure market access to export goods or services to Japan
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helping Japanese companies to source Australian products, or invest in Australia
Click here to learn more about the Australian Embassy’s leadership team.
About the Embassy building
History of the Embassy
The Australian Embassy in Tokyo is located in the Mita district of Tokyo. The 13,000 m2 site was owned by the Hachisuka family during the Tokugawa period to enable it to meet its obligations of residence as laid down by the shogunate.
The first Embassy building was built by Marquis Masaaki Hachisuka and his son Masauji in 1927. They had both been educated at Cambridge University and decided to build a western style residence that reminded them of their time in England. The land and residence were purchased by the Australian Government in 1952.
In 1988, as part of the redevelopment of the site, the old residence made way for the new Embassy, Ambassador's residence and staff apartments which were completed in 1990.
Part of the old Embassy
Design of the Embassy
The Australian Embassy building, designed by leading Australian architects Denton Corker Marshall Pty Ltd, seeks to present a modern image of Australia in Japan. Housing the Embassy offices, Ambassador's residence and staff apartments, it provides a unified and modern face of Australia.
The complex has an E-shaped plan. It is faced in PVF2-coated aluminium, albeit detailed in such a way as to suggest a classical base.
While retaining elements of the original building and garden, the Embassy reflects also a contemporary image of Australia - innovative, forward-looking and committed to our tremendously important relationship with Japan.
The Australian Embassy building
The Embassy garden
The garden located behind the main Embassy building dates back several hundred years. It was part of the plot purchased from the Hachisuka family by the Australian government. A conscious effort has been made to retain some of the characteristics of the site in the new Embassy complex.
The original garden was set in two parts: the higher section close to the buildings and the lower garden beyond the lawn. Today only the higher section is part of the Embassy.
The lawn area is overlooked by the tsukimi (moon-viewing) hillock. Several historical stone objects are located in the garden, including a stone lantern with Paulownia and Phoenix decoration from the Edo period. There are also two garden sculptures, the Sun and the Moon, by Akio Makigawa. These were commissioned at the time of the redevelopment. The porte-cochere of the former residence has been retained as a small gazebo, serving as an entrance to an Australian native garden.
The Australian Native Garden
The Australian Native Garden consists primarily of Australian native plants such as wattle, grevillea, and various types of eucalyptus trees. The low maintenance garden provides residents and staff with the sights and smells of Australian flora and presents a great contrast to the well-manicured formal Japanese garden. Several State floral emblems are planted in the garden, and the flowering bushes often attract local birds.