Shinagawa Development Project’s Innovative Designs

Minato City, located just south of central Tokyo, features a variety of destinations and activities, making it an excellent place to explore the city. Not only is the ward home to the iconic Tokyo Tower, but it is also filled with nature spaces, multi-facility entertainment complexes, contemporary and fine art museums, and authentic streets lined with izakaya and restaurants. The ward even extends into Tokyo Bay and encompasses a portion of high-tech Odaiba. Minato truly has something for everyone. In the midst of this busy ward, East Japan Railway Co., Ltd. (JR East) has launched a project to transform the space between Tamachi and Shinagawa Station into a state-of-the-art area that epitomizes urban life and sustainability.

The Shinagawa Development Project is a 9.5-hectare area in central Tokyo and aims to serve as a testing ground for sustainable infrastructure and urban development, including smart grid technologies (electricity networks), renewable energy, and cutting-edge transportation. The project is even planning to convert food waste from local restaurants into biomass. “We want to create an experiential site for future lifestyles and contribute to future society,” Yoshiya Amanai, the manager of the Shinagawa Community Development Division shared. The initiative was the first project in Japan to be accepted into the Climate Positive Development Program—an international program led by the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group that brings together district-scale projects that aim to achieve net carbon negative outcomes in cities. “As a railway company, we want to show the next model of real estate development to the world,” Amanai said.

For the first phase of the Shinagawa Development Project, called the “Takanawa Gateway City,” JR East is planning on constructing four buildings by 2026, which will include Tokyo`s first JW Marriott Hotel, offices, retail space, a fitness center, a clinic, a convention facility, residences, and a Culture Creation Building complete with exhibition rooms and a performance hall. JR East will also establish an energy center to efficiently supply power to the area in an environmentally conscious manner and incorporate greenspaces into the urban design. One of the main focal points of this initial phase is the Takanawa Gateway Station.

Opened in March 2020, the Takanawa Gateway Station is a new station on Tokyo’s Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku Lines that combines mesmerizing architecture, advanced technologies, and eco-friendly practices for one-of-a-kind commuting experiences. As the name suggests, the facility will act as a gateway to Minato’s redeveloped area. Designed by famed architect Kengo Kuma, the facility features intricate ceilings inspired by origami, massive windows for views of the encircling cityscape, and laminated Japanese cedar beams. In contrast to this ode to the past, the station also represents the future with its utilization of AI and robots to better serve visitors. The facility even has an automated convenience store! In terms of sustainability, the station has installed solar panels and small-scale wind generators for renewable energy and prioritizes inclusivity with its multilingual displays and accommodations for all visitors. While traveling around the city, the station is a must-visit spot for a glimpse into the future of transportation in Tokyo.

Aside from these tangible structures, JR East has also launched initiatives to connect visitors and locals to its sustainable goals. One of JR East’s first experiments was its hop-growing project. About two years ago, JR East brought locals and schools together to grow hops for Takanawa-crafted beer. Through this initiative, the company helped connect residents to nature and each other, while also producing a local product for the economy. Today, people can buy this beer in the convenience store in Takanawa Gateway Station, as well as select restaurants in the area. Please note that the quantity is limited and that businesses do not sell it all the time.

For an inside look into the inner workings of this redeveloping area, JR East also plans to offer informative tours of its heating systems, generators, and other infrastructure-related facilities, so locals, tourists, and business visitors can better understand the sustainable elements throughout the community.

Similar to TOYOSU22, the Shinagawa Development Project touches upon numerous aspects of sustainability. With its energy efficient goals, the project helps combat climate change by reducing the area’s carbon emissions, and its integration of nature spaces in the city creates a more environmentally balanced community where people can relax and interact. In terms of the economy, the project’s construction of residences, as well as numerous facilities, will attract visitors and businesses to the ward where their working and spending will enhance the community. The project also addresses cultural sustainability with its establishment of the Cultural Creation Building. This building will serve as a hub for co-creation and cultural activities and thus, will help foster collaboration between people and encourage cultural learning, both of which preserve diversity and facilitate innovation.“We want to become an international center where different kinds of people can mingle,” Amanai shared.

With the Shinagawa Development Project’s sustainable goals, Minato can bloom into an economically, socially, and environmentally balanced community where visitors and residents alike can experience Tokyo’s evolving skyline. “Everytime a person visits,” Amanai said, “I want them to discover something new and interesting and then use those experiences in their own countries to kick off innovation and make the world a better place.”

TOYOSU22: An Entertaining Destination of the Future

Thanks to the surrounding waters of the Sumida River, the Arakawa River, and Tokyo Bay, Koto City is abundant in waterside vistas and greenery. The ward embodies the duality of both land and sea, as well as tradition and innovation. In this unique landscape, Tokyo Gas Real Estate Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Gas) has established TOYOSU22, an urban development project that aims to create a sustainable city that prioritizes a high-quality of life, efficient living, and environmental balance. Located on the man-made island, Toyosu, the project is based on three “smart” concepts—smart energy, smart green, and smart community.

The concept “smart energy” refers to TOYOSU22’s energy efficiency. Near central Toyosu, Tokyo Gas plans to establish a “Smart Energy Center” with a “smart energy network” that efficiently distributes heat and electricity to the surrounding facilities—effectively saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions. The second point, “smart green” refers to Tokyo Gas’ integration of waterfront views and greenery into the area’s urban design. Lastly, the concept “smart community” focuses on residents’ wellbeing and introduces initiatives to connect them with each other through communal sports areas. In addition to these three smart concepts, the project also aims to create a bustling and thriving community by renting out land to businesses, hotels, and sports complexes. Presently, this community includes modern facilities such as the interactive art museum, teamlab Planets (closing at the end of 2023) and IHI Stage Around Tokyo, a rotating stage venue.

Some of Toyosu’s most scenic destinations are its parks, which are connected by a 5 km path along the circumference of the island. TOYOSU22 plans to use these parks—collectively called Toyosu Gururi Park—to support its community development and encourage people to exercise and interact with each other. These oceanside parks—the most popular of which are Toyosu Park and Toyosu Gururi Park—feature verdant green spaces, walking and jogging routes, barbeque areas, playgrounds, a French restaurant, seasonal flowers, cityscape views, and more. On the fourth Saturday and Sunday of every month, Toyosu Park also holds an open air market in front of the Park Center. Here, visitors can peruse local products, such as crafts and handmade sweets. The park uses revenue from the market to support the Toyosu Green 100 Project—an initiative centered on parks, horticulture, and environmental education for the realization of a sustainable society—making it an excellent sustainable tourist destination.

With its sustainable goals and destinations, TOYOSU22 supports the environment, society, and the economy. In terms of the environment, Tokyo Gas’ incorporation of greenery and forests into the urban setting supports biodiversity by attracting and creating homes for animal and plant life in the area. The area’s energy efficient plans also help combat climate change by reducing CO2 emissions. Thanks to TOYOSU22’s accessible green spaces and communal sports areas, it also supports the wellbeing of its residents and visitors. In regards to the economy, Tokyo Gas’ plan to rent out land to various companies is an excellent way to stimulate the community.

Toyosu’s relatively close proximity to Haneda airport, coupled with its naturespaces and diverse facilities make it an excellent destination for tourists to support sustainability.

Nature Preservation at Kasai Rinkai Park

Edogawa Ward, one of Tokyo’s easternmost wards, is popular for its lush parks and riverside activities. With the Arakawa River defining its western border, the Edo River along its eastern border, Tokyo Bay to the south, and the Shinnaka River running through its center, Edogawa has no shortage of waterside fun. Visitors can stroll or picnic at one of the area’s picturesque parks or visit the Tokyo Sea Life Park aquarium to enjoy sea life from around the world. Located at the ward’s southern end is the Kasai Rinkai Park, a perfect example of nature conservation in an urban setting.

Opened in 1989, Kasai Rinkai Park was established to restore and conserve the area’s wetlands and act as a place where visitors could enjoy seaside nature. The area also serves as a habitat for more than 120 bird species, and thus, plays an important role in the biodiversity of Tokyo Bay. The park features two man-made beaches to help protect the area’s wetlands, plant life, and animal life: Nishi Nagisa, a designated recreational spot, and Higashi Nagisa, a habitat for birds and fish.

The park is also a wonderful example of how natural and urban environments can coexist and how a city can incorporate sustainability into its urban planning by focusing on the protection and use of the environment. This park not only serves as a place for nature conservation, but also as a spot where residents and visitors can enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

Sustainable Learning in the Bay Area

Aside from its infrastructure and urban planning initiatives, the Tokyo Bay area is also home to facilities that support sustainability through their educational and hands-on offerings.

A Place of Change: Haneda Innovation City

Located south of central Tokyo, Ota Ward is encircled by both the Tama River and Tokyo Bay and features numerous historical sites, including shrines, temples, and burial mounds, as well as greenspaces along the river. The Tama River is especially popular during springtime when its banks bloom with cherry blossoms. Aside from its natural and cultural charm, Ota is also home to Haneda Airport, making it an important transportation hub for travelers and a place where people and ideas from around the world meet. Haneda Innovation City, located beside this international airport, takes advantage of this ever-changing mix of people and serves as a place where people can collaborate and breed progress.

Haneda Innovation City is a large-scale complex of commercial facilities, hotels, and offices that offer shopping, gourmet, and cultural experiences. The complex also acts as a base for creating and disseminating new industries and has research and development facilities. Here, companies gather to realize a better future through fields such as advanced mobility, healthcare, and robotics. One facility, called PiO PARK, offers event spaces and meeting rooms to encourage people from Japan and abroad to interact, exchange ideas, and develop new industries. The facility also has an exhibition space where it seeks to promote new products and technologies for a sustainable society.

Haneda Innovation City also serves as a place of cultural learning where visitors can experience Japanese traditions, food, and art. Guests can relax on the Footbath Sky Deck and watch planes depart and arrive at Haneda airport, shop at Gacha Port—a Japanese specialty store that sells small toys in capsules, and spend time in the Art & Technology Center (opening in 2023), which will act as a base for disseminating and creating Japanese art and culture. Of course, visitors can also enjoy delicious Japanese cuisine, including crispy tonkatsu and handmade Japanese convenience store “konbini” food. These offerings support cultural sustainability and provide different perspectives that have the potential to further inspire innovation.

Environmental Learning at Minato Ward Eco Plaza

As mentioned previously, Minato is a seaside ward filled with a diverse range of destinations, and one such facility is the Minato Ward Eco Plaza, located about a 20-minute walk from Tokyo Tower. This plaza is an environmental learning facility where both adults and children can deepen their understanding of nature through events, exhibitions, workshops, and more. The plaza’s educational offerings focus on four themes—reduction of carbon emissions to combat climate change, the coexistence of nature and humans, the three R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle), and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Aside from its dissemination of information, the plaza also rents rooms to environmental and conservation organizations so they can hold conferences and workshops. With its wide range of learning materials and intriguing hands-on activities, the Minato Ward Eco Plaza is a wonderful place for people to learn about environmental sustainability.

Sustainable Cities for the Future

In the Tokyo Bay area, numerous companies and wards are incorporating sustainability into their urban planning to create economically stable and environmentally balanced societies that foster innovation and prioritize people’s well-being. These areas—where the ocean, the city, and nature coexist—act as unique destinations where visitors can experience future Tokyo. While some of the area’s changes are tangible, such as its parks and advanced facilities, other initiatives occur behind the scenes, including energy efficiency and increased quality of life. Combined, these efforts are integral in realizing a more sustainable future and have been steadily improving the community and environment of the Tokyo Bay area. With visions of skyscrapers intertwined with greenery, energy efficient networks, and communal educational facilities, the Tokyo Bay area serves as an inspiring place where Japan and other countries can learn how to remodel their communities for a better future.