12Summary of Tokyo Cultural Resources District Vision
1. What is the Tokyo Cultural Resources
District?
The Tokyo Cultural Resources District is the name for the area
stretching from the northeast Tokyo neighborhoods of Yanesen
and Negishi to Ueno, Hongo, Akihabara, Kanda, Jimbocho, andYushima, all of which are concentrated in a walkable area lessthan two kilometers in radius.
The district is home to a concentration of cultural resources
spanning history, from the feudal era through modern times tothe present day. These cultural resources include the culture ofeveryday life found in Yanesen’s landscape of old machiya
homes and alleyways, the artistic culture of Ueno’s museums
and Tokyo University of the Arts, academic culture centered on
the University of Tokyo in Hongo, popular culture on display in
Akihabara’s manga and anime industries, literary culture foundin Jimbocho’s old bookstores and publishing companies, andspiritual culture rooted in the traditions of Edo that are stillvisible at Yushima Tenjin Shrine, Yushima Seido and the Kanda
festival.
The Tokyo Cultural Resources District was spared fromlarge-scale redevelopment during the era of high economic
growth, and maintains its value as a treasure trove of cultural
resources within Tokyo. Today, the area holds new potential foran urban renaissance focused on culture, the environment, andtourism.

2. The significance of the Tokyo Cultural
Resources District●Yanaka/Nezu/Sendagi

3. Steps to implement the Tokyo Cultural
Resources District vision
Making use of distinctive cultural resources (culturalprogram) Establish a project school: develop and employ specialists

Nippori

YANESEN: CULTURE OF EVERYDAY LIFE
IN MACHIYA HOMES AND ALLEYWAYS●NegishiUguisudani●Nishikata

Investing in necessary infrastructure (urban environmentprogram)●UenoUeno●HongoARTISTIC CULTURE AT MUSEUMSAND THE TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF
THE ARTS

ACADEMIC CULTURE AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO

Okachimachi●Yushima
SPIRITUAL CULTURE AT YUSHIMASHRINE AND YUSHIMA SEIDO●Akihabara

Suidobashi

Iidabashi

Influence as a national and global model of urban policy
The Tokyo Cultural Resources District will become a global
model that will influence not only the rest of Japan, but also
global cities possessing cultural resources, as an importantlocation showcasing both historical legacy and creativity
through the use of cultural and knowledge resources. The
vision aims to induce the following shifts in cultural strategy andredesign of urban space.
 Create new places, opportunities, and digital venues for theinteraction of manufacturing, art and knowledge
 Develop creative local leaders through interactive andcreative experiences crossing boundaries between public,
private, academic and industry institutions
 Create and use an archive to store and curate local traditionaland historical knowledge
 Establish an incubation center in the form of a public urban
lab to facilitate interactions between art, industry, andcommunity Uncover and visualize local cultural resources necessary forthe initiatives above

capable of utilizing cultural resources to solve social problems
 Create an urban lab as a base for culture (art), industry andcommunity Archive and digitize local cultural resources Hold a competition for renovating old buildings
 Spur a spiritual cultural renaissance centered on Yushima
Seido through various activities Create a globally recognized rating system for food andrestaurants that make use of Edo/Tokyo’s culinary culturaltradition
 Develop circulator routes as a national model for cultural
resource tourism

POP CULTURE OF MANGAAND ANIME

Ochanomizu
Akihabara●Hitotsubashi/Jimbocho

Measures related to local distinctiveness (local program) Produce a variety of events aimed at revitalizing Jimbocho
 Preserve the area of Yanesen and Negishi, and utilize andnetwork cultural resources Implement creative activities for a new hybrid culture inAkihabara
 Form a creative complex bringing together new creative
professionals in Kanda

LITERARY CULTURE AT
OLD BOOKSTORES AND
PUBLISHING COMPANIES●KandaKanda

SPIRITUAL CULTURE IN THE
EDO-ERA TRADITIONS OF
THE KANDA FESTIVAL

Tokyo Biennial as a compilation and ongoing event●Nihombashi

PalaceTokyo●Otemachi/Marunouchi/
Yurakucho

ＮYurakucho●Hibiya00.5km1.0km

 Create walkable routes around the whole Tokyo Cultural
Resources District and between Yushima Tenjin Shrine andKanda Shrine
 Design pedestrian-friendly streets (bury electric cables,preserve water and greenery, increase street-side functions) Renovate and reuse the Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Garden Create accommodations for foreign students and tourists(including renovation of old hotels, temple lodging, andpensions in old houses)
 Undertake administrative reform: strengthen and relax
regulations, reduce taxes on investment, create local
currencies, support programs to preserve and use cultural
resources such as traditional buildings
 Promote area management by cultivating and networking
cultural leaders

1.5km

2.0km

The Tokyo Biennial is envisioned as a world-class event
starting in 2020 and making use of local cultural resources, as asymbol of the Tokyo Cultural Resources District vision and theTokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
The Tokyo Biennial will feature a combined total of 10,000
main, co-sponsored and related events, including internationalmodern art exhibits from around 200 countries, a project school,a creative industry festival featuring around 100 countries, aTokyo renovation competition, a Japanese food festival
featuring 300 locales from around the country, and a revival ofspiritual culture using academic and religious facilities and therestoration of Yushima Seido. The aim is to create a new modelof Tokyo tourism, and to carry on a new legacy that will help todevelop professionals, promote industry, create community,and foster international exchange.