Japan Inn vative
Cities Award

Next-gen transport
Energy, environment & energy conservation
Health & mobility
Safety & security
Disaster prevention & reduction
Infrastructure
Medicine & welfare
Compact city planning
Reuse & renovation
Branding

Copyrights Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. All Rights Reserved.

2019.03

LEADING URBAN PLANNING
INITIATIVES IN JAPANT

he Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport andTourism shares information domestically andabroad about leading urban planning initiatives in orderto encourage the adoption of innovative practices, as wellas promote exports of cutting-edge urban technologies
and stimulate inbound investment and interest.
Since 2016, the Ministry has held a competition to recognize advanced urban development projects aimed atsolving urban challenges and creating next-generation
urban spaces. Here we will introduce thirteen projects
that were recognized in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

PREVI O U S AWAR D W I N N E R S
 3rd competition, 2018

Recovery Plan of Tsuchiyu Onsen as Home of
Health, Hot Springs & Kokeshi Dolls
Fukushima, Fukushima

New Model of Suburban Town Development
Through Public-private-academic Collaboration
Saitama, Saitama

Compact City Planning to Achieve a Smart
Wellness City

Urban and rural sustainability for a depopulating society
Mitsuke, Niigata● Muroran, Hokkaido● Sakai, Osaka

2016

2018

Combined Use Project of Reclaimed Wastewaterin Sakai

Muroran Green Energy Town Concept

Combined Use Project of Reclaimed
Wastewater in Sakai

Sakai, Osaka● Fukushima, Fukushima
2018

First Public-private Monitoring Service in Japan
Kakogawa, Hyogo

Recovery Plan of Tsuchiyu Onsen as Home of
Health, Hot Springs & Kokeshi Dolls● Mitsuke, Niigata● Saitama, Saitama

2018

 2nd competition, 20172018

Compact City Planning to Achieve a
Smart Wellness City

Town Development of Futako Tamagawa Rise

New Model of Suburban Town
Development Through Public-privateacademic Collaboration

Urban and rural sustainability for adepopulating society

Setagaya, Tokyo (east of Futako Tamagawa Station)● Kashiwa, Chiba

Namiki Alleyway Ikoiko Vacant Store
Regeneration Project

2016

Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City

Iida, Nagano

Public-private Town Planning by the Local
Community and Citizens
Urban development project making use of
local resources around Hyugashi Station● Sakai, Osaka
2016

Hyuga, Miyazaki

 1st competition, 2016

Muroran Green Energy Town Concept

SMA×ECO TOWN Harumidai● Kakogawa, Hyogo
2018

First Public-private Monitoring
Service in Japan

Muroran, Hokkaido

Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City

● Iida, Nagano

Kashiwa, Chiba

Otemachi, Marunouchi, and Yurakucho
Area Management

Sustainable development project in the Tokyo Station area
Chiyoda, Tokyo

SMA×ECO TOWN Harumidai
Sakai, OsakaBONJONO District of the Future for Everyone
Share Town Project

Kitakyushu, Fukuoka

4

2017

Namiki Alleyway Ikoiko Vacant Store
Regeneration Project● Kitakyushu, Fukuoka● Setagaya, Tokyo
2017

2016

BONJONO
District of the Future for Everyone
Share Town Project● Hyuga, Miyazaki
2017

Public-private Town Planning by the
Local Community and Citizens

Urban development project making use of local
resources around Hyugashi Station

Town Development of Futako
Tamagawa Rise

● Chiyoda, Tokyo
2016

Otemachi, Marunouchi, and Yurakucho
Area Management

Sustainable development project in the Tokyo
Station area
5

Recovery Plan of Tsuchiyu Onsen as “Home of
Health, Hot Springs & Kokeshi Dolls”
P RO J E C T ENTITY: Tsuchiyu Onsen Town Planning Council
LO C AT ION: Fukushima, Fukushima

Background and progressTsuchiyu Onsen is a hot spring tourist destination located approximately 16 km southwestof Fukushima City, the prefectural capital, at 450
meters elevation inside the Bandai-Asahi National Park, and is known for making traditional
carved kokeshi dolls. In March 2011, the Great
East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power
Plant damaged the prefecture’s image andcaused a dramatic drop in tourists, forcing fiveof 16 accommodations in the town to go out ofbusiness. In addition, demographic aging andpopulation decline accelerated and pushed theratio of residents over 65 to a high level of 52%.

Facing this depressed condition, locals resolved to start the Tsuchiyu Onsen Recovery andRegeneration Council (later the Tsuchiyu Onsen
Town Planning Council) not simply in order toreturn things to how they were before the disaster, but to turn the town into a model for hot
spring resorts nationwide. The plan is being
implemented after discussion of topics including creating a model region to show the future of
hot springs, adapting to demographic aging andpopulation decline, developing an ecotown using renewable energy, public-private-academic
collaboration, and establishing an organization
to support planning.

A planning project improved the scenic appearance of the hot spring town

About the projectT

he Tsuchiyu Onsen Town Planning Council
is composed of 17 organizations including
the local hot spring association, tourism association, and local neighborhood councils, and isspearheaded by Fukushima City and Genki Up
Tsuchiyu Co.,Ltd., which was established withcapital from two of the council members.
At the request of the local community, Fukushima
City established a public bath, community, and tourist center in a former hotel, and has also invested ininfrastructure including roads and a park, which areplanned to be completed in March 2019.
Genki Up Tsuchiyu Co.,Ltd. is experimenting
with a multi-pronged business model to regenerate
the hot spring town by returning proceeds to the local

6

area from new ventures including geothermal power
generation, shrimp cultivation, and hydropower generation at an earthen dam.
These projects have generated new industry andemployment in the local area, and led to an increasein visitors by creating opportunities for tourism andeducational experiences. Additionally, once its contract to sell electricity exclusively to Tohoku ElectricPower Co.,Inc. expires, Genki Up Tsuchiyu Co.,Ltd.
is considering providing inexpensive electrical power
to the local area. It also aims to introduce megasolar
and biomass electricity generation, creating a sustainable ecotown that utilizes all of the area’s renewableenergy.

A binary cycle geothermal power plant is a focus of the town plan

Public bath opened in a renovated hotel

Event to catch shrimp cultivated using heat from the hot spring

A tour of renewable energy facilities

FUKUSHIMA FUKUSHIMA

7

New Model of Suburban Town Development
Through Public-private-academic Collaboration
P RO J E C T ENTITY: Misono Town Management Association, Inc.
LO C AT ION: Saitama, Saitama

Saitama Stadium 2002 Park
Retarding basin

National Route 463 Bypass
Urawa Interchange Urawa-Misono Station

Background and progressNational Route122and shops and public facilities such as schools
and parks has progressed gradually since thefirst area opened in 2006, and the district has
seen a rapid increase in population, particularlyof families with children. The new town development initiative aims to create a low-carbon,
sustainable local district that offers fulfilling
lifestyles and community by utilizing local
resources including the Ayase River, Minuma
Tambo, and Saitama Stadium, while proactively
integrating cutting-edge technologies such as
IoT and AI.

way
Tohoku ExpressT

he Misono district, located in southeast
Saitama City within 25 kilometers of central
Tokyo, is the site of large-scale greenfield development intended to create an urban subcenteraround the Urawa-Misono Station on the Saitama
Railway Line, which opened in March 2001. Beginning in FY2000, a land readjustment project
known as “Misono Wing City,” with a planned
population of 32,000, commenced on a site of 320
hectares stretching across Saitama City’s Midori
and Iwatsuki Wards and encompassing Saitama
Stadium 2002 Park, which opened in October
2001. Construction of buildings including homes

Retarding basin

Na

tio

na

lR

ou

te

Ay
as
eR
ive
r

46

3

Misono Wing City around Urawa-Misono Station (May 2018)

About the projectB

ased at the Urban Design Center of Misono(UDCMi), an information and activity hub
established in October 2015, the Misono Town
Management Association is a voluntary organization that has brought together private companies,
universities, local community organizations, land
readjustment project stakeholders and government entities in public-private-academic partnership to improve the local area’s social and physicalinfrastructure.
Numerous initiatives, including urban design
guidelines and the creation of high-quality waterfront spaces, are being pursued in order to build acomfortable urban environment focused on walkability, with a short-term goal of creating a worldclass “stadium town” around Saitama Stadium. At
the same time, the latest technologies are being
used to reduce environmental impact, such as theimplementation of a digital grid to encourage local

8

production and consumption of renewable energy,
and development and testing of a rapid-charging
system for electric buses using electricity generated from railroad braking.
Moreover, the area’s quality of life is being
improved through local community services using ICT for childcare support, shared mobility,and health and wellness promotion. In order toeffectively utilize local data accumulated throughthese projects, development and testing of a data
platform system is also underway. Furthermore,
local events and social workshops are held in order to encourage community interaction and civic
pride in the newly developed area.
The Misono Town Management Association
aims to establish a cycle of reinvesting project
revenue into local development as various projects
mature and become interconnected.

Low-carbon residential district designed to improve resilience andencourage community

Misono-Ichi market held in the public space near the station

S A I T A M A

Misono Mileage Programs for Wellness Activities & Misono TouchWalking Challenge

S A I T A M A

9Compact City Planning to Achieve a
Smart Wellness City
Urban and rural sustainability for a depopulating society
P RO J E C T ENTITY: Mitsuke City
LO C AT ION: Mitsuke, Niigata

Background and progressMitsuke began collaborating with Tsukuba
University in 2002 on local programs including health and exercise classes in order tocontrol the increasing expense of social welfare
due to rapid aging and population decline. It
was among the first cities nationwide to startworking towards a sustainable city with policies
focused on health, but the limited number ofresidents who were interested in maintaining
regular exercise habits resulted in only a modest
reduction of social welfare expenditures.

Based on Mitsuke’s research showing thataround 70% of residents without exercise habits had no intention to start, and a correlation
between reliance on automobiles and diabetes,
the city administration embarked on an effort torestructure the community into a walkable compact city (smart wellness city) where residents
do not rely excessively on private automobiles,
and maintain their healthy lifestyles thanks topublic transport, bicycling, and walking.
Health & exercise class at the Community center

About the projectM

itsuke has implemented a town plan
focused on walkability with the goal of promoting health. Specifically, the city constructedvarious civic facilities (Community center, Publicbath, City art gallery, etc.) in a compact area ofthe central city, and implemented a public transport network enabling travel from all areas of
the city to the center without a car. This createdmore natural opportunities for walking andinteraction among residents. Moreover, the cityadministration works to gain the support of residents by clearly explaining the positive effects ofwalking for personal health and reducing social
welfare costs.
These policies have led to many residents actively moving around the city of roughly 40,000
people, where public transport use increased

10

approximately threefold to 161,000 trips per
year, while the city’s civic facilities have become
lively venues with 1.95 million annual visits.
This success further spurred the opening of ten
new shops in the vicinity of the new facilities in
the first three years.
The city’s ratio of residents eligible for nursing care is lower than the national and prefectural average, and has been among the three lowest
in the prefecture since 2008. Monthly per-capita
nursing care expenses have been restrained andshow a widening gap with the prefectural average since 2010. Annual per-capita medical expenses for residents over the age of 75 declined
between 2011 and 2014, and have stayed around
200,000 yen below the nationwide average.

Public bath

City art gallery

Community buses circulate around the city

Painting class at the City art gallery

M I T S U K E

N I I G A T A

11

Combined Use Project of Reclaimed
Wastewater in Sakai
P RO J E C T ENTITY: Sakai City Waterworks and Sewarage Bureau
LO C AT ION: Sakai, Osaka

Sambo Water Recycling Center

Use as heat sourceReclaHighly processed reclaimed
wastewater is pumped

ime

d wa

stew
ater
p

ipe

AEON MALL Sakai Teppo-cho

Background and progressSakai has pursued policies to preserve its historic heritage and contribute to the development of a low-carbon, environmentally-friendly
city. As part of these initiatives, in 2009 the Sakai
City Waterworks and Sewarage Bureau began a
program to use reclaimed wastewater to supply
toilets, irrigation systems, and industrial users.
The AEON MALL Co., Ltd. (below, AEON) expressed interest in using untapped sources of
local energy at a new location on a former fac-

tory site west of Shichido Station on the Nankai
Main Line, spurring exploration of new ways tomake use of reclaimed wastewater. These studies showed that reclaimed wastewater could be
supplied to AEON as a cost-effective source ofheat and water, and also released into the historic Uchikawa Moat nearby, leading stakeholders
to work together in a public-private partnership.

A

12

Use as local resource

Stream in greenwayof Uchikawa Moat
Uchikawa Moat

Reclaimed wastewater is reused as a source of heat, water, and local resource

About the project
EON uses reclaimed wastewater from theSambo Water Recycling Center as a heatsource for its heating, air-conditioning and hot
water systems, as well as a water source forcleaning toilets. Additionally, after use as a heatsource, the reclaimed wastewater is discharged
into the nearby Uchikawa Moat, ensuring thestable flow and quality of the water and preserving the city’s historic heritage. AEON and the
Sakai City Construction Bureau, which manages
the Uchikawa Moat, pay fees for the use of thereclaimed wastewater.

Water re-use

AEON achieved a 4.3% reduction in energy usage and an 8-tonne reduction of CO2
emissions compared to standard equipment(FY2017 data). In addition, AEON highlights its
environmentally-conscious use of reclaimed
wastewater on stickers and information boards
around its facility, contributing to its corporatesocial responsibility and branding.
A sustainable solution to local preservation
was achieved along with a significant CO2 reduction by tapping an unused local energy source
and creating a win-win public-private structure.

A public-private project coinciding with the opening of a commercial
facility

System harvests heat from reclaimed wastewater

The small stream that flows into Sakai’s historic Uchikawa Moat

Water supply system at Sambo Water Recycling Center

S A K A IO S A K A

13

First Public-private
Monitoring Service in Japan

ServerData collection & analysis
Wi-Fi camera

P RO J E C T ENTITY: Kakogawa City
LO C AT ION: Kakogawa, Hyogo

Data utilization
Monitoring
serviceK

devoted special attention to creating an environment where families with young children canlive safely, and strengthening the local community to look after children and the elderly.
Moreover, consultations with private companies to bring unique solutions to the project led
to the adoption not only of security cameras, butalso monitoring systems using BLE (Bluetooth
Low Energy) tags, and application of vehiclemounted cameras used in trials of self-drivingcars.

V2X unit

BLE receiver

Security camera
detects BLE tags

Background and progress
akogawa faced challenges including thehighest number of criminal cases in Hyogo
Prefecture and an increasing number of elderlywith dementia going missing. Solutions to these
problems required policies to strengthen thecommunity and improve safety and security by
preventing crime. Under the banner of “a citychosen by young families,” Kakogawa began
public-private collaboration to introduce ICT
systems with the aim of creating a safe andsecure city. In order to increase satisfaction
among residents and improve quality of life, it

SecuritycameraSecurity camera
detects BLE tags

Detects roadconditions

Road
maintenance

Bump

Various IoT devices gather data

He’ll behome soon!

Location history
City〇〇 Building
City〇〇 IntersectionCity〇〇 Junction

About the projectAround 1,500 security cameras have been installed along streets, mainly around schools.
The security cameras discourage crime, andare all connected to a communication networkthat enables rapid response when crimes occur(image data is strictly managed based on an
ordinance regarding the installation and management of security cameras).
Moreover, detectors that receive signals from
BLE tags are installed in the security cameras,and cameras and detectors are also mounted on
the local delivery vehicles of cooperating privatecompanies such as JAPAN POST Co., Ltd. Additionally, cooperation of local residents througha “Monitoring Volunteer App” for smartphones
constructs an even more comprehensive monitoring network. The public-private monitoring
system has earned a positive response fromCity〇〇 Elementary School

residents.
Furthermore, a system was developed tocollect a wide variety of data (disaster prevention, transportation, infrastructure, etc.) fromscattered local sources and share it in the cloudto help address local problems and create newadministrative services. A smartphone application was also developed to access the system.
The project has coincided with a decline ofmore than 24% in the number of criminal casesin the city and has positively contributed to thedevelopment of a safe and secure community.
Going forward, Kakogawa plans to create additional value through public-private-academic
collaboration to analyze and process the datacollected from the IoT devices throughout thecity.

Image of monitoring service

Shared electric vehicle

Security camera on a street near a school

14

Postal delivery motorbikes are outfitted with monitoring tags and cameras

K A K O G A W A

H Y O G O

15

Town Development of
Futako Tamagawa Rise
P RO J E C T ENTITY: Futako Tamagawa Rise Council
LO C AT ION: Setagaya, Tokyo (east of Futako Tamagawa Station)

Background and progressThis district is located on the east side of
Futako Tamagawa Station along a private
railway line in the Tokyo suburbs, sandwiched
between the Kokubunji Cliff Line and the TamaRiver. The area had lost its vitality after the commercial avenue began to decline in the 1980s
and the Futako-tamagawaen Amusement Park
closed in 1985. In response, local leaders came
together to implement an urban redevelopment

project making use of the former amusementpark site (phase one began in 2007, phase two
in 2012). Furthermore, after the end of construction on the first phase in 2011, the Futako
Tamagawa Rise Council was established by therail company and various local management associations to sponsor events and engage in town
management activities, with the goal of enhancing the area’ vitality and local brand.

About the projectT

his urban redevelopment project has resulted
in an always-bustling area of diverse uses,
including approx. 70,000 sq. meters of commercial facilities, approx. 80,000 sq. meters of officespace, housing for 1,000 families, a bus terminal,
and a hotel. The site also contains approx. 6,000
sq. meters of green roof space, part of 10,000
sq. meters of total green space, and has earned
a LEED Neighborhood Development Gold Rank
Certification recognizing the redevelopment’s
commitment to nature and eco-friendliness. The
project aims to engender new demand in the inner

The entire district

16

Green Roof is a part of focus on nature

Commercial facilities in front of the station and office towers

Public spaces host diverse events

suburbs and reduce over-crowdedness on commuter trains by offering a working environment
unlike those from that available in the urban core.
In addition, the Futako Tamagawa Rise
Council is engaged in town management activities, including hosting participatory events forneighborhood children that make use of thesite’s natural environment. The successful creation of a lively area and local brand has also led
to more events hosted in conjunction with outside companies.

Ribbon Street walking path

S E T A G A Y A

T O K Y O

17

Namiki Alleyway Ikoiko Vacant Store
Regeneration Project

Mongolian restaurant& clothing

Iida dumplings & Main Bar Matsu

P RO J E C T ENTITY: Iida Machizukuri Company
LO C AT ION: Iida, Nagano
Ringo

i
Namik

streetDo

ri

Background and progress

ou

m

e

Grilled meat & bar

hi
ac
e

um
ho
icc

As the landowners grew older, they becameless inclined to proactively make use of theirreal estate and negotiate with potential tenants.
In order to resolve the vacant store problem
and help reduce the burden of landowners, Iida
Machizukuri Company, a trusted local company
that had previously been involved in city redevelopment projects, led the area in preparing for
new businesses.

ch

nm
Ho

L

ocated in the center of Iida, Nagano, the Ikoiko
project targets an area dealing with the spreadof vacant stores and hollowing-out due to suburbanization. Previously, public-private projects
had been pursued in attempts to redevelop thecentral areas of the city, but landowners aroundthe Namiki Alleyway declined to participate inredevelopment out of a desire to remain in theirhomes. The area remained under-developed andan obstacle to the city's revitalization.

ic

Cafe, accessories, and fashion
Relaxation cafe

Rice cake skewers

Kihachiro Okamoto Puppet Museum

Burger cafe

The entire alleyway

About the projectIn an area with many vacant buildings andstores, the Iida Machizukuri Company rented
land and buildings from landowners, undertook
renovation, and sublet the spaces to tenants.
During the process of finding tenants, six
related community organizations hosted a ninemonth startup camp to support people wishing tostart a business. This course taught participants

how to plan, run, and finance their business.
Of numerous applicants, seven tenants wereselected based on their potential to both fit into
the area and achieve a stable business.
This project aims to create a comfortableenvironment in which people can wander freely
between the newly developed establishments,
all of which serve food or drinks.
Open terrace at the center of the alleyway

Café located in an old wooden building

18

Startup camp to train business owners

I I D A

Renovated warehouse is used as management company office

N A G A N O

19

Public-private Town Planning by the
Local
Community
andCitizens
Urban development project making use of local resources around Hyugashi Station
P RO J E C T ENTITY: City of Hyuga, Miyazaki Prefecture, JR KYUSHU RAILWAY COMPANY,
Hyuga Urban Core Revitalization Council, Hyuga Urban Core Event Coordination Council
LO C AT ION: Hyuga, Miyazaki

Background and progressT

his 50.6-hectare project area surrounds
Hyugashi Station on the JR Nippo Main Linein the center of Hyuga, Miyazaki. Population in
the city’s central areas had fallen significantly
and shops were closing due to suburbanization,
leading to the general decline of the urban core.
In this context, Miyazaki Prefecture, Hyuga City,
JR Kyushu Railway Company, and local residents

The park has become a place for local residents to relax

Town planning class for high school students

have collaborated to revitalize the central area andcreate a sustainable compact city. They pursed
land re-adjustment, grade separation of the rail
line, construction of community center facilities,
and new infrastructure for commercial activity.
In addition to these four projects, various citizendriven activities are pursued under the banner of“the city as a stage for residents.”

About the projectL

ocally harvested cedar trees were used in theconstruction of the elevated station building
to create a symbol of the city’s local character.
The structural columns were spaced out to createa multi-purpose space underneath the tracks. A
park and outdoor stage were also created on thewest side of the building, resulting in a high-quality public space connected to the station where
local citizens hold various events on weekends.
Land re-adjustment enabled the city to construct
arterial roads in the area around the station, as
well as the consolidate land within the entire dis-

trict. With this, they created space for alleys anda parking lot, thereby improving visitor convenience and the appeal of the commercial district.
During the planning process, a conference ofurban design experts was established to ensure
a consistent, uniform design, and incorporate
the opinions of users gathered through various conference discussions. In addition, extracurricular classes for elementary, middle, andhigh school students were staged as a way ofeducating the next generation of leaders about
town planning.

The outdoor stage is built from plentiful local cedar

New retail stores facing the street revitalized the area
Compact city planning focused on the station and plaza area

20

H Y U G A

Private development, including apartments, followed the reconstructionof the station and plaza

M I Y A Z A K I

21

Muroran Green Energy Town Concept
P RO J E C T ENTITY: City of Muroran
LO C AT ION: Muroran, Hokkaido

Background and progressMuroran, a city located roughly 90 kilometersfrom Hokkaido’s main city of Sapporo,flourished as a manufacturing center whose
steel industry attracted advanced technology
and human resources, logistics infrastructure,and research and development organizations. In
recent years, the city has leveraged this industrial base to promote environmental industries
and encourage the development of a resourcerecycling and low-carbon city. After discussions

with companies, universities, and local groups, in2015 the city government launched the Muroran
Green Energy Town Concept, with the goals offostering environmental industries, revitalizing
the local economy, and realizing a low-carbon
city. Public, private, and academic organizations
are collaborating on the vision, which calls fordoubling the amount of green energy (hydrogen,renewable & unutilized energy) from 2012 levels
by 2020.
Illumination of Hakucho Bridge uses wind-powered LED lights

About the projectT

he city government is investing in the use ofhydrogen energy, including deploying Hokkaido’s first mobile hydrogen station and fuelcell vehicles in 2016, as well as installing household fuel cells at a municipal heated swimming
pool, making it possible to provide electricity andheat even during power outages. Government
and industry are collaborating to bring abouta hydrogen society, with private businesses
engaged in manufacturing and developing advanced components for hydrogen stations, anddesignating some residential areas where allhouses have household fuel cells. Moreover, topromote the use of renewable energy, Muroran22

has added wind and solar generation to public
facilities, created a biogas generation facility
at a wastewater treatment plant in cooperation
with a private company, and is planning to start
one of the largest biomass power generation
plants in Japan in 2020. In addition, to promoteenergy conservation, the city has pursued theconversion of streetlights to LEDs, startingwith the illumination of the Hakucho Bridge,
which is a central element of the nighttime industrial scenery popular with tourists. The cityalso provides support to families to jointly adopt
fuel cells, solar power generation, home energy
management systems, and LED lighting.

Mobile hydrogen station and fuel cell vehicles

Municipal swimming pool equipped with household fuel cells

Residential area with fuel cell-equipped homes

Biomass power generation plant fueled by palm kernel shells is planned
to start operation in 2020 (Photo courtesy of Muroran Biomass Power
Generation G.K)

M U R O R A N

H O K K A I D O

23

Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City
P RO J E C T ENTITY: Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.
LO C AT ION: Kashiwa, Chiba

Background and progressT

he Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City district islocated in suburban Tokyo around theKashiwa-no-ha Campus Station on the Tsukuba
Express rail line, which opened in 2005. Coinciding with the completion of the rail line, the 300hectare site was subdivided and private developers have since constructed more than 1,800
residential units, large shopping facilities andhotels to accommodate a population planned toeventually reach 26,000.
The smart city is a platform for publicprivate-academic partnerships that are working
towards developing solutions to the challenges
of environmental resources, energy, and aging,under the three themes of “environmentalsymbiotic city,” “a city of health and longevity,”and “a city of new industry creation.”

The Gate Square commercial center and residential buildings at the center of the district

About the projectA

24

s an environmental-symbiotic city, each homein Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City is equipped with
automatic appliance control functionality (Kashiwa-no-ha Home Energy Management System),
while the entire area has a next-generation “smart
grid” (Kashiwa-no-ha Area Energy Management
System), enabling efficient energy storage, CO2 reduction, and electricity availability after disasters.
In addition, health support and disease prevention facilities are located within the shopping

center, and walking paths and walking clubs
reflect a city committed to encouraging healthand longevity.
Finally, to achieve a city of new industry
creation, a private company has opened one of
the largest co-working spaces in the country,
and Tx Entrepreneur Partners, a private venture
capital organization, is engaged in cultivating
startup companies.

Energy management system“To-mor-row” health support center

Retention basin integrated into park space

KOIL Park co-working space

KOIL Factory digital manufacturing workshop

K A S H I W A

C H I B A

25

Otemachi, Marunouchi, andYurakucho
AreaManagement
Sustainable development projects in the area around Tokyo Station
P RO J EC T ENTITY: The Council for Area Development and Management of Otemachi,
Marunouchi, and Yurakucho (General incorporated association), OMY Area Management Association (Non-profit corporation), the Ecozzeria Association (General incorporated association)
LO C AT ION: Chiyoda, Tokyo

Background and progressT

he district located between Tokyo Stationand the Imperial Palace is the center ofJapanese business, with around 4,300 offices
located in an area of 120 hectares. Many officebuildings that were constructed during thehigh-growth period had grown functionallyobsolete by the late 1980s, and the office-only
district was deserted on weekends. In orderto resolve these problems, stakeholders came
together to coordinate the redevelopment of
the area. Together with the redevelopmentof older buildings, various steps have beentaken to increase the area’s charm, including
adding retail and cultural spaces on the lower
floors of office buildings, and expanding the
sidewalks along the area’s central north-southaxis, Marunouchi Naka-dori Street, to enrich

the pedestrian experience.
The Council for Area Development and Management of Otemachi, Marunouchi, and Yurakucho was founded by area landowners in 1988
and has been proactively engaged throughout
the development process. In 2000, discussion
between the council and local governments led
to the establishment of guideline, which defined
the area's vision, rules and development methods. Each landowner has redeveloped individual
buildings according to the guideline, introducing
new urban functions, developing undergroundcirculation networks, beautifying streetscapes,
and investing in disaster preparedness. The
area management organization also works toincrease the district’s vitality through various
events in public spaces.

The office district between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace

About the projectA

rea management is intended to increase the
district’s charm and vitality. Marunouchi
Naka-dori Street is closed to vehicle traffic frommidday until evening and turned into a space forpeople with food trucks and tables. In addition,
the area management organization manages
street events to activate public spaces, and reinvests the proceeds into the area's activities.
Area-wide efforts are also being undertaken
to increase disaster preparedness. Multiple
buildings in the area are disaster preparedness
centers, equipped with systems to self-supply

electricity and water and capable of providing
temporary refuge to people during disasters,
thereby increasing the safety and resilience theentire district. Additionally, the landowners holdfrequent study groups together with scholars toresearch urban disaster prevention.
In recent years, seminar salons and othersocial spaces have been opened to foster aninnovative environment where new ideas andbusiness emerge from professional interaction
between companies and across industries.

Seminar & event facility

Lower floors are filled with stores

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Urban Terrace pedestrian space on closed street

C H I Y O D A

T O K Y O

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SMA×ECO TOWN Harumidai
P RO J E C T ENTITY: Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.
LO C AT ION: Sakai, Osaka

Background and progress

S

MA×ECO TOWN Harumidai covers 1.7 hectaresin the hills of Semboku New Town, located on
the border between Sakai and neighboring Izumi.
In 2010, the Sakai municipal government laid out astrategy revitalize the area, and solicited proposals
for eco-friendly development on the former site ofa closed elementary school.
Development of the eco-friendly residential
district began in 2013, with the chosen privatebuilder installing energy generation and storage
equipment on all 65 single-family homes.

About the projectAll the homes are equipped with solar energy
generation systems and domestic lithiumion batteries, and the management organization
has installed solar panels on shared infrastructure such as the roof of the community center. As
a result, the entire area’s annual primary energy
consumption has been reduced to zero, andelectricity is also available during post-disasterblackouts. In addition, electric car sharing andenergy visualization has been introduced toincrease residents’ environmental awareness.

The entire district

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The management organization also works on
issues including energy management, cityscape,security, and disaster prevention, including operation and energy visualization of the shared solar
generation system, storage of food and fuel, andthe installation of benches that can be converted
into stoves or toilets during disasters.
Sale of solar electricity and electric car sharing provides the management organization withadditional income to sustain its activities besides
the management fees collected from residents.

Typical street in the development

Shared electric vehicle

Solar energy system on shared facility

Neighborhood management association

Disaster preparedness event

S A K A IO S A K A

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BONJONO
District of the Future for Everyone
Share Town Project

P RO J E C T ENTITY: Jono Hitomachi Net (General incorporated association)
LO C AT ION: Kitakyushu, Fukuoka

Background and progressDiscussions about how to develop the 19hectare Bonjono district, located north of JR
Jono Station in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, began after
the relocation of a Self-Defense Forces camp andthe planned reconstruction of a public housing
estate resulted in large redevelopment sites.
This led to a commitment among stakeholders
to pursue a zero-carbon vision, which was codified in urban planning guidelines agreed uponby the Ministry of Finance, the public housing
authority UR, and the municipal government.

Plans were made for UR to subdivide the siteand private developers to supply 350 single-unit
homes and 200 multi-unit homes. As of 2016,
the eco-friendly area is under development.
The town management organization Jono
Hitomachi Net was also established in 2015
to coordinate local management groups andincrease the area’s value and appeal throughenergy management, green management, andtown security.
Solar panels installed on houses

About the projectT

he Jono Zero Carbon Advanced Urban Area
is one of the major projects of Kitakyushu’s
Environmental Future City initiative, and is
striving for a theoretical 100% reduction ofcarbon emissions across the entire district. To
achieve these goals, the city made agreementswith developers requiring energy generationand conservation measures, such as the construction of long-term, high-quality housing andthe installation of home energy management
systems in individual homes. The city underwrites a portion of the installation costs, andalso supports the use of a community energy
management system and other practices aimed

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at achieving the overall zero-carbon target for
the area’s new homes.
Town management includes energy management, which makes information about energy use in homes and facilities visible throughan online portal; green management, such as
making rules about the cityscape and maintaining walking paths and parks; and town security measures including security cameras andpatrols. Additionally, various resident-driven
events and activities based on the ideas of“co-curating and sharing the town” are held incommon spaces such the TETTE Life Workshop
community center.

The district’s community energy management system

Life Workshop community center

Camping event at a local park

Environmental learning event

K I TA K Y U S H U

F U KU O K A

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