Tokyo – A megacity that works

21 November 2018

Discover how Tokyo's long-term urban planning transformed it into a thriving megacity with world-class transport, vibrant business districts, and green spaces.

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As a successful megacity, Tokyo understands that long-term and continuous planning for its urban infrastructure is critical to ensure the city’s growth in a sustainable and efficient manner. Long before it burgeoned into a megacity that it is today, Tokyo already started laying the foundations for an extensive and good public transportation network and continuously updated it over the decades.

From post-war recovery to modern day metropolis

In the second half of 20th century, Tokyo developed to cope with the rising challenges due to urbanisation, increasing population, and rapid economic expansion. The city pursued urban infrastructure development to support its rapid population and economic growth, which led to its prosperity at the end of 20th century. By taking a conscientious and long-term approach in its urban development, Tokyo today is a city that is widely reputed for its high efficiency, technological advancements, and excellent public transportation.

Black and white aerial view of a harbor with small islands, a connecting causeway, docks, and a city skyline in the background.

Snow-capped Mount Fuji rises behind Tokyo's dense skyline of tall modern buildings under a clear blue sky.

Tokyo before and after © Tokyo Metropolitan Government

From car-based to highly advanced public transportation

Tokyo’s public transportation network today is arguably one of the world’s most extensive and complex. In most parts of central Tokyo, it takes approximately 5-10 minutes on foot to reach the nearest train station, and 64% of the area within the JR Yamanote loop line is within 5 minutes to the nearest train station.

The modal split for transportation by train in the city’s 23 Special Wards is 48%, higher than any other city in the world. Approximately 80% of commuters in the city use public transportation such as trains and buses. The city’s measures to ease congestion, such as construction of new lines, adding tracks to existing lines, making trains longer, and enhancing through-services between railway operators, has seen its congestion rate improved over the years.

Black and white photo of heavy vintage car traffic on a wide urban road with Japanese signage visible.

Tokyo in the past: a car-based city that is often clogged by traffic jams © Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Two green and white trains arrive at a busy Japanese metro station platform crowded with waiting passengers.

Tokyo today: an efficient city based on a highly advanced public transportation network © Tokyo Metropolitan Government

From sombre suit-and-tie to vibrant and inclusive business environments

The city employs a strategy of multiple centres and continually renews them as vibrant business centres to enhance Tokyo’s international competitiveness. The Central Business District of Otemachi, Marunouchi and Yurakucho (OMY District) between the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station is one such urban renewal area that has been revitalised.

Mitsubishi Estate – a real estate developer and major landowner in the OMY District, understood the development of good public infrastructure that benefits the community would in turn benefit the private developments themselves, and took the lead in collaborating with other landowners to revise the district master plan, turning around what could have been a sterile concrete jungle into a far more hospitable environment lined with plentiful public spaces for all to enjoy.

Black and white photo of a wide urban street flanked by tall office buildings with pedestrians and parked cars.

Marunouchi in the past: a sterile business environment © Tokyo Metropolitan Government

A wide urban plaza with pedestrians and a cyclist surrounded by tall office buildings and green trees.

Marunouchi today: a vibrant and inclusive business environment © Damien Woon

Aerial view of Tokyo Station's red brick building surrounded by modern glass skyscrapers under a blue sky.

A special scheme that allows the transfer of built area to surrounding developments made the restoration of the Tokyo Station to its former glory possible © Damien Woon

Tree-lined urban pedestrian street in Japan with people walking and two sitting on a bench near a Beams store.

Lushly planted sidewalks, ample seating places and shops create a casual environment in the Marunouchi district that appeals to not just the businessmen © Damien Woon

Three people sit at a rooftop terrace surrounded by trees, with a red brick building and skyscrapers behind them.

Outdoor areas within developments in the Marunouchi district offer a place of respite for office workers © Damien Woon

People walking and sitting in an urban plaza with benches, trees, glass walls, and a cafe entrance nearby.

Developments within the Marunouchi district are seamlessly connected to one another via underground links © Damien Woon

Two men with briefcases walk in opposite directions through a modern underground corridor with art displays.

From a landfill to a green haven

The Umi-no-Mori (opens in new tab) (sea forest) project – a conversion of a landfill in the Tokyo Bay into a park, creatively transforms a previously inaccessible and unsightly place into a new public space. The project is an innovation in creating more public spaces in the city and offering more recreational opportunities for the people. Since its inauguration in 2008, the project involved some 23,366 people selected by the public and 478 organisations in the planting of trees, giving them a sense of ownership. The park is slated to complete in 2020 and would increase the provision greenery in the city, as well as help raise awareness on the importance of recycling.

A large open landfill covered in mixed waste and plastic bags, with two bulldozers working near a body of water.

Before the transformation: an unsightly waste landfill site is about to be transformed into a new park © Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Aerial view of a large industrial port peninsula surrounded by blue ocean with a bridge visible in the background.

Elevated view of green vegetation and a winding path near a river, with a wind turbine visible in the background.