JR East Fully Opens Takanawa Gateway City

Tokyo, March 28 (Jiji Press)–East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, on Saturday fully opened Takanawa Gateway City, a large-scale redevelopment district in Tokyo’s Minato Ward. Three new facilities, including a cultural facility and luxury rental housing, were opened in the district. The redevelopment project aims to accelerate urban growth by leveraging the district’s direct connection to Takanawa Gateway Station on JR East’s Yamanote Line, as well as its 9.5 hectares of prime space in central Tokyo. Saturday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by JR East Chairman Yuji Fukasawa, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and others. On the same day, the company also opened its new Oimachi Tracks complex in neighboring Shinagawa Ward. “From the wider Shinagawa area, we will continue to create and share new values of Tokyo that can outcompete other cities globally,” JR East President and CEO Yoichi Kise said during the ceremony. Takanawa Gateway City opened on a former rail yard site a year ago with two buildings and has since become a destination that attracts about 60,000 visitors per day. It also features an exchange hub for start-ups and investors. With the full opening, the daily number of visitors is expected to reach around 100,000. During redevelopment, embankments built in the early Meiji period to construct railway tracks over the sea were excavated. After restoration work, some of these historical structures are scheduled to be exhibited from spring 2028. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]