The changing underground network

The arteries of this network are the public underground passages connecting Tokyo Station and each subway station. One of them runs from the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station, crossing the JR line to a large underground shopping mall on the Yaesu side, while the other runs via Hibiya, passing through Ginza 4-Chome and on to Higashi Ginza, where the Kabukiza Theater is located. It is an underground passage of unprecedented length in the world. However, it was built in a different era and was maintained by a different entity, and there are stairs in various places to eliminate steps, and there are various restrictions due to its nature as a public underground passage. Although it is something to be proud of in the world, it is not necessarily a comfortable pedestrian space. This is a major issue that needs to be resolved for this network. Nevertheless, many people use this underground passage, which provides protection from the wind and rain and connects stations to their destinations without having to wait at traffic lights.

Recently, the underground shopping malls of each building that are directly connected to this underground passage have become interesting as pedestrian spaces. In the past, most underground shopping malls were dead-ends within the building, but recently, a mobility has been created where people can go from the public underground passage through the underground shopping mall of the building to the underground shopping mall of the neighboring building, and then further to the public underground passage beyond that, and the underground stores of each building form a single shopping street. For example, Marunouchi Oazo, which connects Tokyo Station and the Otemachi district, has a free passage between the buildings. In the morning, as many people head from Tokyo Station to Otemachi, shops offering coffee and light meals are bustling, and in the evening, businessmen can be seen enjoying a drink on their way home, making it both a passage and a fine shopping street. A new building will be completed in Marunouchi this February, and a new network will be born that will connect from the public underground passage under Eitai-dori to the underground shopping mall of this new building, through the underground shopping mall of the neighboring building, to the underground shopping mall of Shin-Maru Building, and then through the Gyoko-dori underground gallery in front of Tokyo Station to the Maru Building underground shopping mall. Many projects around Tokyo Station, including the Yaesu side, will be completed and opened this year. I also heard that a new pedestrian network is planned to be built that will connect the underground shopping malls of the buildings. I'm looking forward to it.

In recent years, various innovations have been seen in the connections between these underground passages and individual buildings. For example, the part where the underground passage connects to the building has an atrium all the way to the ground floor, making it look like a sunken garden with natural light streaming in. This technique is not limited to Tokyo, but can be seen all over the country. Of course, maximum consideration needs to be given to disaster prevention, but I think more of this kind of innovation could be done.

By organically connecting the public underground passageway and the building's underground shopping mall to create a continuous, lively space, what previously only functioned as a passageway will be transformed into a space that is enjoyable to walk through. We believe that this underground network with its unique neighborhood character could become a new tourist spot in Tokyo. Foreign visitors to Marunouchi, especially those from East Asia, show great interest in the underground network around Tokyo Station. As an important part of Japan's urban infrastructure, we believe that the know-how and example of this underground network will be highly regarded overseas as well.