The second workshop for university students in Yokohama City, "What does the future of 'Smart City Yokohama' mean?", was held on Wednesday, November 19th at the Open Innovation Space on the Minato Mirai Campus of Kanagawa University.
The theme of this event was "Exploring the activities of electric railway companies that go beyond railways." Guest speakers included Mr. Hayashi from Sotetsu Urban Creates Inc. and Mr. Horiguchi from Tokyu Corporation, and a fruitful discussion was held under the facilitation of Mr. Sato from BizTech, Ltd.
What is a smart city? Human happiness beyond technology
At the beginning of the workshop, Mr. Sato of the Future Innovation Center Yokohama reiterated the purpose of the program.
"When we hear the term 'smart city,' we tend to focus on technological aspects such as ICT, AI, and mobility. However, these are merely means to an end. What is truly important is how to create an environment where people can live happily, comfortably, safely, and securely."
While many smart cities around the world focus on human life, Japan tends to approach it from a technology perspective. This is why this workshop will focus on "people's lives" and the "power of companies" that make it a reality.
Yokohama, Japan's second largest city, is home to many globally active companies. This was a valuable opportunity to learn from two contrasting railway companies, the local Sotetsu Group and the Tokyu Group, which operates along railway lines across a wide area, how they can be involved in urban development beyond simply being a transportation company.
Sotetsu Urban Creates' "Yokohama Station West Exit Renovation Project" - Well-Crossing Urban Development
Yokohama Station West Exit Renovation Project: Promoting urban development based on the concept of "Well-Crossing"
The first speaker was Mr. Hayashi from the Yokohama Station Business Division of Sotetsu Urban Creates Inc. Mr. Hayashi is involved in the promotion of "THE YOKOHAMA FRONT," which opened last year, as well as the Sotetsu Group's "Yokohama Station West Exit Major Renovation Plan."
Mr. Hayashi first introduced the "Demonstration Experiment of an Urban Locally Produced and Consumed Plant Factory" project, which was announced in April 2025. This initiative involves collaborating with a startup to effectively utilize unused facilities along the Sotetsu Railway line to cultivate leafy vegetables, transport them as a "mixed freight and passenger" service on the Sotetsu Line, and sell them at supermarkets operated by group companies along the line.
The main topic he discussed was the "Yokohama Station West Exit Major Renovation Plan," which was announced in September 2024.
Yokohama Station is Japan's largest terminal station, with six railway operators serving the station. The west exit area is attractive for its "bustling atmosphere" with a diverse range of people coming and going. However, Hayashi says, "Traditionally, urban development has prioritized economic rationality. However, we are now in an era where new values that go beyond economic rationality, such as well-being (richness and happiness) and sustainability, are being placed even more importance."
The Sotetsu Group has therefore come up with the concept of "Well-Crossing." The group will promote urban development that adds the new element of well-being to the attractive features of the terminal and bustling nature of the west exit of Yokohama Station.
"Diverse Well-being = Creating and Pursuing Abundance"--Towards a town where not only commerce but also diverse uses such as working, living, playing and learning intersect, and where people can encounter well-being on a daily basis. A town that proposes the action of Well-Crossing, where diverse people, companies and information come together and interact, creating new encounters with "Well-being" -- that is the value provided by "Well-Crossing."
Three key themes and the reorganization of public spaces
To realize this vision, the Sotetsu Group has set three key themes.
1. Well-CrossingIntroducing content and services that represent
Two.Clustering of new industries through co-creation urban development
Three.Developing a system that connects diverse people
Specifically, starting with the reconstruction of Sotetsu Moo Building, we will promote gradual redevelopment with the goal of completing it in the 2040s.
Mr. Hayashi particularly emphasized the following points:Reorganization of public spaceCurrently, the west exit of Yokohama Station is congested with bus and taxi stands, resulting in limited pedestrian space. To improve this, buses and taxis will be dispersed and a plaza will be created in front of the station. The aim is to create a "walkable town" where events and activities can be held.
In fact, a demonstration experiment will be carried out in the station square in May 2025. A video was shown to the students, showing an event being held in the square, with many people gathering and interacting. Making use of the waterfront space around Yokohama Station, making the most of the rivers, is also an important element of the plan.
Vlag Yokohama—A hub for business co-creation
Hayashi also introduced Vlag Yokohama, located on the top floor of THE YOKOHAMA FRONT.
This is a business co-creation facility jointly operated by Sotetsu Urban Creates and Tokyu. It is a place where a variety of players, including companies, local governments, creators, residents, and students, come together to work on problem-solving and new value creation through open innovation. While it is a members-only facility, low-cost membership slots are available for students, and open events for the general public are also held regularly.
Tokyu Corporation's "Suburban Urban Development" - Challenge Park Hayano Experiment
Challenge Park Hayano - A new initiative called "Corporate Park"
Next to speak was Mr. Horiguchi from Tokyu Corporation. Mr. Horiguchi was previously involved in community garden development and joined Tokyu in January 2024. He is currently involved in suburban urban development and housing complex revitalization in the Tama Den-en-toshi area.
Mr. Horiguchi gave a detailed introduction to Nexus Challenge Park Hayano.
Located near the border between Kawasaki and Yokohama, this approximately 8000 square meter vacant lot is a place where, due to restrictions on building construction, trailer homes were set up and the park was opened in April 2022 as a "corporate park" where Tokyu employees are stationed.
The concept here is "minimal restrictions, free for everyone to use." Events are held once or twice a month to promote intergenerational exchange and community building, and various activities are carried out with local residents and their buddies, including the government, schools, and businesses, such as markets, workshops, community exchanges, and demonstration experiments. In the two years since opening, the total number of visitors has exceeded 20,000, with over 150 event vendors and over 50 demonstration experiments conducted. Many local talents have been discovered in order to create an attractive town from the perspective of the residents.
Issues surrounding housing complexes and the Nexus concept
The Nijigaoka/Susukino housing complex area, where Challenge Park Hayano is located, is facing typical issues faced by suburban housing complexes, such as an aging population, a declining number of children, and the isolation of foreign families.Tokyu is therefore working hand in hand with local residents and buddies to support and develop initiatives to address local issues as a means of promoting local and multi-generational interaction, such as a candy store run by an after-school day care center in collaboration with a nearby university student, and an open-air library planned by local children for the elderly.
Horiguchi spoke about the "Nexus Concept," which originates from Challenge Park Hayano. The concept aims to create a sustainable urban model by networking local resources, people, real estate, services, transportation, and public spaces. The key concepts are "resident-centered," "autonomous decentralized urban development," and "creating a connected population."
We are considering further developments in the future, such as the development of indoor bases, shared kitchens, utilization of vacant houses, and multi-generational student exchange.
Lively discussion with students
In the second half of the workshop, the students raised many questions and suggestions.
In response to the question, "Who is Vlag YOKOHAMA aimed at?", Hayashi replied, "Yokohama Station is a place where issues closely related to daily life tend to gather, and where a variety of players can easily demonstrate and implement their ideas in society. We also offer affordable plans for students."
In response to the question, "If we emphasize diversity, won't things become cluttered and inconsistent?", he replied, "New value is born when different values clash. It is important to align our direction of 'Let's all work together to make the city better' through area management and network building."
In response to the suggestion, "What is the future of the housing complex? Isn't it possible to downsize it?", Horiguchi showed a flexible perspective, saying, "For example, it is possible to develop the area in a way that makes use of the characteristics of each area, such as nature or sports. Collaboration with the government and the local community is necessary."
The students also made specific suggestions, such as, "We want a monument where students can gather at the west exit of Yokohama Station," and "Can suburban buses be used as a hub for local interaction?" Both companies took these suggestions seriously and deepened the discussion.
After the workshop
In this workshop, we learned that railway companies are not just transportation companies,General producer of urban developmentIt became clear that the company plays a wide range of roles as a
Sotetsu is creating new urban value centered on well-being and diversity at the west exit of Yokohama Station, a central terminal in the city, while Tokyu is working with residents to reorganize their lifestyles and foster new communities in suburban housing complexes in areas with many challenges.
What both have in common is thatWhile utilizing ICT and digital technology as a means, we place great importance on a "people-centered" approach, "respect for diversity," and "collaboration with the local community."Furthermore, the process of creating new value through repeated demonstration experiments with a long-term perspective, involving a wide range of players including government, businesses, residents, and students, is itself a hint at the future of smart cities.
The participating students came from different faculties and fields of expertise and engaged in lively discussions, finding it an opportunity to reexamine from a new perspective the power of a railway company, a familiar presence, in urban development.
This workshop will be held in six sessions. The next session will be held as an attendance session at the Asia Smart City Conference 2025, which will be held from November 25th (Tue) to 26th (Wed).
Additionally, on Wednesday, December 3rd, we will be visiting JGC Corporation to hold a workshop on the theme of "Considering the creators of smart cities."
We will continue to report on the workshop, so please stay tuned!