On March 27, 2025, TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, one of the largest new urban developments in central Tokyo, officially opened its doors to the public. Spearheaded by JR East, this large-scale project transforms approximately 9.5 hectares around Takanawa Gateway Station into a futuristic city that combines offices, commercial facilities, hotels, residences, and cultural spaces. Designed as a testing ground for an enriched life 100 years in the future, the city integrates cutting-edge technology with lush greenery to offer visitors a new kind of immersive experience. In this article, we'll explore the highlights of this next-generation city firsthand.

TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY is made up of five buildings across four blocks: the NORTH and SOUTH towers of THE LINKPILLAR 1, equipped with office and large-scale convention spaces; the multi-use THE LINKPILLAR 2 adjacent to Sengakuji Station; the cultural centerpiece MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives; and the residential building TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY RESIDENCE. In anticipation of the city's full opening in spring 2026, THE LINKPILLAR 1 and the fully completed Takanawa Gateway Station have opened during this initial phase.

Just outside the newly completed south gate of Takanawa Gateway Station is the spacious Gateway Park. To commemorate the opening, the park currently houses the artwork "100 colors no.53" by French architect Emmanuelle Moureaux.

The artwork is a tunnel installation composed of countless lines in 100 colors. Each line is inscribed with a year, beginning in 2025 and extending 100 years into the future, symbolizing the passage of time over a century.

The exhibit will be on display until July 21. There will also be workshops based on the theme of "color" led by Moureaux himself. Visit the official website for more details.

From the fall of 2025 to the spring of 2026, LUMINE will open its largest commercial facility to date, NEWoMan TAKANAWA, spread across three areas: the NORTH and SOUTH towers of THE LINKPILLAR 1 and THE LINKPILLAR 2. Two stores opened ahead of schedule as part of the initial launch, and at the entrance of the NORTH tower, Danish floral artist Nicolai Bergmann opened a new store called "Nicolai Bergmann Takanawa".

The shop follows four themes—flower, café, school, and living—and offers a wide range of products. You can purchase products exclusive to the Takanawa location, such as special flower boxes, bouquets, and flower arrangements.

At the other end, the entrance to the SOUTH tower is now home to Blue Bottle Coffee Takanawa Café, which also opened early. To mark the occasion, the café brought back its popular Reusable Bag (Silver) from 2020 as a limited revival item.

In addition to hand-brewed coffee and espresso drinks, the café offers exclusive items such as the Banana Pound Cake, which has a moist texture and rich banana flavor that pairs perfectly with coffee. Other highlights include the Cherry Blossom Latte, made with a special syrup made from cherry blossom water, and freshly baked Liège Waffles. It's the perfect place to take a relaxing break while exploring the city.

In front of Takanawa Gateway Station, a limited-time mixed-use event space, ZERO-SITE Takanawa Gateway, is also open until July 31. It features a 700-person capacity event hall, a lounge, and three bars, all equipped with state-of-the-art sound systems.

On weeknights, the venue transforms into a night museum bar, while on weekend nights it becomes a music bar and club where you can enjoy food, drinks and entertainment.

KDDI is relocating its headquarters to the NORTH tower of THE LINKPILLAR 1, and to celebrate the grand opening on July 1, they are demonstrating the operation of cleaning, security, and delivery robots in the entrance area of the building.

Together with JR East, KDDI is also developing a shared digital platform. Built on this platform, the TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY app combines data from railway operations with information from delivery robots, Suica, and others to enhance the convenience of all visitors. The app allows users to check real-time train schedules, reserve event tickets, order food for delivery or takeout, and browse information about shops and facilities.

Robots and mobility devices are a major highlight of TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY. One such device is iino, an autonomous mobility vehicle developed by Gekidaniino G.K. These vehicles operate primarily around Gateway Park, allowing passengers to get on and off at will. There are up to five in operation, each accommodating multiple passengers and cruising through the city at a comfortable walking pace of around 5 km/h.

Beside the grand staircase between the NORTH and SOUTH towers, ASKA's 1/3 scale mock-up of the ASKA A5 flying car, which can operate both on land and in the air, is on display. This four-seater vehicle is expected to play a key role in future domestic tourism services.

The city's initial opening also unveiled LiSH business innovation facility and four shops inside the station. Numerous events are planned leading up to the full grand opening in spring 2026. TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY honors Takanawa's history and culture while creating new value for the future. With deep ties to the local community and a commitment to sustainability, this futuristic city may be too vast to fully explore in a single visit. But each return promises new discoveries—why not come and see for yourself?

【TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY】
https://www.takanawagateway-city.com/