The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Expressway (KK Line) held “GINZA SKY WALK 2024,” a three-day event from May 4 to 6 to stop automobile traffic on the KK Line running through central Tokyo and experience a future pedestrian space.
This event is part of the “Tokyo Sky Corridor” project, which aims to revitalize the KK Line connecting Shimbashi, Ginza, Yurakucho, and Kyobashi into a promenade surrounded by greenery, and is intended to provide many people with a vision of the future. The walkway is 1.8 km out of the 2 km length of the KK Line, and visitors can enjoy performances on a special stage, next-generation mobility test rides, a children’s playground, art experiences, and other activities while enjoying the view of the city center.
The major change from last year was that the number of participant slots was increased from 3,000 to 15,000, with more morning and evening programs. Last year, 27,000 people applied for the 3,000-person quota, and some people said, “I can’t win. It was nine times narrower than the previous year, as some people said, “I can’t win. Can’t you increase the number of participants? In response to this request, this year they prepared 15,000 slots and received 29,000 applicants. Although it is not possible to make a general comparison because of the difference in the timing and form of the application, it may have made it easier for those who were interested to participate.
The daytime GINZA SKY WALK 2024 is free of charge, but the morning program, which includes running and yoga, costs 1,100 yen, and the night program, which includes a drink and a night view, costs 1,650 yen.
GINZA SKY WALK 2024 starts from the Shimbashi entrance. The sensation of walking up the sloping roadway on foot is quite a strange one, mixed with a sense of elation boosted by the special feeling of “being able to walk freely in a restricted area,” as if you were walking in a pedestrian paradise. Then, as you enter the main line and can look out over the city, the view of the Ginza area jumps out at you. The view from the car is different from the one seen from inside the car, perhaps because of the sense of openness and the leisurely pace of walking. Although there are differences in elevation depending on the location, the view of the city from a height of approximately 8 meters, or three to four floors above the ground in a building, is a refreshing change.
The KK Line is also featured in various places, including panels introducing the history of the KK Line, highlights of the line, and the elevated buildings under the road. Unlike the Metropolitan Expressway, the KK Line is operated on the revenues of building tenants. The smell of delicious food and drink from the many restaurants and eateries can be smelled everywhere, which is also unique to the Skywalk.
As we approached the right curve, many people were standing ahead of us with their smartphones and cameras ready. Yes, this is the Shimbashi – Hibiya section that runs parallel to the Shinkansen, and it is a hot spot to see the Shinkansen up close as they frequently come and go at the same height. Both children and adults were gaping at the power of the trains.
The Mobility Area, one of the event areas, was set up near Hibiya. Many people stopped by to view the exhibits and test-ride the mobility of the future. After the rehabilitation of the KK line, the area is scheduled to become a promenade, but plans also include the introduction of mobility devices that support walking, and this was also a place where visitors could experience it firsthand.
After crossing Harumi-dori Avenue, a play area was set up as a playground to tickle intellectual curiosity. The Tokyo Green Biz booth introduced the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s efforts to “protect,” “nurture,” and “make the most of” Tokyo’s greenery for the next 100 years, and other exhibits included workshops for children.
A few steps further on, in the Yurakucho area, an ethical area was placed where visitors could experience the society that the future KK Line is aiming for. The zone featured reused artificial turf, live performances and performances on a sustainable stage, stores selling local products, and an exhibition of the city and its art. In addition, many people cheered when a portable shrine performance by the local neighborhood association began.
Walking around the right curve with the Tokyo International Forum on the left, we entered the Marunouchi area and were only 400 meters away from the goal line at Kyobashi. The 1.8-km walk was a reasonable distance, but with new sights and event exhibits, it was over in no time at all. I was very impressed with the new scenery and events on display.
From around 7:00 p.m., a talk show was held with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, Hiroshi Kato, President of Tokyo Expressway, and Seiichi Saito, Co-Creation Platform Conductor of the KK Line Regeneration Project.
Mr. Kato explained that the KK Line revitalization project will be carried out in cooperation with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and that it is important to incorporate the opinions of many local residents to create a beloved facility. He also explained that a “co-creation platform” had been established to promote the project, and that Mr. Seiichi Saito had been appointed as a conductor to “bring together the many conflicting and sometimes dissonant opinions to create a melody that will remain in everyone’s hearts and minds. He also spoke about the appointment of Mr. Seiichi Saito as the conductor.
Mr. Saito, who was appointed as the Co-Creation Platform Conductor, said that a town belongs to a wide range of people, from land owners to users, and that the important thing in a revitalization project is to build it together. To achieve this, he explained, “We will implement a ‘new co-creative public’ on the KK line.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has set a goal of 30 million inbound visitors by 2030 and is promoting a number of projects. One of these is the creation of new tourist attractions. Governor Koike introduced the projection mapping of Godzilla on the wall of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, which was able to attract many people to the Tomin Hiroba, which was empty at night.
As an overseas example, the High Line in New York City has gained popularity by turning it into a hanging garden, and he commented, “So it has become a tourist attraction, and people are saying, if I go to New York, I will go to the High Line. I hope that if I go to Tokyo, I will go to the KK Line,” he commented. Based on the idea of co-creation, he said that he hopes the KK Line will become an unforgettable city.
The Tokyo Sky Corridor project to revitalize the KK Line is expected to be completed between the 2030s and 2040s, with construction to begin in mid-2020. The company hopes to hold such an event until construction begins, but it cannot say whether it will hold the event in 2025, since construction of the new Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway ring route (Shin-Kyobashi connector) will start as soon as the construction of the new ring route begins. If this event is held again next year, it may be the last chance, so if you want to walk on Ginza, why not apply?
© Source travel watch
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