JR East Launches Greater Shinagawa Area co-creative urban development
- Adam German
- Oct 9
- 2 min read
East Japan Railway Company (JR East) announced on October 7th that it will officially begin co-creative urban development efforts within what it designates the Kōiki Shinagawa-ken, which translates as the “Greater Shinagawa Area”
OIMACHI TRACKS finished exterior CG rendering courtesy of JR East press release linked at the bottom of this article.
The company has defined the southern Tokyo area stretching from Hamamatsucho Station to Oimachi Station as the Greater Shinagawa Zone and intends to pursue an integrated “co-creative urban area strategy” aimed at enhancing appeal and value across the district.
At the core of the strategy is evolving Suica (JR train pre-paid train pass) into a lifestyle device and establishing it as a platform to connect stations, neighborhoods, and consumers.
The plan includes emphasizing sustainability in environmental planning, forming a high-quality nighttime economy, and creating vibrant public plaza space totaling 50,000 m² within the zone.
On March 28th, 2026, the international exchange hub TAKANAWA GATE CITY (in Minato Ward) is slated for its grand opening, and simultaneously OIMACHI TRACKS (in Shinagawa Ward) will launch as an urban life co-creation hub - marking the formal beginning of the zone’s development.
By the mid-2030s, JR East envisions approximately 1.5 million m² of floor area in its group-owned buildings within the zone, and annual operating revenues exceeding ¥100 billion.
Regarding Takanawa: the firm has released details of TAKANAWA GATE CITY RESIDENCE, a rental housing complex with 847 units. It will be located a nine-minute walk from Takanawa Gateway Station and a six-minute walk from Sengakuji Station (Toei Asakusa Line).
The building, constructed with reinforced concrete and partial steel structure, spans 44 floors above ground and two below, incorporating vibration control. Units range from 43.12 to 587.60 m², with layouts from 1LDK to 5LDK.
Common areas are themed around “wind and sails,” and include a terrace with city views, workspaces, and a theater room. The development will also feature a 24-hour multilingual concierge service and doorman, along with twelve furnished and appliance-equipped “concept” units.
A new smart-home service integrated with Suica will be offered.
Japanese news spot from November 2024 featuring the Greater Shinagawa Area redevelopment project. Turn on auto-captioning in English to get a better understanding of what is being said. The visuals of the project in the piece are easy to understand.
In Oimachi, JR East is developing OIMACHI TRACKS RESIDENCE, a rental tower with 194 units, located two minutes from Oimachi Station, with direct access that avoids the need for an umbrella from the ticket gates.
The building is of mixed structural types (steel reinforced, reinforced concrete, steel), with 26 floors above and three below. It will house 174 rental homes and 20 SOHO units, with sizes from 27.88 to 127.20 m² (layouts 1K to 3LDK).
Features include a private terrace in the lobby, meeting rooms for guest reception, and a resident-only lounge on the 14th floor. As with Takanawa, the development will emphasize premium hospitality services.
Both properties are scheduled to begin occupancy in April 2026.
Further Reading:
JR East Press Release (Japanese only)
Source:
R.E. Port News (Japanese only)
