Approach and Procedure of Urban Design: Community Development and Urban Form at

Kagurazaka, Tokyo
 Location :
Kagurazaka is a neighbourhood in Tokyo, northwest of Iidabashi Station. It has a shopping
street at its center, lined by numerous cafés and restaurants. It is served by Tokyo Metro
Tozai Line and Toei Oedo Line.
 Kagurazaka not only consists of traditional Japanese, but has diversity and harmony
1. Kagurazaka Street :
 Consecutive
 Narrow Façade
 Friendly relationship between street and shops
2. The Alley (ROJI) Community
 Established and maintained by “Karyukai” (The place and society of Ryotei and
Geisha)
 Remains as the CORE of the town
3. The Atamiyu Stairs
4. The Hyogo Alley : Special atmosphere of history, culture and life mixed
5. Diversity in restaurant/ retail façade, with “human scale”
6. Variety of Night Life, Modern and Tradition
 Character of Kagurazaka :
• Living, retail, restaurant, history and culture exist in harmony
• Street pattern and lot division since the Edo Period remain and are alive.
• Two commercial street are vital, at lower side and upper side.
• Alleys and culture, founded and brought up by “Karyukai”
• Rich accumulation of people
• Identity of Kagurazaka is getting stronger, to become a brand.
• New style of urban sightseeing, mainly by walk.
• Comfortable and convenient place to live
• Traditional culture and atmosphere
• “High-end” and “Casual” both exist in town, everyone finds his/her favorite place.
 Festival, Event, and Culture in Kagurazaka :
  The Kagurazaka Festival
- Started in 1972
- Every year, 4 days in the last week of July.
- The main entities are the local merchants’ association, and supported by many
volunteers.
- Respecting the traditional culture and historic street-scape
 Cultural Characteristics of Kagurazaka
- Historical sense of place is kept, in the middle of Tokyo
- Home of traditional performing arts, where more than 5 of “Registered Human
National Treasure” live and are active
- ”Iki area, with the culture of “Karyukai 花柳界”
 The role of Kagurazaka Merchant Association :
The culture is the treasure of district, and positively participate in the community
development/ preservation activities. → It will contribute to economic development and
sustainability.
 Awa-Odori Street Dancing Parade
- 2 nights on the Kagurazaka Street.
- Number of Dancers – more than 3,600, 56 teams. Geisha Ladies participate in the
parade.
- The local dancers visit elementary and nursing schools to teach kids how to dance.
 Street Canvas on the entire Kagurazaka 750 meters in the Machitobi Festa (autumn
cultural festival)
 Kagurazaka’s Value and Succession
1. An intimate place where you recognize “faces” of variety of people, and where everyone
finds his/her favorite place
2. Balance of Unity / Rule ⇔ Personality / Freedom
3. Loose connection between local entities
 Process of Planning and Revitalization “Machizukuri”
• 1970-80’s ： Redevelopment around Iidabashi Station, Protest movement for reclamation of
“Iidabori Moat”
• 1990 Designation as “Machizukuri promotion district” by Shinjuku ward
 • 1991 “Kagurazaka Machizukuri Organization” established, the local leaders of relevant
groups became the member.
• 1992 “Machizukuri promotion plan” was proposed to the ward, the goal being “Iki (Chic,
cool, matured, noble, friendly) place where tradition and modern cross-over.
• 1994 “The Charter of Kagurazaka” by the Machizukuri Organization
• 1996 Kagurazaka was designated as “Place of vibrant interactions” and “Iki Place on the
slope, by the moat and with history” in the Shinjuku ward urban master plan.
• 1997 The policy of Street scape Improvement was admitted by the national minister and
approved by the merchant association. Started improvement of sidewalk, street trees, street
lights and underground wiring.
• 1997 “The Machizukuri Agreement, Block 1-5 along Kagurazaka Street :
(1) Consecutive streetscape – building setback must not exceed one meter;
(2) Intimate streetscape – restrictions on building height and form;
(3) Comfortable space to welcome customers at shop entrance;
(4) Application of the “Iki” concept, design and devices - “Iki” is a keyword to describe the
sense of Kagurazaka, which encompasses “chic, cool, stylish, comfortable, traditional and
warm-hearted”
 Kagurazaka after years (Development) :
 4 story commercial building along historic alley, where used to be Ryoteis
 The widest façade along Kagurazaka (38.4m), 7 story building developed by the local
university
 Big quality change at the space, authenticity and traditional sense of “scale and touch”
collapsed and private space has become wide-exposed
 High rise residential towers built at where used to be Karyukai area
 The difference between Kagurazaka in 1973 and Kagurazaka in 2018 :
1973 : All wooden buildings for Karyukai, the world of Geisha and Ryotei
2018 : Building facing wide streets have been replaced by RC structured ones, historic
atmosphere preserved only in the core area