"Giant Labyrinth" Shibuya Don't hesitate anymore July 29, 18:19

A railroad platform that goes deep underground.

A passage that loses its sense of direction.

And the crowd of commuting rush ...

Shibuya Station is also called the "labyrinth" that makes many people confused.

Aiming for a station that is easy for everyone to walk, railway companies are now taking measures with the government.

The destination is "in the air".

(Kentaro Makata, Reporter, Ministry of Economic Affairs)

"Aerial corridor" that appeared in Shibuya redevelopment

Around Shibuya Station in Tokyo, where skyscrapers are being built one after another and large-scale redevelopment continues.

On July 15th, a new facility appeared here.

It is a pedestrian deck that connects to the 3rd and 4th floors of Shibuya Hikarie.

It was maintained over 200 meters in parallel with Miyamasuzaka.

In 2027, we plan to connect to the skyscrapers "Shibuya Scramble Square" and "Shibuya Mark City" that stand around the station to make it look like an "aerial corridor."

It is an image of a large bridge connecting about 800 meters between the west side of Shibuya = Dogenzaka and the east side = Miyamasuzaka.

In addition, vertical flow lines have been installed in high-rise buildings such as Hikarie with elevators and escalators to facilitate movement between the underground platform and the pedestrian deck.

The aim is to improve convenience by allowing you to reach your destination without having to go through complicated underground passages.

Why is it so complicated?

Why proceed with such a grand plan?

The reason is the complicated structure of Shibuya Station, which is unprecedented in domestic stations.

This is the yard map of Shibuya station.

Even if you don't actually go there, you'll be dizzy with its complexity.

The home of the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line is on the highest 3rd floor above ground.

Although it is a subway, it is located higher than the elevated JR Yamanote Line.

On the other hand, the platforms for the Fukutoshin Line and Tokyu Toyoko Line are located on the 5th basement floor, far down from there.

The composition of the platforms, which are layered from the ground to the basement, is likened to a huge labyrinth.

"Giant labyrinth" built by 100 years of history

Experts studying Shibuya Station point out that this complex structure was built by the topography of the "valley" symbolized by the place name Shibuya and the 100-year history of repeated expansion and renovation of the station.

Shibuya station moved to its current location in 1920, 100 years ago.

It was located at the lowest "valley bottom" in Shibuya, and there was no wide flat land around it.

At first, there was only a tram stop near the Yamanote Line, but after that, when another line entered, new platforms were added on top of the old station building.

Since the Ginza Line, which was introduced in 1938, passes through a shallow underground, in Shibuya, the railroad tracks pop out from the side of the valley into the air, and even though it is a subway, a platform is built at a higher position than the Japanese National Railways at that time. It became a shape.

On the other hand, after 1975, when new lines such as the Hanzomon Subway Line and the Tokyu Denen-toshi Line entered Shibuya one after another in response to economic growth and population growth, we had no choice but to build a platform underground. ..

As a result, the structure has changed to a deep underground structure.

Professor Tamura

"The complex structure is the result of repeated expansions and renovations in a form that can be said to be ad hoc as the number of passengers increases. It can be said that the accumulation of 100 years of history is what Shibuya Station is today."

It's getting more and more complicated ...

A huge labyrinth created by terrain and history.

In 2013, the direct operation of the Tokyu Toyoko Line and the Subway Fukutoshin Line started to attract more attention to its complexity.

Along with this, the platform of the Toyoko Line, which was on the 2nd floor above ground, was relocated to the 5th basement floor, and as a result, Toyoko Line passengers who had not had to go through the underground passage flowed into the basement.

That number, a total of 400,000 people a day.

"The guidance is difficult to understand."

"It should be possible for first-time visitors to change trains without hesitation."

This year, railway companies received more than 400 such complaints from passengers.

There are 20 exits from the underground passage to the ground.

What's more, you can't see the outside scenery, so it's easy to lose your sense of direction.

First of all, in an attempt to solve this problem, railway companies have renewed the alphabet and numbers assigned to exits by dividing Shibuya into four areas with the government.

"A" Northwest side of the station such as Hachiko-mae Square

"B" Northeast side such as Shibuya Hikarie

"C" Southeast side such as Shibuya Police Station

"D" Southwest side such as Sakuragaokaguchi, which is currently under redevelopment

If you check which area you want to go to and then pay attention to the alphabet of the exit, you can prevent mistakes such as "I came to an exit far from the destination".

In fact, last year's complaints to railroad companies were reduced to about one-tenth of 2013.

Mr. Kurose

"When the Toyoko Line moved underground, it was so inconvenient that even my classmates at the university complained directly that the station was difficult to understand. After checking the alphabet of the area where the destination was, I went through the underground passage. I think it's hard to get lost when walking. "

Increase migration

This "aerial corridor" is created as a drastic measure after organizing the underground information boards.

Along with the redevelopment of the area around Shibuya Station, such as the construction of skyscrapers, the pedestrian deck will be completed in 2027.

Railway companies are aiming to improve mobility with pedestrian decks.

Until now, the city was divided by national roads and railroad tracks, and most people who got off at Shibuya Station visited the northwest side of the station where Hachiko-mae Square is located.

However, if the pedestrian deck in the air is completed, there is a possibility that the flow of people will spread further toward Aoyama and Daikanyama.

Mr. Tokyu Kurose

"I think that the pedestrian deck will unify the cities that were divided into north, south, east and west. Now the scrambled intersection is attracting the attention of foreign tourists, but in 2027 there will be a lot of decks in the air. The sight of people coming and going may become a new specialty of Shibuya. "

At a turning point where the city changes drastically

Professor Tamura of Showa Women's University predicts that this redevelopment will be a turning point in the city of Shibuya for the first time in 100 years.

Professor Tamura

"If the places where people walk are dispersed into three areas, the" pedestrian deck, "" above ground, "and" underground passages, "the image of Shibuya as garbage may change. In order to respond to rapid development, we have responded with patchwork-like emergency measures. This is the first time that a town or station has been designed with total coordination from a long-term perspective, and Shibuya is a more sophisticated city. Isn't it? "

From the underground labyrinth to the aerial corridor.

How will the new flow of people born in Shibuya change the city?

I will continue to pay attention to it.

Reporter of the Ministry of Economic Affairs

Kentaro Makata

After working at the Obihiro station, Takamatsu station, and Hiroshima station, he is currently affiliated.

Coverage of the railway industry, etc. at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism