Pedestrian Paradise Anniversary Day

What Is Pedestrian Paradise Anniversary Day?

August 2nd marks the anniversary of Japan's very first "hokoten" (pedestrian paradise), implemented in 1970 in the Ginza, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Asakusa districts of Tokyo.

Why Did Pedestrian Paradises Begin?

During Japan's era of rapid economic growth, the explosive rise in automobile use had made traffic accidents, congestion, and exhaust pollution serious urban problems.

• The background: the Metropolitan Police Department launched a policy to "restore humanity" by banning cars from bustling shopping districts on weekends
• The first day: Ginza reportedly saw around 230,000 visitors -- ten times its usual foot traffic
• The areas involved: Ginza, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Asakusa all launched pedestrian paradises simultaneously

How the Idea Spread

The initiative spread to cities across Japan, with pedestrian paradises becoming a common weekend and holiday feature in many shopping districts. On June 10, 1973, a roughly 5.5-kilometer pedestrian paradise stretching from Ginza to Ueno -- the longest in the world at the time -- was held, and that date is separately commemorated as "Pedestrian Paradise Day."

Tips for Marking This Day

• Visit a district like Ginza or Akihabara that still holds pedestrian paradises today
• Look up photos or footage from 1970 and imagine the crowds back then
• Learn about the urban problems Japan faced during its era of rapid economic growth
• Reflect on the policy idea of "restoring humanity" to city streets

From Cars to People -- A Social Experiment That Changed How Streets Are Used

Temporarily reclaiming an increasingly car-centric urban space for people -- the pedestrian paradise was more than a traffic regulation; it was a social experiment reconsidering the relationship between a city and the people who live in it. Let August 2nd be a day to look back at the history behind the shopping streets we walk through without a second thought.