Pedestrian Paradise Anniversary Day

What Is Pedestrian Paradise Anniversary Day?

August 2nd marks the anniversary of the large-scale "hokoten" (pedestrian paradise) that began simultaneously in 1970 in the Ginza, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Asakusa districts of Tokyo. "Hokoten" is short for "hokosha tengoku" (pedestrian paradise).

Why Did Pedestrian Paradises Begin?

During Japan's era of rapid economic growth, the explosive rise in automobile use made traffic accidents, congestion, exhaust fumes, and noise serious urban problems. Pedestrian deaths were so common that the term "traffic war" was coined.

• The background: In Tokyo, at the urging of then-Governor Ryokichi Minobe, the Metropolitan Police Department asked shopping associations to cooperate in opening busy streets to pedestrians
• The first day: It was a Sunday, and Ginza reportedly drew about 230,000 visitors — roughly ten times a normal Sunday — with parasols and benches set up on the roadway
• The areas involved: Ginza, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Asakusa all started at the same time

Asahikawa Came First

In fact, Japan's first large-scale pedestrian paradise was tried a year earlier, in August 1969, on Heiwa-dori in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. In 1972, Asahikawa opened the "Heiwa-dori Kaimono Koen," Japan's first permanent pedestrian mall.

How the Idea Spread

Streets turned into pedestrian paradises saw big drops in noise and carbon monoxide, and the idea spread to cities across Japan. On June 10, 1973, a roughly 5.5-kilometer pedestrian paradise stretching from Ginza to Ueno — said to be the world's longest at the time — was held, and June 10 is known 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
• Think about whether the streets in your own town are easy for people to walk

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 its people. Let August 2nd be a day to look back at the history behind the shopping streets we walk through without a second thought.