Woven City, Experimental city project near Mount Fuji, Japan
Woven City is an experimental urban development near Mount Fuji in Susono, featuring three separate pathway systems for automated vehicles, pedestrians, and personal mobility devices. The site includes residential buildings, workshops, and testing areas for new technologies, all connected by an underground logistics network.
The site served as a production facility for Toyota Motor East Japan until 2020 and was then repurposed for the new urban experiment. Construction started in 2021 with the goal of transforming a former industrial zone into a lived-in testing ground for future urban development.
The name refers to the interwoven pathways that cross the site like threads in a traditional Japanese textile pattern. Visitors can watch craftsmen and robots working side by side on timber facades, showing a direct encounter between old carpentry skills and digital fabrication.
Access is currently limited to residents and invited visitors since the site operates as an active research laboratory. Those interested should check in advance whether public tours or viewing opportunities are available.
Beneath the streets run tunnels through which autonomous vehicles transport goods and packages without deliveries crossing paths with pedestrians or other road users. This system keeps the surface clear and allows residents to live without disturbance from delivery traffic.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
