Three Parties Sign Joint Research Agreement to Enhance Public Space and Create Vibrancy in Front of Minami-Osawa Station

Key Points of This Release

・Hachioji City, Mitsui Fudosan, and Tokyo Metropolitan University have signed a joint research agreement to enhance the public space in front of Minami-Osawa Station on the Keio Sagamihara Line and ensure its sustainable utilization.

・The current pedestrian space, designed mainly for transit, will be transformed into a comfortable 'michi-hiroba' where people can linger and interact, advancing high-quality public space development with the goal of achieving 'Hokomichi' (※) designation.

・Starting September 2026, social experiments and community-linked events will be conducted in the station front pedestrian area to encourage lingering, interaction, and vibrancy.

Hachioji City (Headquarters: Hachioji, Tokyo; Mayor: Kazuo Hatsujuku, hereinafter “the City”), Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo Ward, Tokyo; President & CEO: Shun Ueda, hereinafter “Mitsui Fudosan”), and Tokyo Metropolitan University (Location: Hachioji, Tokyo; President: Takuya Ohashi, hereinafter “TMU”) have signed a contract for the joint research titled “Joint Research on Enhancing Public Space in Front of Minami-Osawa Station.” The three parties aim to transform the station front from a passageway connecting the station and surrounding facilities into a vibrant 'michi-hiroba' that fosters lingering, interaction, and vibrancy, thereby enhancing the overall appeal and value of the area.

In this joint research, Hachioji City—the public space developer—Mitsui Fudosan, which is working to revitalize the area through the partial redevelopment and renovation of “Mitsui Outlet Park Tama Minami-Osawa” (scheduled to open in 2028), and TMU, which possesses expertise in urban design, city planning, and tourism, will collaborate. Together, they will examine planning and design concepts for redeveloping the station front pedestrian area, as well as management and utilization methods after completion, aiming to elevate the area’s value through public-private-academic collaboration. As part of the research, starting September 2026, street furniture such as benches and tables, play areas, and food trucks will be installed in the station front pedestrian space. Social experiments incorporating community-linked events will be conducted to verify pedestrian flow safety, the effectiveness of lingering and interaction spaces, and the impact on creating vibrancy.

※ Hokomichi system: Common name for “Roads for Enhancing Pedestrian Convenience” under the Road Act. This system allows benches, tables, and other installations on roads while securing pedestrian passage, making it easier to use road space for lingering, interaction, and creating vibrancy.

Future Image of the Michi-Hiroba

Transforming the Area in Front of Minami-Osawa Station into a 'Michi-Hiroba' for Linger, Interaction, and Vibrancy

In the Minami-Osawa area, Hachioji City is leading efforts to redevelop key pedestrian routes such as the station front and Nakago Park, which connect the station to Mitsui Outlet Park Tama Minami-Osawa, as part of its initiative to enhance public space quality. Moving forward, the city aims to transform the current transit-oriented space into a 'michi-hiroba' where people can comfortably linger and interact, thereby generating new vibrancy and enhancing the overall appeal and value of the area.

Background and Overview of the Joint Research

The Minami-Osawa Station area is a major hub in western Tama New Town, where commercial facilities, universities, parks, and residential areas are concentrated. However, the station front public space has remained largely unchanged for over 30 years since its initial development, and there is a growing need to redevelop it into a space where pedestrians can move safely and comfortably, and which is also suitable for everyday lingering, interaction, and events.

In this context, Hachioji City is considering the use of the 'Hokomichi' system for the station front pedestrian space to enhance public space quality and create vibrancy across the wider Minami-Osawa area. Meanwhile, Mitsui Fudosan is advancing plans to redevelop and extensively renovate Mitsui Outlet Park Tama Minami-Osawa by 2028, aiming to create a facility that brings even greater vibrancy to the Minami-Osawa community.

To define a concrete future vision for the redeveloped public space, the three parties—Hachioji City, Mitsui Fudosan, and TMU, which brings expertise in urban design, city planning, and tourism—will collaborate. They will conduct social experiments and examine how road spaces can be effectively used for lingering, interaction, and events. The results of these experiments will be analyzed and used to inform the sustainable management and utilization of the station front pedestrian space in the future.

Current View of Mitsui Outlet Park Tama Minami-Osawa, Block A Current View of Mitsui Outlet Park Tama Minami-Osawa, Block A (During Events)

Overview of the Joint Research

Research Title

2026 “Joint Research on Enhancing Public Space in Front of Minami-Osawa Station”

Period

September 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027 (planned)

Implementing Parties

Hachioji City, Mitsui Fudosan, Tokyo Metropolitan University

Target Area

Minami-Osawa Station Front Pedestrian Space

Research Objectives

To realize a 'michi-hiroba' that fosters lingering, interaction, and vibrancy, by conducting social experiments and user surveys, and applying the findings to the development and management of more comfortable public spaces.

Main Research Contents

・Examination of public space design and design conditions

・Social experiments utilizing the station front pedestrian space

・User surveys and data analysis

Hosting Social Experiments and Community-Linked Events in Front of Minami-Osawa Station

Overview of the Social Experiment

Community-linked events will be held to create vibrancy in the station front pedestrian space. Additionally, street furniture such as play equipment and benches, for use by event visitors, will be temporarily installed in the area from the station front to Mitsui Outlet Park Tama Minami-Osawa. Their usage will be evaluated and applied to future high-quality public space development.

Implementation Period

September 19 – November 3, 2026 (planned)

Location

Minami-Osawa Station Front Pedestrian Space

Activities

・Installation of street furniture such as benches, tables, and play equipment on the pedestrian space

・Hosting of events such as markets and workshops in collaboration with local businesses

・Installation of pavement sample displays

Evaluation Items

・Safety of pedestrian flow in front of the station

・Effectiveness of lingering and interaction spaces, and vibrancy creation impact

・User behavior observation, questionnaire surveys, and foot traffic data analysis

Collaboration Initiatives with Local Businesses

In conjunction with the social experiment, collaborations with local businesses will be established to host events aimed at creating vibrancy. Campaigns such as point redemption programs in partnership with Keio Corporation, and joint events with commercial facilities near the station, are planned.

＜Event Details＞

Detailed information about each event will be announced periodically via the official websites of the respective facilities and the Minami-Osawa App.

Mitsui Outlet Park Tama Minami-Osawa: https://mitsui-shopping-park.com/mop/tama/event/

Keio Corporation: https://www.keio.co.jp/area/event/

Minami-Osawa App: https://minamiosawa-app.jp/

(Reference) Target Area for Public Space Development in Front of Minami-Osawa Station

(Source) Geospatial Information Authority of Japan “Map and Aerial Photo Viewing Service”

Facility Layout Map Around Minami-Osawa Station

＜Attachment ①＞ Community-Linked Events

【Gyoza & Karaage Festival】

A 3-day Gyoza & Karaage Festival will be held from Sunday, September 20 to Tuesday, September 22 (Holiday). Local gyoza and karaage specialties will gather at Mitsui Outlet Park Tama Minami-Osawa! Enjoy juicy, flavorful gyoza bursting with meat juice and crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside karaage—delicacies you can only taste on this occasion!

Date: September 20 (Sun) – 22 (Tue, Holiday), 11:00–18:00

Venue: 1F Event Space / Pedestrian Deck, Block A, Mitsui Outlet Park Tama Minami-Osawa

※ Rain