Toyota’s Woven City, a futuristic “living laboratory” being built on the site of a former car factory in Japan, is approaching completion. First announced at CES in 2021, the city aims to test cutting-edge technologies, including autonomous vehicles, robotics, smart homes, and new mobility products. Phase 1 of the construction has been completed, and Toyota plans to officially launch the city in 2025. The first 100 residents, all employees of Toyota, are set to move in during fall 2025. Over time, the population will expand to 360 residents by the end of Phase 1, with these “Weavers” playing an essential role in testing new innovations and contributing to the city’s development.
Toyota’s Woven City: A Futuristic, Sustainable Community at the Base of Mount Fuji
Located at the base of Mount Fuji, the city will be designed with three distinct pathways: one for fast vehicles, another for slower mobility options like bikes and scooters, and a park-like promenade exclusively for pedestrians. The aim is to create a self-sustaining community powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology. The city, designed by renowned Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, will eventually accommodate up to 2,000 residents.
Woven City will also welcome various inventors, with the first confirmed businesses in the food service sector, such as a vending machine company and a startup exploring futuristic coffee experiences. Toyota has also proposed ideas like high-powered wheelchairs for people with disabilities and personal drones for enhanced jogging security. Initially private, the city will open to the public in 2026.
Toyota’s Woven City: Navigating Challenges with Privacy and Sustainability
Although Toyota’s Woven City project is ambitious, it faces potential challenges, particularly around surveillance and data collection, echoing the controversies faced by Google’s Sidewalk Labs in Toronto. To address these concerns, Toyota aims to enhance residents’ quality of life and has earned Japan’s first LEED for Communities Platinum certification.
