In order to welcome the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in 2020, Japan is fully launching the “Night Illuminate Tokyo” project.
The measure is to promote night travel for foreign tourists. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, in cooperation with the Central Government and other organizations, plans to start lighting up about 30 public facilities and plans to standardize lighting and take measures to reduce "light pollution."
According to a survey conducted by the Japan Development Bank and other organizations, many visiting foreign tourists have high ratings of Japanese traditional culture and popular culture and their food, but they have low evaluation of Japanese nightlife.
In order to increase the attractiveness of “Tokyo Night”, in March, the Tokyo government chose three tourist attractions and site areas with concentrated Tokyo as the main lighting area. The three areas are near Tokyo Station and Imperial Palace; Sumida River and the waterfront area; and Akasaka and Gain nearby.
There are currently 28 major lighting locations in these three regions, and it is expected that this figure will double by fiscal year 2020.
In the landscape plan to be revised this summer, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to include the night landscape for the first time, and to promote the lighting of residential areas and tourist attractions based on the location.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government intends to use the project in the Marunouchi area in central Tokyo as a reference, considering that the building is illuminated in harmony with the entire urban landscape.
In 2009, the Tokyo Regional Development and Management Commission drafted a guidebook on lighting, which sets standards for color and brightness, and requires that the upper part of buildings in Tokyo, Marunouchi districts be warm-colored, with the station building. The lighting is coordinated.
When a new building is fitted with too bright lighting, the committee will ask the building operator to cooperate and resolve the matter.
Excessive lighting may have negative effects on animals and plants, such as impeding the growth of rice plants and causing "light pollution."
In view of this, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to include a requirement in its landscape plan that companies that are conducting lighting projects must use appropriate brightness to prevent light pollution.
In addition to lighting facilities, it is also planned to specify minimum lighting requirements in naturally abundant places so that people can see the stars.