Institute for Urban Strategies

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Research on the urban growth
history of the Tokyo metropolitan area

Since the Meiji Restoration in 1867, the population and infrastructure in the Tokyo metropolitan area have expanded and been developed at a fast pace. A railway running between Shimbashi station and Yokohama station began operating in 1872. Horse-drawn trams, electric trams, and the circular Yamanote Line were soon introduced in 1882, 1903, and 1925 respectively.
After the war, expressways such as the Metropolitan Expressway and the National Expressway extended their reach dramatically, while many New Towns, suburban bedroom communities, were also developed to deal with the rapid population increase.
The Institute for Urban Strategy in The Mori Memorial Foundation has digitized historical geographical data with Geographic Information System (GIS), to trace the urban growth history of the Tokyo metropolitan area from the Meiji era to the present day. The institute has investigated the data from the following six perspectives: 1. Administrative boundaries, 2. Population, 3. Coastal lines, 4. Rivers, 5. Trains and subways, and 6. Expressways.

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Sources

  Item Source
1. Administrative boundaries Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama Digital National Land Information, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
2. Population Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama Population Census, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
3. Coastal lines   Topographic maps, The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan
4. Rivers   Topographic maps, The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan
5. Trains and subways East Japan Railway Company Yamanote Line , Sobu Line, Oume Line, Chuo Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Nanbu Line, Saikyo Line, Chuo Main Line, Joban Line, Itsukaichi Line, Shonan-Shinjuku Line, Keiyo Line, Hachiko Line, Yokohama Line, Musashino Line, Sobu Main Line, Yokosuka Line, Tokaido Main Line, Tohoku Main Line, Takasaki Line, Joetsu Shinkansen, Hokuriku Shinkansen, Tohoku Shinkansen, Tokaido Shinkansen Railroad Handbook, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Seibu Railway Company, Ltd. Shinjuku Line, Ikebukuro Line, Haijima Line, Tamako Line, Tamagawa Line, Kokubunji Line, Seibu Yurakucho Line, Seibuen Line, Toshima Line, Yamaguchi Line
Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. Marunouchi Line, Yurakucho Line, Hibiya Line, Chiyoda Line, Nanboku Line, Ginza Line, Tozai Line, Fukutoshin Line, Hanzomon Line
Keio Corporation Keio Line, Keio Inokashira Line, Keio Sagamihara Line, Keio Takao Line, Keio New Line, Keio Dobutsuen Line, Keio Keibajo Line
Tokyu Railways Co., Ltd. Tokyu Oimachi Line, Tokyu Ikegami Line, Tokyu Setagaya Line, Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line, Tokyu Toyoko Line, Tokyu Meguro Line, Tokyu Tamagawa Line
Bureau of Transportation Tokyo Metropolitan Government Oedo Line, Arakawa Line, Mita Line, Shinjuku Line, Asakusa Line, Nippori-Toneri Liner
Tobu Railway Co., Ltd. Isesaki Line, Tojo Line, Kameido Line, Daishi Line
Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd. Main Line, Oshiage Line, Kanamachi Line
Keikyu Corporation Main Line, Airport Line
Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. Odawara Line, Tama Line
Saitama Railway Corporation Saitama Railway Line
Tokyo Monorail Co., Ltd. Tokyo Monorail Haneda Airport Line
Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit, Inc. Rinkai Line
Hokuso-Railway Co.,Ltd. Hokuso Line
Takaotozan Railway Co.,Ltd. Takao Tozan Cable
Tokyo Tama Intercity Monorail Co., Ltd. Tama Toshi Monorail Line
Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company Tsukuba Express
Yurikamome Inc. Yurikamome
Mitake Tozan Railway Co.,Ltd. Mitake Tozan Cable
Trams
 6. Expressways* High-standard Highways Arterial High-standard Highway Tohoku Expressway, Kanetsu Expressway, Joban Expressway, Tateyama Expressway, Higashi-Kanto Expressway, Tokyo-Gaikan Expressway, Tomei Expressway, Shin-Tomei Expressway, Chuo Expressway, Shin-Kuko Expressway Highway Network Handbook 2016
National Highway with access control Ken-O Expressway

Futtsu-Tateyama Road
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Futtsu-Tateyama Road
  Regional High-Standard Highways Tokyo metropolitan area motorway Shuto Expressway

Daisan Keihin Road

Chiba-Togane Road

Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line Expressway
Tokyo Bay Aqua Renraku Expressway
Yokohama-Yokosuka Road
Shin-Shōnan Bypass I

Choshi Renraku Road
Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Chiba Prefecture
Chiba Prefecture
Yokosuka City
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Wikipedia
  Other roads for motor vehicles only Honcho Yamanaka Toll Road

Keiyo Road
Miura Jukan Road
Seisho Bypass


Odawara-Atsugi Road
Kanagawa Highway Public Corporation
Wikipedia
Yokosuka City
Yokohama National Highway Office

Odawara City

* Based on expressways in the Metropolitan Expressway Guide Map published by the Shobunsha Holdings, Inc.