
Woven City: Toyota’s Futuristic Living Laboratory in Japan
Imagine a city built from the ground up as a testing ground for cutting-edge technology. That’s Woven City, a bold initiative by Toyota to redefine its identity beyond being just a car manufacturer. Located in Japan, this futuristic city is a fully functional urban environment designed for people to live, work, play, and contribute to groundbreaking research.
What is Woven City?
Think of Woven City as a real-world laboratory. It’s a place where inventors, residents, and visitors collaborate to test and refine innovations in a live, urban setting. Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s chairman, describes it as “a place where people can think and develop all kinds of new products and ideas… a living laboratory.”
This ambitious project serves as a test bed for autonomous vehicles, smart homes, robotics, and artificial intelligence. The ultimate goal is to create a “mobility ecosystem” that focuses on the movement of people, goods, information, and energy.
Where is Woven City Located?
Woven City is situated in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, on the site of a former Toyota automobile plant. This location symbolizes the company’s shift from traditional car manufacturing to pioneering future mobility solutions.
Who Will Live There?
Woven City is designed for real people. The first residents, expected to move in this autumn, will include Toyota employees, their families, and other pioneers, totaling around 100 individuals. The community will expand to approximately 360 residents in the first phase and eventually accommodate up to 2,000 people, including inventors, weavers, and visitors.
The city will be home to a diverse group of innovators, including Toyota researchers, startups, and entrepreneurs focused on mobility solutions. Partner companies from industries such as beverages, coffee, instant noodles, air conditioning, and education are already involved.
Three Types of Streets for Different Transportation Needs
Woven City features a unique street system that separates transportation modes based on speed and use:
- Fast Vehicle Lane: Dedicated to autonomous vehicles for efficient and safe movement of goods and people.
- Mixed-Use Street: A slower lane for bicycles, scooters, personal mobility devices, and pedestrians.
- Pedestrian-Only Path: Exclusively for people on foot.
This layered approach ensures a balanced, safe, and sustainable urban environment that prioritizes human-centered design.
What’s the Goal of Woven City?
At its core, Woven City is about co-creation. It brings together diverse groups to develop solutions for human-centered challenges. Instead of testing in isolated labs, inventors can see how their products integrate into everyday life.
To support this, Woven City offers tools like the “Digital Twin”, a virtual simulation of the city where inventors can model scenarios and test products before real-world deployment.
Innovations Being Tested
Woven City is a hub for pioneering mobility and technology solutions:
- Mobility of Goods and People: Testing autonomous buses and mobile retail services.
- Smart Logistics: Using delivery robots connected to smartphone apps to automate goods transport.
- Next-Generation Remote Communication: Developing technologies that enhance emotional connections between people who are physically apart while promoting individual growth and social connections.
Toyota’s Philosophy: From Textiles to Living Cities
Interestingly, Toyota’s roots aren’t just in cars. Its founder, Sakichi Toyoda, revolutionized the textile industry with inventions aimed at easing manual labor. This “for others” philosophy continues to guide Toyota’s initiatives, from cars to Woven City.
A Glimpse into the Future
Woven City represents Toyota’s commitment to shaping the future of mobility and creating a better world through innovation. As the first residents move in and the city evolves, it will be fascinating to see how this “living laboratory” redefines what’s possible.