Hi! I’m YUKORIN, a wheelchair user. Accessible members and I conducted a wheelchair accessibility review at Takanawa Gateway City on the 25th of May 2025.
Takanawa Gateway City is a next-generation urban complex where art, business and lifestyle come together. Directly connected to Takanawa Gateway Station, the area brings together offices, hotels, retail spaces and cultural facilities. The entire development is scheduled for completion in spring 2026. In March 2025, parts of the twin towers which are THE LINKPILLAR 1 NORTH and SOUTH opened ahead of schedule. This is a report on the wheelchair accessibility review of the newly opened area.
TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY
Takanawa Gateway Station
Let’s start with Takanawa Gateway Station. It’s about a 10-minute train ride from Tokyo Station. The platforms are equipped with platform screen doors which add security.
Takanawa Gateway Station platform
The ticket gate appears to be mostly unmanned. Use the terminal screen for assistance. In my case, a staff member came out to help me.
Call screen at ticket gate
The stylish glass-walled elevator.
Elevator inside ticket gates
Elevator interior
There is a rest area in the passageway that connects the North and South ticket gates. The space feels open and airy. It looked so comfortable that people seemed to forget they were still inside the ticket gates.
Rest area inside ticket gates
I used one of the multipurpose restrooms inside the ticket gates. It is really helpful that there are two multipurpose restrooms in one location.
Multipurpose restrooms inside ticket gates
The restroom is clean and well-equipped.
Restroom interior
Restroom interior
There is an unmanned convenience store inside the ticket gates. It is considered one of the few unmanned convenience stores in Japan.
Unmanned convenience store
The store was just wide enough for one wheelchair to pass through.
Self-checkout counter
You can make purchases using mobile payment without scanning the items.
Checkout terminal
Gate opened after payment.
This is the South ticket gate which was our meeting point. The gate is wide enough for wheelchairs to pass through smoothly without calling a station staff member.
Takanawa Gateway Station
Gateway Park
We first explored Gateway Park that is the plaza in front of the station. The spacious area is filled with things that give a sense of the future.
Gateway Park
Self-driving vehicles called “iino” circulate around the area. You can get on and off at any time, free of charge. They offer audio guides that introduce the area along the way.
Self-driving vehicle
There were delivery robots that bring you drinks ordered through a mobile app. It is so cute.
Delivery robot
One of the most well-known installations at the time in Gateway Park was an art piece titled “100 colors path” by French architect and designer Emmanuelle Moureaux. Shaped like a tunnel you can walk through, the series of lines forms a gradient of 100 colors—from a front line engraved with “2025” to the farthest one engraved with “2124”—representing the passage of time 100 years into the future. This installation was on display until the 21st of July 2025.
“100 colors path”
The series of gradient-colored lines was very beautiful.
THE LINKPILLAR 1 SOUTH Tower
Next, we explored THE LINKPILLAR 1 SOUTH Tower.
THE LINKPILLAR 1 SOUTH Entrance
You will find a spacious open floor inside. The ground level corresponds to the 2nd floor of the SOUTH Tower. There are no multipurpose restrooms on this floor. They are located on the 6th floor and in the first and second basement levels (B1 and B2).
THE LINKPILLAR 1 SOUTH Tower
We went up to the 6th floor to visit the special railway exhibition, taking one of the large elevators.
THE LINKPILLAR 1 SOUTH Elevators
Here is the multipurpose restroom on the 6th floor. It is well-equipped and easy to use although it is somewhat compact.
Multipurpose restroom on the 6th floor
The special railway exhibition was held in one of the conference halls.
Conference Hall Entrance
This exhibition introduced the transition of railways from the opening of Japan’s first railway about 150 years ago to the present through videos, photographs and models. The first railway in Japan, which opened in 1872 between Shimbashi and Yokohama, passed along the coastline near Takanawa, making Takanawa a key starting point in the history of railways. Panels and models with such information were placed at heights that were easily visible to wheelchair users.
Exhibits visible to wheelchair users
On the same floor, there was a model of MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives, a multipurpose cultural facility currently under construction. It will feature a live performance space with a capacity of about 1,200 people, exhibition rooms and alternative spaces. I look forward to its completion.
Model of MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives
A flying car was exhibited on the first floor of the SOUTH Tower. It looks really cool!
Flying car
THE LINKPILLAR 1 NORTH Tower
Finally, we visited THE LINKPILLAR 1 NORTH Tower.
THE LINKPILLAR 1 NORTH Entrance
The ground level corresponds to the 2nd floor. Although the building was still under construction, I did not see any multipurpose restrooms on the 2nd floor.
THE LINKPILLAR 1 NORTH
As you can see, there are several elevators even though our review was limited to the 2nd floor this time.
THE LINKPILLAR 1 NORTH Elevators
NEWoMan—a mixed-use retail complex—will open in the NORTH Tower, with phased openings planned for September 2025 and spring 2026.
NEWoMan TAKANAWA under construction
The Nicolai Bergmann store, which specializes in flower arrangements and related goods, is already open. As a flower lover, I was captivated by the beautiful creations.
Nicolai Bergmann
Feeling happy in front of the flower arrangements ♪
Takanawa Gateway City is entirely wheelchair accessible. While some crowds are expected after its official grand opening in the spring of 2026, it is well worth a visit. Alternatively, visiting now while it is still less crowded could be a great option. Enjoy experiencing this futuristic city in the way that suits you best.
