Odakyu Tunnel Expansion Transforms Shimokitazawa as Residents Debate Tradeoffs

The Odakyu Line tracks through Shimokitazawa have been moved underground into a two-tiered tunnel. This change allows for more trains and improves permeability across the area. The shift directly affects how people move through the neighbourhood each day.

Track relocation opens new pedestrian space

The former surface track corridor is now being turned into a 1.7km pedestrian-only zone named Senrogai. Plans include outdoor shopping, markets, a hotel and a ryokan. Construction on the underground station and the Senrogai redevelopment has continued for several years and was expected to finish by the end of 2025. Local residents will gain direct access to this new linear public area once barriers come down.

Road project faces opposition over neighbourhood identity

A separate plan for a 26-metre-wide arterial road, known as Subsidiary Route 54 or Route 54, through the centre of the neighbourhood has been delayed or potentially scrapped. Strong resident opposition has focused on concerns about gentrification and the loss of the area's bohemian aesthetic. The redevelopment overall seeks to create a multi-generational relaxation space while keeping the subcultural atmosphere intact. Critics maintain that the changes could still erode the qualities that define the district.

These infrastructure decisions matter because they alter daily routes, shopping patterns and the sense of place for people who live and work along the former rail corridor. Completion of the tunnel and Senrogai zone will determine whether the promised increase in train services and new open space materialise as intended. Residents continue to monitor the status of the road proposal as construction timelines advance.