Toyota Launches Futuristic "Living Laboratory" City on Site of Old Plant, Welcomes First Residents

A unique project has launched in Japan. On the site of a former factory, a new city has risen, destined to become a living laboratory for testing future technologies. The first residents have already begun moving in, making the future a reality today.

The Japanese automotive giant has kicked off what is perhaps its most ambitious project yet. The city of the future, known as Woven City, has officially moved from slick digital renderings to real life. Located in Shizuoka Prefecture, on the site of the former factory complex in Susono, it has started welcoming its first settlers. Starting this September, employees of the company and their families are receiving keys to the futuristic homes. In this initial phase, around three hundred people will live and work there, becoming pioneers of a new urban environment. For everyone else eager to see the future firsthand, the laboratory-city is expected to open its doors more widely in the 2026 fiscal year.

But Woven City is not just another high-tech residential district. Its primary mission is to serve as a massive testing ground for the technologies that will define our lives tomorrow. The concept divides participants into two groups. On one side are the regular residents, called "Weavers." Their task is to live their lives, use the new services and products, and share their feedback to help improve them. On the other side are the "Inventors." These are developers, engineers, and entire companies who get the unique opportunity to test their ideas not in sterile lab conditions, but in a real city with real people. According to the company, about twenty partners, from small startups to university research centers, have already joined the initiative.

The city's infrastructure is designed from the ground up to tackle transportation challenges. Its streets are structured on three levels. One level is dedicated exclusively to high-speed autonomous vehicles. A second level is for slower personal mobility devices, like scooters and bicycles. The third level is entirely for pedestrians, creating safe and comfortable green zones. An underground network handles logistics and goods delivery, keeping trucks out of the way of city life. This entire system is integrated with digital technology: smart traffic lights communicate with cars, and multifunctional poles not only provide lighting but also monitor the environment with cameras and sensors, collecting data to continuously improve the urban landscape.

According to Auto30.com, this project is a cornerstone of Toyota's transformation strategy. The automaker aims to shift from being a company that simply builds cars to becoming a global provider of "mobility for all." Chairman of the Board Akio Toyoda emphasized that the city is based on the Japanese principle of "Kakehashi," which means multiplying value through collaboration.

He expressed confidence that no single corporation can create the future alone, and that only through joint efforts can we "weave" a better world. To highlight the humanistic aspect of the project, even musicians have been involved. The first was Naoto Inti Raymi, who composed the official anthem for Woven City and created its unique soundscape.