Urban development & street-network sprawl in Tokyo

Abstract

This paper uses Tokyo, Japan as a case study to explore the processes of urban development and sprawl through the lenses of street connectivity and historical development. Tokyo is a highly connected city in terms of its street network, but also offers a unique urban experience of global renown. This study develops a novel time series that shows the evolution of patterns of connectivity across the urban region. We then qualitatively analyze this time series in the context of Tokyo’s urban history to identify the historical and present-day influences that have shaped its street connectivity. We find that streets in the Tokyo metropolitan region have always been remarkably connected by international standards, and that this connectivity has persisted throughout different periods of economic and governmental systems in addition to both natural and anthropogenic disasters.