Luxury Towers Everywhere

Tokyo’s neighborhoods are increasingly dominated by luxury high-rise towers, with 1,561 across Japan as of late 2024. Kachidoki, a reclaimed land area in Chuo Ward, has seen rapid change since the opening of the Toei Oedo Line station in 2000 and the construction of landmark towers like THE TOKYO TOWERS in 2008.

As Japan’s urban skylines continue to evolve, residents in once-sunny neighborhoods are increasingly voicing concerns: the sun is disappearing.

In cities like Tokyo and Osaka, a surge in high-rise luxury condominiums—often built in already densely packed districts—has created literal shadows over low-rise homes and older apartments. Residents complain of reduced sunlight, colder indoor temperatures, and even dying plants.

“My laundry no longer dries outside,” says a 65-year-old Tokyo resident whose house is now shaded for most of the day. “It used to be bright and warm all year.”

Critics argue that city zoning regulations favor developers, allowing them to bypass sunlight protection guidelines. While developers point to rising housing demands and economic revitalization, long-time residents feel left behind in the shade.

Local governments have begun reviewing zoning laws in some areas, but change is slow. In the meantime, more neighborhoods may find themselves living under the shadow of Japan’s vertical ambitions.