Society | Mar 10

Media get peek at Tokyo's new high-tech Takanawa Gateway Station

Mar 10 (Japan Times) - The Yamanote Line’s first new station since 1971 was unveiled to the media on Monday, with East Japan Railway Co. showcasing robots and other “futuristic” features to help people find their way around.

Takanawa Gateway Station, situated in Minato Ward’s Konan district between Shinagawa and Tamachi stations, will officially open to the public on Saturday. It is the 30th station on Tokyo’s heavily used loop line and the first since Nishi-Nippori Station back in 1971.

The station will also serve the JR Keihin Tohoku Line running from Saitama Prefecture to Kawasaki and Yokohama.

“We aim to function as a gateway connecting Tokyo and the world at an area that has good traffic accessibility,” said Mie Miwa, a JR East official involved in the project. “I hope the station will be loved by people for a long time.”

The station will use robots programmed with artificial intelligence, including some tasked with guiding people as they change trains or look for nearby attractions and facilities.

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