9/3 (Wed) Omori Station West Exit Plaza Design Policy Workshop: Held independently in conjunction with the ward's ongoing survey; local parents discuss and expand ideas; followed by a Jigokudani fieldwork session

On the evening of Wednesday, September 3rd, we held the "#OmoriStationWestExitPlazaDesignPolicyWorkshop" at the Esena Ota Second Study Room (Smile Omori 6th floor)✨

Ota Ward is currently conducting a "#SurveyToConsiderTheOmoriStationWestExitPlazaDesignPolicy" until Tuesday, September 16th. Anyone can participate, so please be sure to submit your response (↓)
https://www.city.ota.tokyo.jp/seikatsu/sumaimachinami/machizukuri/ekishuuhen/omori/omorinishi/oomori.html

The #OmoriStationWestExitUrbanPlanning project, which received business approval in February 2024, is currently underway. It involves expanding Ikegami-dori (Auxiliary Route No. 28) along a section of approximately 530 meters in front of the JR Omori Station West Exit. At the location of the #SannoKojiRestaurantDistrict, commonly known as #Jigokudani, the #OmoriStationWestExitPlaza will be constructed as a two-level structure at the heights of the road and the railway tracks. With the disappearance of the shops and restaurants along the tracks, the plaza will play a significant role in creating a vibrant atmosphere in front of the station.

Prior to the start of this survey in July, I raised the topic of "#DialogueSpacesForCreatingVibrancyAtTheOmoriStationWestExit" during my general questions at the #2ndRegularSessionOfTheOtaWardAssemblyIn2025, where I proposed not just a survey, but also spaces for dialogue where local residents and those with a connection to Omori could gather.

I am not sure if the ward will provide such spaces for dialogue in the future, but if the ward won't do it, I decided to do it myself as a #FacilitatorCouncilMember.
This time, we did not hold a general call for participants, but instead requested participation from the parent networks (current, alumni, and alumnae) of local elementary and junior high schools (Sanno Elementary, Iriarai Dai-ni Elementary, Iriarai Dai-yon Elementary, and Omori Dai-san Junior High). We had 10 people participate.

We started at 7:15 PM. After my explanation and a round of self-introductions (name, affiliation, and favorite things about the Omori Station West Exit), we had a brief Q&A session, followed by discussions in two groups of five. Afterward, each person shared a few words about their thoughts on the #UsageAndDesignOfTheOmoriStationWestExitPlaza, and we held a general exchange of opinions.
The goal was not to reach a group consensus, but to expand our ideas through the workshop so that everyone could then answer the survey individually.

The following opinions were raised (please use these as a reference when you submit your own responses):
・ Restaurants to replace the ones that will be lost: Ramen street, food court
・ A restaurant district that retains the atmosphere of Jigokudani
・ A restaurant district built by digging even further below the track level
・ Fixed shops + food trucks
・ Marche
・ Weekly rotating shops
・ Children's cafeteria with a rental kitchen
・ A place to cool off and eat leisurely
・ Food trucks alone don't allow for a leisurely stay
・ Useful functions like shops rather than just open space
・ A plaza for middle and high school students
・ A place for the elderly (shogi, etc.)
・ A portal function for the Omori Shell Mounds, Magome Writers' Village, etc.
・ Since it gets hot, air conditioning at the track level and sunshades on the road level
・ A disaster response base, support for people unable to return home, and emergency food distribution
・ It's not very large if used as an event venue; what scale of events can it accommodate?
・ Bicycle parking is necessary
・ Bicycle parking further below the track level (an automated system like the one at Oi Suijin Park)

Although it was only about an hour-long workshop, it was a great opportunity to learn about and discuss the urban planning and plaza for the Omori Station West Exit. There is still time before the survey deadline, so if you can gather a few people, I would be happy to host a similar workshop. Additionally, we plan to have a session to exchange opinions on this matter at the #TakahiroShojimaWardAdministrationReportMeeting on Saturday, September 6th.

After the workshop, we went on an #OmoriStationWestExitFieldwork session🔍 We walked through Jigokudani, the site where the plaza will be built, and continued our discussion about Omori at "#ObanzaiJigokuNiHotoke," which also runs a children's cafeteria and a senior's cafeteria🍶

#Chikumen #WorkingHard #ThoroughlyFieldOriented
#RealizingPoliciesTogetherWithYou
#OtaWardAssemblyMember #TakahiroShojima #TakahiroShojima