Toyota Confirms Autumn Opening for World’s First “Robot City” Near Mount Fuji
In a bold move that redefines urban living and technological experimentation, Toyota has announced the official autumn opening of its futuristic smart city, "Woven City," situated at the base of Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji. Dubbed the world’s first "robot city," this experimental metropolis will function as a living laboratory for autonomous vehicles, robotics, AI, and sustainable urban technologies.
What is Woven City?
Woven City is a fully connected ecosystem powered by hydrogen fuel cells and designed to integrate people, machines, and nature in harmony. Originally announced at CES 2020, the city has been under construction since 2021 on a former vehicle plant site in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture.
The project is being led by Toyota subsidiary Woven by Toyota, Inc., in partnership with multiple technology firms and academic institutions. The city will begin operations this autumn with 360 residents, primarily Toyota employees and their families, researchers, and senior citizens who will volunteer to test new technologies in a real-world environment.
Key Features of Woven City
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Autonomous Vehicles Only: Roads are split into three lanes: one for autonomous vehicles, one for pedestrians, and one for personal mobility (like scooters or bikes). There are no private petrol or diesel cars allowed inside.
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Smart Homes: All buildings are equipped with sensor-based AI systems that monitor health and well-being. Homes will assist residents with daily tasks through connected appliances and companion robots.
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Underground Delivery Systems: A network of underground tunnels will handle logistics and waste management through automated robots, keeping surface areas peaceful and uncluttered.
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Sustainable Power: Powered entirely by clean hydrogen energy, Woven City aims to test carbon-neutral living in a full-scale environment.
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AI Integration: Everything from traffic signals to healthcare and groceries will be optimized by real-time data processed through AI, making the city constantly adaptive to its residents' needs.
A New Way of Urban Living
Toyota’s President and CEO Koji Sato stated,
“Woven City is not just a prototype city. It is a step toward creating a society that coexists with technology. It’s a place where we can test ideas in the real world with real people.”
The goal is to accelerate the pace of innovation, especially in areas such as:
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Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS)
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Elder care and assistive robotics
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Next-generation infrastructure
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Data security and urban safety
Global Significance
Experts believe that Woven City could become a blueprint for post-smart cities, especially as urban areas worldwide grapple with aging populations, climate change, and technological disruption. By creating a fully immersive testing environment, Toyota aims to develop exportable urban tech solutions that could be deployed in other cities across the globe.
What’s Next?
Following its limited launch this autumn, Toyota plans to gradually scale the population to around 2,000 residents over the next five years. As new technologies prove their value, they will be refined and potentially commercialized.
In a world looking for sustainable and technologically inclusive solutions, Woven City stands as a beacon of what’s possible when industry, science, and society work together.
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