The Sumida River in Tokyo's urban structure
The Sumida River in Tokyo's urban structure
In the history of Tokyo's development, the Sumida River is not simply a natural waterway but also a space that shapes economic activity, trade, and community life.
The river, approximately 23.5 km long, flows through a densely populated urban area before emptying into Tokyo Bay, and once played a vital role in transporting goods and connecting residential areas. The bridges, docks, and riverside neighborhoods contribute to Tokyo's distinctive character.
However, rapid urbanization in the 20th century also placed Sumida under considerable pressure. Industrial activities, daily life, and urban expansion increased pollution, causing the river to decline in ecological value and attractiveness to residents. The river, once closely linked to the city's development, was gradually pushed to the margins of urban life.
Since the 1980s, Tokyo has gradually shifted its approach, from controlling pollution and improving water quality to enhancing riverside accessibility and encouraging community activities. Notably, riverside spaces are viewed not only from a hydraulic engineering perspective but also as part of the public space system.
The Sumida River Terrace pedestrian walkway is one example. Formed on the embankment system, this walkway serves both the purpose of protecting the riverbank and creating a space for people to walk, enjoy the scenery, and engage in outdoor activities.
This shift shows that riverside urban development is not just about constructing buildings with waterfront facades. More importantly, it's about reorganizing the relationship between the river and streets, residential areas, parks, and economic and cultural activities. When people have convenient access to the riverbank, the river truly becomes a part of daily life, rather than just a landscape to be admired.
Flood control and waterway connectivity.
For Tokyo, riverside development must first address the issue of safety. Many areas of the city are located on low-lying land, while Tokyo simultaneously faces the risk of flooding, storm surges, and other natural disasters.
Therefore, the city maintains a system of dikes, retaining walls, tidal gates, pumping stations, and water control structures. These elements are organized into a system that both restricts water from rivers and the sea from entering residential areas and assists in drainage when the gates have to be closed.
But what's noteworthy about Tokyo's approach is that flood control structures aren't viewed as separate elements from the urban landscape. Embankments can simultaneously provide a foundation for pedestrian walkways, greenery, resting areas, and community activities. Thus, infrastructure is integrated into the urban space instead of becoming a rigid boundary separating the city from the water.
In the context of climate change, extreme rainfall, and rising sea levels, this requirement becomes even more crucial. Protective structures need to be maintained, upgraded, and integrated with warning, drainage, and evacuation systems. Riverside planning, therefore, must begin with an assessment of hydrological conditions and safety levels before determining urban functions.
High-risk areas require construction control; spaces that can be used safely are flexibly utilized for green spaces, pedestrian walkways, sports , and community activities. This approach helps avoid a situation where construction is prioritized before addressing potential risks.
Building on that safety foundation, Sumida is being developed with the aim of reintegrating the river into the urban transportation system and socio-economic and cultural activities. Tokyo currently has ferry services connecting Asakusa with Hama-rikyu, Hinode, and several destinations along Tokyo Bay. The Sumida River Line takes passengers across numerous bridges, creating a journey that serves both as transportation and a scenic urban experience. Other ferry services also connect areas such as Asakusa and Odaiba.
While water transport cannot yet replace the dominant role of rail and road, it complements existing transportation options and opens up a new way to experience the city. As passengers travel by boat under bridges, observe waterfront neighborhoods, and access tourist attractions, the journey itself becomes part of the urban product.
This shows that water can simultaneously serve as a transportation corridor, a landscaped space, and a destination. Therefore, marinas should not only serve boats but also need to be connected to railways, bus routes, pedestrian walkways, bicycle paths, and surrounding public spaces.
Lessons on the Integrated Management Model
If flood control creates a foundation for safety, and waterway transport expands the potential for exploiting water surface areas, then integrated management is the element that helps these functions coexist.
Sumida's experience shows that riverside urban development cannot be left to a single sector or addressed by a single project. It requires coordination among river management, urban planning, transportation, environment, tourism, and public space organization.
One notable point is that Tokyo has gradually facilitated the participation of residents and community organizations in utilizing riverside spaces. Since 2011, some regulations regarding the use of riverside spaces have been relaxed, creating conditions for activities such as outdoor markets, community events, and other forms of social interaction along the Sumida River Terrace pedestrian walkway.
As a result, the riverbank not only serves a technical function but also becomes a place for daily social activities. This is also an important indicator of the quality of the riverside space: a promenade, no matter how beautifully designed, will struggle to create lasting vitality if it lacks activities, services, or is difficult to access.
Drawing from the Sumida experience, many urban planners have identified three principles in managing riverside spaces. First, master planning must precede individual projects. The function of each river section needs to be clearly defined, from protecting residential areas and maintaining flood drainage corridors to developing waterway transportation, landscaping, and services. Not every river section needs commercialization or large-scale park construction. Each area requires a suitable solution within a unified structure.
Secondly, it's crucial to combine infrastructure investment with long-term management and operation. Flood control projects, marinas, promenades, and parks all require maintenance resources and specific coordination mechanisms. The value of a riverside space is not only determined at the time of construction completion but also by its ability to maintain its quality and vitality for many years to come.
Thirdly, community interests must be prioritized in the process of exploiting the economic value of riverside areas. Tourism and services can generate additional resources for the city, but they should not diminish people's access to the water. A city oriented towards a river should not only have beautiful buildings along the waterfront but also spaces where people can directly use, experience, and connect with the water.
From a river burdened by industrialization and urbanization, Sumida has gradually been brought back to the heart of Tokyo's life. What is remarkable is not a single project, but the interconnectedness of numerous policies, ranging from disaster protection and environmental improvement to waterway development, expansion of public spaces, and encouragement of community participation. Sumida is therefore more than just a river flowing through Tokyo. It has become an integral part of the urban fabric, where infrastructure, landscapes, and community life coexist alongside its waters.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/song-sumida-dong-chay-trong-cau-truc-do-thi-tokyo-1759311.html
