Tokyo City Hall has announced plans to start building underground shelters that would serve as evacuation hubs for residents in the event of a missile attack, a major city initiative reported by the national press. According to Yomiuri, the project aims to create safe, quickly accessible spaces beneath the city that can function as a first line of protection during a crisis and as a hub for coordinated emergency response.
The first shelter site has been selected in a warehouse near the Azabu-Juban subway station in central Minato Ward. This facility currently stores supplies for natural disasters, and authorities intend to retrofit the space so it can accommodate a large number of people in future emergencies. The approach reflects a broader strategy to repurpose existing urban infrastructure to support rapid, scalable relief operations without requiring extensive new construction at the outset.
In addition to the Azabu-Juban site, officials are evaluating the potential use of several deep, multi-storey car parks for shelter purposes. The mayor’s office recognizes that funding such extensive infrastructure could overwhelm the city budget, so private sector participation is expected to play a crucial role. A key proposal is to enable private developers to integrate underground shelter capabilities during the construction of new buildings, thereby sharing costs and accelerating readiness.
Plans for the shelters include reliable water and food reserves, robust ventilation, emergency power, and communications systems. The project timeline envisions a start in the upcoming financial year, with a multi-year build-out to ensure capacity and resilience across the capital. The intent is to deliver secure, well-managed spaces that can support population evacuation while sustaining essential services during a crisis.
City officials describe the underground bunkers as a precaution against potential escalation of tensions with North Korea and a preparatory measure in the event of changes around Taiwan. The aim is to strengthen resilience by ensuring that critical functions can continue and vulnerable populations have safe options in the event of a regional security incident. The plan aligns with broader national safety strategies that emphasize rapid sheltering and continuity of government and civic operations during emergencies.
Recent security developments involving North Korea have highlighted the challenges of regional risk. Tokyo’s shelter initiative is framed as a proactive response to evolving security dynamics in Northeast Asia and as part of a comprehensive urban preparedness program designed to protect citizens and maintain public order during times of heightened threat.